OLIVER TWIST has been described as the first modern novel. It is one of the few novels whose characters have been entered into modern myth- Fagin, Bill, Nancy and the Artful Dodger can claim to be some of the best known literary creations outside of Shakespeare. The enormous energy of these characters and the full bloodied portrait of the first modern urban nightmare, London, make the story not only exciting and dramatic, but also truly contemporary. The themes and social issues raised by Dickens are as relevant today as they were when the novel was published over one hundred and sixty years ago.
The central theme is the link between poverty and crime. Beyond that it explores the way society treats its weakest members. Dickens' style is highly theatrical, switching between the almost documentary to the comic, from action-packed narrative to emotional drama and indeed he himself gave dramatic readings of much of OLIVER TWIST to huge audiences in Britain and the USA. TNT sweep away the sentimentality of so many versions and present the story through the eyes of Fagin as he stands on the gallows awaiting execution. The story is his last attempt at justifying his life of crime.
The audience too must answer if he was indeed at fault. Is he a criminal or a victim? Does he care for his boy thieves or does he exploit them? In addition to powerful drama, comedy and fast moving action, the production has been highly praised for its capella score by the composer Thomas Johnson whose production of HAMLET is currently on tour in more than 20 countries.
The action is developed through integrated song, using complex and exciting five part harmony. The director of TNT is Paul Stebbings, known for his work with THE AMERICAN DRAMA GROUP EUROPE. Recent productions include MACBETH, HAMLET, FAHRENHEIT 451, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, ONE LANGUAGE, MANY VOICES, etc.

TNT's production of OLIVER TWIST is being revived for the fifth time, it has been seen from Tokyo to Berlin and from Scotland to China. It has only ever received good reviews and thrilled a wide range of audiences.

Oliver Twist is an extraordinary piece of theatre, brilliantly performed.
JAPAN TIMES

TNT spielt nicht nur f�r das Publikum, sondern auch mit dem Publikum. Mit typisch britischem Humor gelingt die Gratwanderung zwischen k�nstlerisch anspruchsvollem Slapstick und Trag�die.
BERLINER MORGENPOST

TNT represent one of the most interesting developments in British Theatre.
THE GUARDIAN

Touring theatre at its best
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, Hong Kong

Produced by THE AMERICAN DRAMA GROUP EUROPE

at Esplanade Theater on the Bay
1 Esplanade Drive
Singapore, Singapore

A co-presentation between CFA and T.H.E Dance Company, Solo / Duet is the inaugural presentation of a unique global artistic collaboration between local and overseas artists whereby dancers travel to various countries to work with choreographers and are immersed in the local culture to create concise works for international touring.

at University Cultural Centre Hall
National University of Singpaore
Singapore, Singapore

CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW
Seminar

11 April 2012, Wednesday, 4.00PM – 5.30PM
(Room to be advised), NUS Bukit Timah Campus, Block B

WAITING FOR DISASTER
… and other irresponsible strategies to achieve progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

INTRODUCTION

When US President Obama committed to working towards a world without nuclear weapons in Prague in 2009, the international arms control community found renewed energy, hoping to have witnessed the dawn of an era of disarmament and non-proliferation. Even though the President did not expect his goal to become reality during his lifetime, the fact that a nuclear weapons state was publicly advocating the abolition of these weapons was a paradigm shift. There was hope that other nuclear weapons states would follow suit and that meaningful progress on nuclear disarmament would result in tangible results in non-proliferation. Suddenly, long sought projects like the entry into force of a nuclear-test ban, a fissile material cut-off treaty, solutions to the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea, and even a deal on a 'weapons of mass destruction-free zone' in the Middle East appeared within reach – or, at least, within view.

Three years on, this view has become seriously clouded. The goals remain but the international community is still at odds on how to reach them. The few positive developments – the New START Treaty, the NPT-Review Conference 2010 and the Nuclear Safety Initiative – cannot hide the lack of real progress and the return of general malaise and frustration in nuclear arms control. Over the last half year, the discrepancy between the clear recognition of the severity of the nuclear threat on the one side and the hapless, helpless efforts by the international community on the other has increased sharply. Experts are beginning to question the multilateral security system itself: Are we witnessing a failure of the system? Or is the system working just as it should – and the result an honest reflection of the reigning political will? Whatever the reasons, one thing is clear: it will require thought-through plans, substantial efforts and real political leadership to help prevent a global nuclear catastrophe.

