Why did you choose folk music?
Every student here learns local folk in school and I was no different. We would perform them every year during National Day and Racial Harmony Day. I have fond memories of dressing up in ethnic costumes and singing along to these tunes.

Which HeritageFest events are you looking forward to?
I want to check out the exhibitions centred on the theme of “traditional toys” at Tiong Bahru Plaza. It’ll be nostalgic to see five stones and hopscotch, the games we used to play as children.

How would you describe your music?
I’ve been told my music has the ability to cheer people up so I guess anyone who likes “happy” music. I hope audiences will leave feeling sentimental and in high spirits.

Who are your biggest influences?
I would say singer-songwriters like Sara Bareilles, Sarah McLachlan, Corrinne May, Adele and Broadway musicals.

Has it been intimidating performing in front of a large audience?
No, I feel like it is a privilege. I still do get a bit nervous before each show but I usually get over it once I sing the opening lines. Taking deep breaths helps, as well as having a great band behind me.

Hiong performs at the HeritageFest 2012 on July 22 and 28, 1:50pm.

* Prices include tax but are indicative only. All were sourced at the same time (four weeks in advance) for midweek departure and return. 

Any parallels between your life and that of your character?
Helmi Fita: Yes and no. It’s complex. My character Man is married and blessed with a child, which he later loses. I am single. But we are similar in our search to understand love, happiness, sadness, anger and lost.

What is the most challenging part about the role?
HF: Trying to understand what it’s like to be married and have a child. To exist in a space and to breathe life into the character while also executing all the physical elements, plus poetry, is a big challenge. One must be fully immersed and focused.

Do you get along well with the rest of the cast?
Eleanor Tan: Yes, it has been an exhilarating process of creation and collaboration. With emotionally charged, intimate issues being explored, it was inevitable that many private feelings and experiences were shared by the playwright, director and cast members. My fellow practitioners bring such honesty, passion and generosity to their work. Experiences like this are the reason why I do theater.

Do you have a favorite scene?
HF: It has to be the death scene of the baby. It’s a roller coaster ride of true honest emotions, without being too indulgent.

ET: I don't want to give too much away, but there is a scene where I do some damage to Helmi. It's not the actual physical violence that resonates with me, but the recognition that rage, hate, contempt and the desire to hurt are normal parts of a relationship, and not incompatible with love.

The show has dark themes. Are you generally drawn to such pieces?
ET: I think exploring darker themes can take an actor to very frightening vulnerable places but any actor worth her salt should be willing to go there. Bleeding Grace intimately explored some issues very close to my heart, and made it necessary for me to make my peace with a few personal demons. It has definitely been a memorable fascinating journey.

What would you like audiences to take away from the performance?
ET: I leave that to them. What excites me most about art is that it is not possible to predict all the responses you will get. I have been surprised frequently by audience reactions, amazed by how even something which seemed small and incidental to me could touch someone deeply and provoke recognition, reflection and even revelation.

Helmi Fita and Eleanor Tan star in Bleeding Grace July 5-7, 8pm at the Esplanade Theatre Studio.
 

What inspired you to start the Green Singapore Sale?
Everyone knows about the annual Great Singapore Sale from May 25 to July 22. I thought it would be great if we could have something similar within that sale period for environmentally conscious shoppers and to support local green retailers.

What were the biggest concerns putting this event together?
Initially, we were worried that retailers wouldn’t be interested in TGSS. But in the end, 66 retailers signed up, surpassing our target of 50. We were also worried about marketing as we did not have the resources to promote the event. Fortunately, we managed to enlist the support of 14 partners to help us spread the word.

Why don’t more Singaporeans buy environmentally friendly goods?
There are three common barriers: Consumers don’t know where to find the products, they have the impression that such products are expensive and they question whether green claims are really true.

Why did you decide to make this an online event?
This is the first year for TGSS so we decided to keep it simple. We provide an online map with the location of green retailers and the discounts they offer. Consumers go to the actual stores to buy the products or buy them online.

What kind of response do you expect?
We hope to see 10-20% more customers visiting participating retailers.

The Green Singapore Sale (TGSS) runs through July 22 at The Green Singapore Sale website.