NDP 2023: Film-maker Royston Tan wants to correct ‘small regret’ in 2nd outing as creative director

SINGAPORE - Local film-maker Royston Tan will return to direct the

National Day Parade (NDP) show

on Aug 9, with a promise to make good on what he could not do in his first run as creative director in 2020.

After months of planning, NDP organisers were forced to revamp the 2020 parade when Covid-19 struck.

It was eventually split into several segments that included a scaled-down morning parade at the Padang and a socially-distanced evening show at the Star Performing Arts Centre.

“For me, NDP (means) mass display, so when we didn’t have a mass display, that to me felt like (the journey) wasn’t complete,” he said.

This year, the show segment will feature 2,400 performers and 43 artistes, making full use of the national stage that is the Padang and hopefully eliciting the NDP atmosphere of pre-pandemic parades, said the 46-year-old.

More than 400 students from tertiary institutes will take part as make-up artists, audience motivators and content creators.

Floor projections will make a return to the Padang, and will be used to transport both the audience and performers to different settings – from the ocean, to the forest and finally the stars.

The live audience will also catch a fresh scent – literally – at the parade. The second act of the show, a blossoming flower dance by the Soka Gakkai Singapore Women’s Division and local dance troupe Dance Inspiration, will feature a special fragrance.

Called the Tembusu scent, it is a floral fragrance with woody undertones reminiscent of the floral elements in the show, said Mr Tan. It was not shared how the scent will be released.

Those watching on TV at home are not forgotten, as the show will also feature augmented reality-like elements.

Titled Building Our Shared Future Together As One, the show aims to get viewers to look at Singapore’s strengths, such as its multiculturalism, and ignite a fire of optimism for the future, said Mr Tan.

“With that fire, we can pass it on so that we can be a light for the community and no one will be left behind,” added the well-known director of local movies such as teen gang drama 15 (2003) and getai musical 881 (2007).

The show will also feature three short films that will tell the stories of 19 Singaporeans.

They include what home means to World War II survivor Goh Siew Eng, what it is like for national athlete Shanti Pereira to pursue her dreams, and the journey of gang member-turned-counseller Gary Lau.

The show’s committee chairman, Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Chen Zhenhao, 41, said: “We hope that through the films, viewers at home can also be inspired to shine their light as they move forward and continue to dream and chase their passions.”

Mr Tan, who was the multimedia director for NDP 2019, said his creative vision is for this year’s show to seamlessly blend the film portions with the live performance, rather than to have very distinct acts.

The film-maker jumped at the chance to reprise the role of creative director of the NDP. He cleared the rest of his schedule for it, turning down all other jobs.

“I take it as a second chance (and) I’m just so determined to make sure this is a very unique NDP for my fellow Singaporeans,” he said.

Mr Tan is very excited to be able to put on a “very, very big show” that is in keeping with the best of the NDP tradition, even as he gives it his own unique spin.

He said: “For me, I’m very drama one lah. I just want it to be very big, and to display our theatrics.”