NDP 2023: What to expect at this year’s show segment
A total of 2,400 performers and 43 artistes will perform on stage during the Aug 9 show.
This year’s National Day Parade (NDP) Show will comprise four acts that feature 43 artistes and 2,400 performers.
Titled Building our Shared Future as One, the NDP 2023 Show will be held at the Padang.
Three short films will be interwoven with the show performances to tell the tales of 19 Singaporeans. The films will touch on their different backgrounds, dreams and aspirations, as well as how they pursued them despite the challenges faced.
Film One, titled Home, features four Singaporeans describing what home means to them. Of the four include WW2 survivor Goh Siew Eng and Rangoli artist Vijaya Mohan.
Film Two, titled Passion, features eight Singaporeans sharing about their dreams and passions, and how they pursued them. Among the eight individuals are national athlete Shanti Pereira and 53A singer Bani Hidir.
Film Three, the final film, is titled Inspiration. It highlights seven Singaporeans speaking of their aspirations, and are “akin to beacons of light” whose stories should inspire others to contribute to Singapore in their own ways as well. Some people featured in this short film include Teochew Opera Troupe performer Asher Tay and mental health advocate Vickineswarie Jagadharan.
Some segments of the show will also utilise 3D effects and visual overlays for an enhanced visual appeal and viewing experience for audience members. This is made possible by floor projections – which were last used at the Padang shows since 2015 – that will produce the augmented effects to complement the performances.
A total of 470 students from Bedok View Secondary School, Deyi Secondary School, East Spring Secondary School and Victoria Junior College will lead the pre-parade performances.
The performances aim to showcase the “younger generation’s involvement in shaping Singapore” and their “sense of ownership” for Singapore’s future. This year’s pre-parade segment would be the largest combined performance put together by the Ministry of Education since 2014.
Following the pre-parade performances, the NDP 2023 Show will open with its first act titled Our Singapore. It will kick off with the entrance of 116 Team Nila Singapore volunteers and 58 pairs of doves that symbolise Singapore’s 58 years of independence, peace and prosperity.
Performing alongside the Team Nila Singapore volunteers are 320 performers from People’s Association who will dance along to community songs sung by 10 artistes. With the ensemble of different ethnic groups and attire, the Opening Act showcases Singapore’s unique identity and its multi-racial, multi-cultural society.
The second act is titled Our Strength, and is performed by 600 SOKA Gakkai Singapore Women’s Division members and 12 dancers from Dance Inspiration. Together, they will dance and form a blossoming flower while featured artists like Iman Fandi and Olivia Ong sing around them.
This segment of the NDP 2023 Show spotlights Singapore’s strength, unity, resilience and its capability of overcoming adversities.
The third act, One Heart, is performed by 180 dancers from Martial House, Music and Drama Company and Temasek Polytechnic. Their dance spectacle will be amplified by 3D effects illuminating the performance floor, turning it into a “dynamic three-dimensional stage”.
Artistes like 53A and Green Drumming will also be performing during the third act.
The final act is called Onward as One, and features 700 students from CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent, Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School, Nanyang Girls’ High School and Yio Chu Kang Secondary School. They will perform alongside featured artists like The Island Voices to this year’s NDP Theme song Shine Your Light.
Local personalities Eswari Gunasagar, Fauzie Laily, Hazelle Teo and Joakim Gomez will be the hosts of this year’s show.
Additional information about NDP 2023 can be found on the NDP website and socials.
