‘Biggest show I have done’: Multidisciplinary artist Brian Gothong Tan is NDP 2024 creative director

SINGAPORE - When Mr Brian Gothong Tan watched his first National Day Parade (NDP) at the age of 11, little did he know he would one day end up directing the show.

Some three decades later, Mr Tan, now 44, has been appointed creative director for the 2024 NDP, which celebrates Singapore’s 59th year of independence.

At a media event on June 27 at the two-storey T:>Works space in Mohamed Sultan Road, he showed a newspaper article featuring a photo of him attending an NDP preview at the old National Stadium in 1991.

On his current role, he said: “I am very excited, but also very daunted... This is the biggest show I have done in my whole life.”

The multidisciplinary artist envisions 2024’s show to be people-centred, with theatrical elements across four chapters.

“Each chapter of the performance will be designed to captivate and uplift. The show we have put together promises to be an unforgettable celebration of Singapore’s spirit, resilience and unity,” he said.

“This is a significant year, as we welcome a new president and new prime minister. As Singapore enters a new phase, we embrace our ability to dream, and our fearlessness in navigating uncharted waters.”

Held at the Padang, the 2024 NDP will feature 12 artistes and more than 3,000 performers. Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Danny Poh, 42, chairman of the 2024 show committee, said it will blend nostalgia and modernity, and strike a balance between sensory excitement and emotional resonance.

He said: “I believe the show that the team has built is truly a beautiful one. Our show will have something for everyone.”

After a pre-parade segment and two earlier chapters, Chapter Three, where the show segment begins, will pay tribute to the enduring spirit of Singapore’s pioneers.

This will be followed by Chapter Four, which depicts Singapore’s unity through its rich and diverse food heritage, including its hawker culture.

Chapter Five will reflect on the Lion City as a caring and compassionate society, while Chapter Six dreams of an even brighter future together.

The show segment aims to tell the stories of Singaporeans through mass performances, familiar songs and emotive filmlets. It will be hosted by radio deejay Joakim Gomez, host and media personality Sonia Chew, actor Ebi Shankara and actress Siti Khalijah.

Singers Amni Musfirah and shazza, multidisciplinary artist weish and cellist Olivia Chuang will also perform at the NDP for the first time.

To reimagine the performance space, NDP 2024 will feature an asymmetrical stage. Alongside three large LED screens, there will be an additional 12 LED banners and four mobile LED cubes, allowing spectators a 360-degree immersive experience featuring colourful multimedia visuals and effects.

Each spectator will wear an LED wristband and become part of the multimedia canvas in the spectator gallery. 

Ms Amni, 29, will open the show with a Malay song, Anggerik Singapura, composed by the late Singaporean composer Zubir Said, as well as an original NDP song, Hold Up The Sky, written by Kaylene Tan and composed by Bang Wenfu. Hold Up The Sky symbolises unity in nation building, and will be performed with an ensemble from the Music & Drama Company.

Ms Amni said: “Hold Up The Sky feels like a prayer for future generations. It is inspired by the words of Zubir Said, meaning ‘wherever you are, you contribute to that land’.”

On being invited to perform at NDP 2024, she said: “I feel very blessed. It has been on my bucket list for a very long time. To be given the trust to open the show is a huge responsibility for me, but I am very excited for the audience to watch.”

Local singer shazza, 22, will sing an English song, You’re The Boy, by music veterans Shirley Nair & The Silver Strings, as well as Tamil classic Andru Vanthathum Ithe Nila by Indian musician T.M. Soundararajan and Indian playback singer P. Susheela.

Asked about how she hopes to inspire others, the star said: “Especially here in the Singapore music scene, I want to help people believe that the sky really is the limit. I want to help people remember that their dreams have worth, and it does not matter where you come from.”

Ms Chuang, 26, will perform an instrumental version of NDP 2024’s theme song, Not Alone, which was composed by songwriters Benjamin Kheng and Evan Low.

Several groups will also be making their live debuts at NDP 2024, such as the Singapore Gymnastics National Training Centre, Swift Skating Academy and Voices of Singapore.

Ms Sebastini Manimohan, 19, from Voices of Singapore (VOS), which aims to use choral music to inspire people living in Singapore, will perform with its youth choir, singing Coldplay’s Fix You and Cyndi Lauper’s True Colours, as well as an original composition, Our Story, by VOS founder and artistic director Darius Lim.

She said: “As I am singing, I am seeing the dancers in front of me, the people in the seats, the fireworks going off... And I am in awe that I am privileged to be in my position.”

NDP 2024’s show segment will feature three short films. The first will celebrate Singapore’s diverse food culture, and the second will share four stories of individuals going above and beyond to uplift the community and those around them. The last will showcase 22 individuals of various occupations and emphasise the collective responsibility Singaporeans have towards reaching that future.

For the first time, spectators will also be treated to an array of stage effects and pyrotechnics. The effects include sparkulars – which generate cold sparks without pyrotechnics – flame projectors, low fog machines and mobile pyrotechnic boxes.

Spectators will also get to see pyrotechnics from the nearby The Adelphi building for a beautiful 360-degree fireworks experience, timed to the show’s cues. To top this off, fireworks will also be fired from Marina Bay.

Other performers at NDP 2024 include include students and community groups from the Ministry of Education, Team Strong Seniors, the People’s Association, Lasalle College of the Arts, Republic Polytechnic, Martial House, Soka Gakkai Singapore and the Agency for Integrated Care Silver Generation Office.