SPEAKER

Alexander Marschik
Ambassador
Permanent Representative of Austria to the EU's Political and Security Committee

Ambassador Alexander Marschik is the Austrian Permanent Representative at the European Union's Political and Security Committee.

Prior to this appointment, he had served as the Director for Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation at the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs (2007-2010). From 1999-2007 he had been posted to the Austrian Mission to the United Nations in New York, the last four years as Deputy Permanent Representative. Earlier in his career he had served as First Secretary at the Austrian Mission to the UN in Geneva as well as in the EU-Division and the International Law Department of the Ministry in Vienna.

Before joining the Ministry, Ambassador Marschik worked in academia: for seven years he was Assistant Professor and Lecturer at the University of Vienna's Institute for International Law and International Relations.

Among the functional positions he has held are the Vice-Chairman of the Sixth Committee of the 56th UNGA (2001-2002) and the Rapporteur of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court (2002-2005). He was the Austrian Head of Delegation at many Arms Control Conferences and served as Chair of the Disarmament Negotiations at the NPT-Review Conference 2010.

He has published several articles on international law and international relations (as 'Axel' Marschik).

FREE ADMISSION For enquiries or to register directly with Ms Geraldine Ng, please email cilnwfg@nus.edu.sg

Click here for the ePoster

at Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore
Bukit Timah Campus
Singapore, Singapore

CK-42711 Denise Robinow ( Fall on Campus 10-25-09 )

Image by wrightstatehousing
CK-42711 Denise Robinow ( Fall on Campus 10-25-09 )

When: Fridays (weather permitting)
Venue: The Observatory, Omni-Theatre building
Time: 7.50pm – 10pm
Price: Free
URL: www.science.edu.sg

at Science Centre Singapore
15 Science Centre road
Singapore, Singapore

Family Portrait

Image by Gideon Tsang
Family Portrait

For more details, dog profiles and how you can help, visit www.facebook.com/natgeofreepetshop.

at East Coast Park
Near Carpark C4
Singapore, Singapore

Pet Shop Boys Concert (Montreal)

Image by Anirudh Koul
Pet Shop Boys Concert in Montreal (Metropolis) on 29th August, 2009 (Pandemonium Tour). The Pet Shop Boys are also performing at Toronto’s Virgin Festival on 30th August.

Its no sin to love the 80′s. And that’s probably why over half the crowd was over 40. As per Wikipedia, "Pet Shop Boys have sold about 100 million records worldwide. Since 1986, they have had 42 Top 30 singles and 22 Top 10 hits in the UK". They recently won the 2009 BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Speaks enough about their 3 decade history.

The concert featured tons of props, including Robots, dancers with Cubeheads, breakable Concert Stage, Fruity Hats, dramatic changes in costume. Even the crew fixing the sound looked liked scientists – wearing Lab coats, construction hats and safety goggles.

For more photos, check out the whole set: Pet Shop Boys Concert (Montreal)

— Pet Shop Boys Set list —
Heart, Did you see me coming?, Pandemonium / Can you forgive her?, Love comes quickly, Love etc., Building a wall / Integral, Go West, Paninaro, Two Divided by Zero, Why Don’t We Live Together?, In the night, Left to my own devices, Always on my mind, Closer to Heaven, Do I Have To?, King’s Cross, The Way It Used to Be, Jealousy, Suburbia, All Over the World, Se A Vida E, Discoteca, Domino Dancing, Viva la Vida (Coldplay Cover), It’s a Sin, Being Boring, West End Girls

Time: 6.30p.m. – 8p.m
Location: GOHD
142 Bukit Timah Rd. Level 2.
Singapore 229842

E-mail gohd@gohd.com.sg or visit http://www.gohd.com.sg/course to find out more.

These four classes, meant for the general public, provide a general introduction to Gamelan music and related literary/ narrative forms. Three of the talks focus on Javanese Gamelan and its relation to Javanese Poetry, Javanese Wayang Kulit, and Javanese Dance Drama; the fourth will provide an introduction to Balinese music and its associated narrative arts. Along the way there'll be sound clips and videos to give a better idea of the subject matter.

