Feelings are much like waves—we can't stop them from coming, but we can learn how to surf on them. Gateway Theatre’s latest production, When Sadness Come to Call, wants to encourage families to help their young ones recognise their emotions and learn how to manage them healthily.
Meanwhile, Gateway Kids Club will continue its weekly storytelling with a new monthly session in Mandarin added to the schedule, sharing captivating stories that will tug at the heartstrings of young and old.
Mental well-being is a top concern today, and children are among the most vulnerable. It was reported in an NUS-led study released in April that one in three adolescents report depression and anxiety, but only 10 per cent of parents are able to spot these mental health issues in their children.
Sadness and disappointment may be some of the most powerful emotions that can overwhelm a child who has yet to develop control over his emotions. Hence, Gateway Theatre’s new productions will help children visualise these feelings, acknowledge and even embrace them.
When Sadness Comes to Call and Gateway Kids Club’s Chinese Storytelling Sessions look to entertain, intrigue and guide children in identifying, exploring, and learning about their feelings. These are done through imaginative characters, compelling yet simple stories, and creative set pieces.
When Sadness Comes to Call - Embracing Your Emotions
Coming up at the Black Box in Gateway Theatre, When Sadness Comes to Call is an engaging play by MySuperFuture Theatrical Productions for very young children. The 30-minute play brings “sadness” literally to a child’s doorstep. As a non-verbal performance, it is adapted from the well-loved children's storybook of the same title by Eva Eland.
The adaptation looks to captivate young audiences aged four to eight years old and foster meaningful conversations about emotions in a vibrant and interactive setting. It will be staged for schools on 13 and 14 July, and for the public on 15 and 16 July.
The play tells the tale of a young child who encounters an unexpected visitor — Sadness. Without the need for words, the play invites its audience to embark on an exploration of emotions to discover the power of resilience. All these are portrayed through captivating storytelling, movements and engaging music, as well as vivid visuals.
Directed by multi-award-winning local young theatre director Ian Loy, the production will show young audiences that it is okay to explore their feelings, including less pleasant ones such as sadness, and plays out the importance of accepting such a feeling.
“When Sadness Comes to Call is a production that is not only suitable for kids,” says Ian. The 43-year-old father of two shares that the production will tug at the heartstrings of anyone who has experienced these intense emotions.
“I want to create something that is artful yet relevant for all audiences. There are many layers to this seemingly simple story. I hope the audience finds some support through the production, whatever his age may be, and leave with greater awareness on how to confront their feelings.”
Viewers can expect to receive fun take-home activity sheets, and parents will be glad to know there’s an additional “Stay and play in the Sky Garden” activity at the Gateway Theatre Sky Garden, with a bouncy castle and more!
Gateway Theatre will also be staging an additional production titled The Race Around the Moon on 23 September. In conjunction with Mid-Autumn Festival, the story revolves around friendship and coping with disappointment, told through the classic tales of Chang’e, Jade Rabbit, and Wu Gang. More details will be released closer to the staging date.
Productions like When Sadness Comes to Call and The Race Around the Moon are a testament to Gateway Theatre's commitment to producing high-quality theatre experiences that engage and inspire young audiences.
"We are delighted to present these theatrical productions for children," said Priscilla Khong-Espinosa, Executive Director of Gateway Theatre.
"Through the transformative power of live theatre, we hope to engage young minds, spark conversations, and foster a greater understanding of one another. This play puts children's emotional lives under the microscope and offers to show them the tools to navigate the complexities of their feelings."
Gateway Kids Club Chinese Storytelling — Creative and Dramatised Stories
This July, Gateway Kids Club will also feature its new monthly Chinese storytelling session, started in June, for families with young children through its Saturday programme at Gateway Theatre.
More Singaporean parents are now introducing their children to the arts through weekend art workshops, theatre plays or musicals for young people, as well as recognising a greater need in developing their love for the Chinese language.
Gateway Kids Club will deliver dramatised stories for parents to open up the world of reading to their children and cultivate their love of the Chinese language, while sharing enchanting stories on Chinese culture and heritage.
Focused on children between three to seven years old, Gateway Kids Club’s launch of its Chinese storytelling sessions began on 3 June for families, where young and old were drawn into storyteller William Tan’s animated telling of The Legend of Qu Yuan 屈原的故事.
William will reprise his storytelling role for The Magic Paintbrush 神笔马良 and Why Is Redhill Red? 红山的传说 told in July and August respectively.
“Mandarin is the core of some of our cultural identity and heritage. The stories that we share will immerse families in Chinese history and folklore; they will also provide a great way for children to discover the beauty and intricacies of the Chinese language.
I can’t wait to share these stories with the young through Gateway Kids Club’s Chinese storytelling sessions,” shares William.
The sessions will be held on the first Saturday of every month at 11 am and will feature captivating tales in Mandarin by storytellers at Young Storytellers from The Storytelling Centre, and ACT 3 Theatrics. The monthly programme will have an intriguing theme tied to the stories told, creating a stimulating environment that fosters a love for reading and enhances Chinese language skills.
Parents who are interested in attending the English storytelling sessions with their kids can also do so at 10 am. While the storytelling sessions by Gateway Kids Club are free, seats are non-assigned and limited. Families are encouraged to save a spot through SISTIC.