Origins Theme For Singapore Writers Festival

The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) returns with a bumper crop of 200 literary offerings featuring 185 writers from Singapore and across the globe. Some of the international featured writers at the 2012 Festival include Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham fame, semi-retired professional wrestler and author Mick Foley, Taiwanese literary figure and educator Huang Chun-ming and popular writer and illustrator Jimmy Liao. With a focus on the theme Origins, SWF looks set to transform the Bras Basah-Bugis District into a buzzing multi-lingual literary hub from 2 to 11 November.

Paul Tan, Festival Director,SWF, says, the theme Origins harks to a larger search for meaning the origins of the word, of our stories and of course, our identities. It is an expansive idea which allows us to create programmes such as our spotlight on story-telling, biographies and historical fiction. We hope to see Singaporeans explore their own origins, whether genealogical, national or beyond and also reflect on what constitutes originality. I am sure it will be the starting point of many thought provoking conversations which audiences have come to associate with the Festival.

One of the few multi-lingual literary festivals in the world, SWF welcomes three new features to its programme. The first is the Middle Eastern Focus. This will spotlight writers and issues in the Middle East, including a panel discussion on the Arab Spring and literature. Secondly, headed and curated by the Arts House, will explore The Origins of Desire. This series of night-time programmes will examine different facets of desire and manifestation of sexuality in books, films, performances and visual arts. Lastly, the Peranakan Museum will be a part of the Festival for the first time and will showcase the Peranakan connection to Singapore literature and writing, including a dramatised reading of Desmond Sim's play, The Chair.