The video of the 50-member Complaints Choir Project was taken at a private performance over the weekend.

The nine-minute clip on video-sharing site YouTube gets around a restriction placed on the choir by the Media Development Authority (MDA).

The day before the Saturday show, the choir was informed of the MDA's restriction on foreign members being part of its public performances.

Instead of dropping the six foreigners and proceeding with public performances, the choir turned its planned weekend shows into an invitation-only affair.

The four shows, at The Arts House in the old Parliament building, were part of the two-week M1 Fringe Festival, which ended on Sunday.

MDA deputy director Amy Tsang said on Sunday in response to media queries a licence was issued for the choir to perform 'provided the performers are Singapore citizens, as the content touches on domestic affairs and it is preferred that only Singapore citizens participate in the public performance'.

She also noted the choir chose to hold performances as a private event.

Yesterday, the MDA's move was criticised on Internet forums and blogs, some of which posted the song's lyrics. Many also provided links to the YouTube video.

Many in the local arts community were taken by surprise, including MP Baey Yam Keng, who co-founded Mandarin theatre group the ETCeteras.

Mr Baey, a former director at the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, wondered if clamping down on foreigners in the performance was a right move.

'What has happened now, the buzz on the Internet and a video put up on YouTube, more people may now see the performance. That is the power of new media and maybe it's something for MDA to take into consideration.'

Blogger Choo Zheng Xi, 22, who attended one of the private performances, noted the irony of the MDA's move: 'They didn't want foreigners to discuss domestic matters, and now this will be broadcast to the world.'

In the arts community, artistic directors like Cake Theatrical Productions' Natalie Hennedige felt the MDA took action on a bit of fun.

'The production did not strike me as something out to provoke. My sense is it's done in good humour,' she said.

Wild Rice associate artistic director Glen Goei was more scathing: 'I think the choir should have gone ahead with it. You can't stop art. You can't censor the work. What message are we sending to younger artists?'

Although many are up in arms, the organiser of the M1 Fringe Festival, The Necessary Stage, is determined to put the episode behind it.

Said its artistic director Alvin Tan: 'We just want to move on to our next project.'

jeremyau@sph.com.sg