21 Feb (Tues) : Introduction to Gamelan Music and Javanese Poetry

• Introduction to Gamelan Music

• Javanese Poetic Forms: Poetic metres, defining characteristics of poetic forms,Wangsalan (poetic riddles), Rujak-rujakan,

• Classical Poetry in Music

• Vocal parts

• other genres of singing and music

28 Feb (Tues) : Wayang Kulit and Javanese Gamelan

• Brief introduction to wayang kulit

• Function of the Javanese Gamelan during wayang, including Patalon form and philosophy (overture)

• Wayang kulit stories: The Ramayana and Mahabharata (Javanese versions and their differences)

6 March (Tues) : Introduction to Javanese Dance

• Introduction (drumming and dance, types of dances)

• The Ramayana at Prambanan and wayang wong

• The Darmawulan story cycle and the Lagendriya

• Masked dance (tari topeng)

• Court dances (bedhaya, serimpi)

• Sendratari

13 March (Tues) : Balinese Gamelan and Theatrical Forms

• Introduction to Balinese music and dance

• Singing of Macapat poetry

• Balinese wayang kulit (Mainly Ramayana)

• Arja and Sedantari

The teacher:

Damien Thow teaches Javanese gamelan, and plays Balinese gamelan, Sundanese gamelan, and the piano. After completing his B.A in English Literature, Damien spent a year in Solo, Indonesia, studying gamelan, dance and other classical Javanese arts. He has returned to Singapore, and wishes to contribute to the promotion and growth of gamelan in Singapore.

at GOHD Books
142 Bukit Timah Rd
Singapore, Singapore

Google Earth literary map

Image by niallmcnulty
Literary map of Durban.

5 things that your competitors know but you probably don't about website marketing

It is the truism of 'not knowing what we do not know' that as a business manager or owner you will benefit your business by staying in tune with opportunities to learn from market leaders.

One such opportunity has come your way today. Ping Restor, Director for Operations of Magic Webs and former news presenter on Philippines' biggest television network, GMA 7, will share with you five leading edge things that you should know about marketing your business through your website.

These five things will accelerate your business growth over the following months to never-before-reached levels; delivering you more clients and sales through your website.

During this interactive and stimulating 1 ½ hour event, Ping will deliver great leading edge value on :

• How to make sure you capture the rapidly growing wave of web visitors using iPads and handhelds via the latest web technologies

• How to slowly release your company from the addictive grip of Google Adwords pay-per-click advertising and still build for yourself a brand empire on Google
• Why you should make your website a 'Google resource' and convert it into a search engine friendly CMS based website and how to train your staff to regularly create search engine friendly content
• How the new social media Google +1 and Search + Your World will affect your future search engine ranking positions through the creation of personalised social media-based search
• How to own stable search engine ranking positions and stay at the top even as Google consistently changes its search methods

Our last event was full two weeks before, so do book fast. We have limited the number of places to 40 so as to deliver the best value.

IN SINGAPORE

Price:

No charge if you bring a friend from a different company, otherwise it is at the door. No one ended up paying at our last event.

at International Plaza #33-07
10 Anson Road
Singapore, Singapore

Network Hub

Image by super-structure
We finally moved all the network gear out of the nursery and into its new home in the basement. The basement, you say? We built this wall panel and shelf for phone and network equipment in a central spot so we can get good Wifi reception throughout the house and also run ethernet, phone or cable more easily.

Not everything has been added on yet. I still have to hook up the network storage as well as add a proper telephone terminal block. Our current terminal is a 1940′s era ceramic model mounted on a floor joist above all this. It’s a mess and really needs replacing with a modern one.

toe is composed of Kashikura Takashi on drums, Mino Takaaki on guitar, Yamane Satoshi on bass guitar, and Yamazaki Hirokazu on guitar. toe has formally played with this line-up since the band’s inception in 2000. They are currently one of three bands on the indie label Machu Picchu, along with the bands Mouse On The Keys and Enemies.

The vast majority of the music is instrumental and features the swift and acute drumming of Takashi. The band is also known for its melodic, clean guitar settings. Additionally, the compositions have repetition from typical rock motifs, but use very subtle changes in beat and rhythm to form a unique sound. The band has changed their sound over their musical tenure by incorporating acoustic guitars, Rhodes piano, and vibraphones in their most recent releases.

The beauty of their majestic music is that it sounds as if mystical harmonies and raw emotion is being churned out at the same time. Their explosive live performances have left fans across the globe spellbound. Their inspiring performance at Fuji Rock Festival 2010 has recently been the most memorable.

