M1 Singapore
Fringe Festival 2022:
The Helpers
A global pandemic. The economy in free fall. Polarised politics. Law enforcers using brutality on peaceful protesters.
2020 has been a year fraught with upheaval and uncertainty—even one of abject despair and heartbreak for some amongst us who have lost who and what we love. We have had to unlearn routines we took for granted, adjust to new—distanced—modes of communing with others, and search for new anchors for our unmoored existences.
2020 has left us bereft, in a rage and desperate for aid—and for justice. But it has also been a year where many amongst us decided to rise up, fuelling our rage with love and duty. 2020 has been a year where we offered help generously: through families and friends, participation in grassroots organisations, mutual aid initiatives, impromptu emergency relief.
For Fringe 2022, we invite you to consider how, in spite of these despairing times, our collective universe of obligation can expand in defiance, to offer optimism, hope and healing. How can we propel a politics of care—one that focuses on compassion and the wellbeing of all, be they kin, community, citizens and our environment?
M1 Singapore
Fringe Festival 2022:
The Helpers
2020 has been a year of instability. We experienced COVID-19 and the resultant economic collapse. We have also witnessed more extremism in politics. There have even been police violence on peaceful protesters. Some of us felt despair due to loss. We have had to make adjustments to what we are used to in our lives. With social distancing, we now need to find new ways to forge bonds.
2020 has taken so much from us. It has driven us into a rage, as we call for help and justice. But it has also made many of us rise up. Our anger is channelled towards doing what we regard as our duty. 2020 has been a year where we offered help generously in numerous ways. We joined grassroots efforts. We supported families and friends. We donated through mutual aid efforts and emergency relief.
For Fringe 2022, we invite you to consider how we can offer optimism, hope and healing during these times. Can we develop a stronger sense of duty to our community? How can we develop more care and compassion towards everyone and our environment?
The Helpers.
12-23 January 2022.
Get involved.
—Fred Rogers
