ENTER A WORLD OF IMAGINATION

Join young Joey on his adventures as he journeys to a world of make-believe and encounters magical dancing books, creatures of the sea, and dancing flocks of flamingos.

Presented by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Bands, SAF Music and Drama Company and the Mascots and Puppets Specialists (MAPS), the SAF Charity Concert 2005, entitled 'World of Imagination', promises to be a night of fun and laughter for the whole family.

It will be held at the Singapore Conference Hall on 19 Nov at 7.30pm and proceeds from the concert will go a long way in helping over 48,000 less-privileged children supported by the Community Chest of Singapore.

The fantasy world is created by puppets of up to 20 feet in height, drawing inspiration from ancient marionettes and the classical Japanese Bunraku.

The SAF Central Band, under the baton of its Senior Director of Music, Major (MAJ) Philip Tng, will provide music accompaniment.

"We had a rough idea that we wanted the protagonist to travel under the sea, and to the land," said MAPS' founder and puppeteer Frankie Malachi Yeo.

"After discussions with MAJ Philip, we have put together a 45-minute concert with a strong Walt Disney feel."

World of Imagination was first performed at the Botanic Gardens on 2 Oct as part of its Children's Day celebrations.

Then, MAPS had only about three weeks to put together over 80 hand-made puppets and props, and to prepare about 30 staff volunteers - from age five to 65 - to perform.

"It was also the first time we performed with a live band, the SAF Central Band, providing musical accompaniment and I think the co-operation was great," said Mr Yeo.

There was a huge turnout at that performance even with minimal publicity and when the puppets were brought down from the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage after the performance, the audience was all over them - even the adults.

Mr Yeo in his workshop where he spends hours making his beloved puppets. With him is Bruno, the first puppet he made "that worked".

Mr Yeo was not surprised by the rapturous welcome. "Puppets appeal to people of all ages, from five to 150!" he quipped.

MAPS and its SAF partners will be looking to replicate that success with the upcoming charity concert.

"It will be similar save for some changes to the movements due to the different layout of the new venue. Of course, this time we will also have lighting, special effects and some surprises along the way," revealed Mr Yeo.

The SAF MDC Chinese Orchestra, under the baton of MAJ Tay Soon Huat, will also be performing Spring Festival Overture, Dance of the Yao Tribe, with guest soloist, Ms Tao Kai Li on er-hu.

Founded in 2004, MAPS is a puppetry production company based on Japanese Bunraku puppetry, an ancient Japanese art form believed to have originated in the 1600s.

It aims to promote the awareness of puppetry as an art form in Singapore and to raise standards of puppetry here to an international level.

Tickets to 'World of Imagination' are complimentary. Donations can be made at the door. Cheques may be made payable to 'Community Chest - SAF Charity Concert'.

Please call the ticketing hotline at 6450-5895 (during office hours, subject to availability) for ticket reservation or any enquiries.