In December 2009 they released their new album For Long Tomorrow and in July 2010 they released their second DVD CUT_DVD.

(1hr, no intermission)

, *
(*For ticket purchased on day of performance)

Tickets on Sale 8 Dec!

at Esplanade Theater on the Bay
1 Esplanade Drive
Singapore, Singapore

Recital Studio

SYNOPSIS

Lourdes Hernández, more popularly known by her stage name Russian Red, was the indie phenomenon in Spain in 2008 and 2009 and has become one of Spain´s biggest artists in recent years—an extremely rare Spanish success story for a folk-pop-rock artist that and composes and sings in English.

Starting out in small clubs in Madrid, Lourdes’ exceptional voice and ability to connect with her audience has brought her to concerts and festivals around the world. The debut Russian Red album I Love Your Glasses was released in 2008, attaining Gold status through sales of more than 40,000, prompting Spain’s national daily El Pais to proclaim her as the “revelation of the year”.

Russian Red went on to receive Pop-Eye awards for Best Debut Album in 2008 and Best Female Vocalist in 2009. Her music’s irresistible appeal also resulted in her songs being used in several advertising campaigns, TV shows, and films, resulting in her receiving a Goya Award Best Song nomination for her song Loving Strangers, which opened the Julio Medem movie Room in Rome.

In 2011, Russian Red released Fuerteventura, an album recorded with respected producer Tony Coogan (David Byrne, Mogwai) together with musicians from Belle & Sebastian and Spanish musician Charlie Bautista. With lead single I Hate But I Love You, the album’s 11 songs feature a new classic-contemporary sound, offer a surprising window into the diverse and personal states of mind Lourdes went through while writing the album. From melancholy to pure optimism, from light to mystery, Fuerteventura confirms Lourde’s tremendous ability as a composer and performer.

Since the release of Fuerteventura, Russian Red has embarked on a tour of Asia and Europe, bringing her indie-folk sound to countries such as Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong and England. And now, she arrives at Singapore for Mosaic Music Festival.

Russian Red will also make a guest appearance in Mosaic’s imagine concert on Sat, 10 Mar 2012.

at Esplanade Theater on the Bay
1 Esplanade Drive
Singapore, Singapore

showtimes
17 Mar | 4.30pm

Calling all children, big and small! Mums, Dads, Grandparents and all! Join MoonShadow Stories as we celebrate World Storytelling Day 2012 with exciting storytelling performances! Come listen to stories from around the world that you can participate in. Travel with us to a time when animals talked and tricksters ruled. Join us for riddle stories that the whole family can solve and stories that show you how to craft a piece of art. There will also be something special for young ones to take home to remind them to keep on sharing stories. Crafty Tales will feature stories involving movement, paper-cutting and riddles to thrill. This session is recommended for children ages 7 to 9 years. About Stories Day and Night: Celebrating 2012 World Storytelling Day Come free your imagination and nourish your spirit! MoonShadow Stories invites you to an intimate and exclusive afternoon and evening of oral storytelling for children and adults as part of its commemoration of International World Storytelling Day (held each year during the Spring Equinox). Stories Day and Night (2012) follows from our first storytelling marathon conducted in 2010. For 2012, we have tales for the young, the young-at-heart, and mature listeners in three different programmes held back-to-back. In addition this year for the first time, we will encourage the audience during the evening show to share their own stories and celebrate the joy of communicating with others. So come enter our realm of story and we guarantee you a most engaging and heart-warming experience! About MoonShadow Stories In November 2004, Kamini Ramachandran and Verena Tay founded MoonShadow Stories to promote the lost art of the oral narrative. We strongly believe that if we can re-introduce the beauty and wonder of storytelling to adults, then children will benefit. Hence, we were the pioneer contemporary storytellers in Singapore to spearhead storytelling for adults. MoonShadow Stories passionately promotes the tradition of storytelling through re-telling and sharing oral stories to both young and old, in Singapore and abroad, through performances and workshops. We also provide customised storytelling training and storytelling content creation for private organisations and government entities, educational and commercial institutions, literary and storytelling festivals, counselling and therapeutic agencies as well as provide publications and research advice. WORLD STORYTELLING DAY: THE STORY TREE
WORLD STORYTELLING DAY: CRAFTY TALES
WORLD STORYTELLING DAY: SECRETS SHARED

at The Arts House
1 Old Parliament Lane
Singapore, Singapore