Recently, however, passengers were treated to “In Transit-ion”, a performance art series held at selected MRT stations on six days in November, with the final show on Nov 13.
These showcases of music, dance and acting were presented by Orang Orang Drum Theatre, an arts company that aims to bring people together through percussion and drumming.
Assistant artistic director Leow Sze Yee, who co-founded the troupe with her husband and brother in 2013, says they had been inspired to do something to keep the arts alive during the pandemic.
“Even when restrictions were eased, performing arts were considered non-essential, when in fact, art is crucial to our emotional and psychological wellbeing,” she tells FMT.
“In Transit-ion” had been performed in March and April only to be disrupted by the movement control order, before returning to train platforms last month.
Leow explains that she and her team decided to hold the performances at MRT stations so the general public could get a taste of the arts and realise its importance.
“Covid-19 has caused everything to shift online but performance arts are a face-to-face thing. Magic happens when we share the same space, air and moment together,” she says.
“There are also a lot of things that occur spontaneously when performing in public spaces, which makes it all the more beautiful.”
She believes the MRT is much more than just a public transport – it can play an important role in promoting the arts to the masses.
Connect/disconnect
Dubbed “a poetic MRT journey”, each performance this month spanned one and a half hours, and saw the performers travelling from Taman Mutiara station to Cochrane and Pasar Seni stations, before heading back to the starting point.
Among the percussive instruments used were the gong, didgeridoo, the gulingtangan from Sabah, and the jidor, which is a large double-headed barrel drum.
According to Leow, the performance was aimed at disrupting the default habits and “rhythm” of the commuters. Passengers were even invited to clap and dance along in the final part of the show.
The response from the public has been positive, she says, citing heartwarming moments where the audience reached out and commended them on the show. Clips of the performance have also gone viral on TikTok.
“We saw many commuters who appeared to be stressed, tired and unhappy – even their face masks couldn’t hide it. So it was nice to see them tap their feet and move to the music,” Leow recalls.
She adds, however, that “for some, the creases on their foreheads remained”, suggesting a “disconnect between the body, mind and soul”.
Orang Orang Drum Theatre is currently conducting a Q&A session with the public to gather their feedback on “In Transit-ion”.
“It doesn’t end with the show; we want to continue to explore what we and the audience felt,” Leow explains, adding that they also plan to release a video of the performance shortly.
But what about those who claim not to understand the arts?
“All you have to do is to open your hearts and senses and be aware,” she replies. “By doing so, you will start to view your surroundings differently – everything comes alive, and even the mundane daily commute can be magical.”
Did you manage to catch a performance of ‘In Transit-ion’ this month? Orang Orang Drum Theatre would like your feedback, which you can provide here.
Find out more about Orang Orang Drum Theatre through its website, and via Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.