Every time I walk past a community park in the morning, I see groups of seniors moving in sync- chatting, stretching, laughing. It’s a small but beautiful reminder that ageing can be active, social and full of life. Gateway Theatre’s upcoming Sunshine Festival captures that same spirit on stage, turning the conversation about ageing into a colourful celebration through music, theatre and art.
Running from 31 October to 9 November 2025, the Sunshine Festival (阳光艺术节) celebrates active ageing through the arts. It’s not just an event, but a statement- a warm, bright spotlight on seniors who are rewriting what the “golden years” look like.
Lighting up later life
Festival Programme Director Samantha Scott-Blackhall describes it beautifully: “Sunshine Festival is about sunshine in your later years, the joy you can find in them. We want seniors to keep living fully, seeing this phase not as a sunset but a new hour to shine.”
The festival’s launch comes at an apt time. With the government’s Age Well Neighbourhoods initiative and growing national conversations about active ageing, Singapore is rethinking what it means to grow old. It’s no longer about slowing down, but about living differently and that’s exactly what this festival captures.
Theatre, music, and magic
Anchored by two major productions- LIVE IT UP! and When You Believe, the Sunshine Festival puts seniors centre stage, literally.
In LIVE IT UP!, created by the all-senior ensemble The Glowers Drama Group, audiences can expect laughter, nostalgia and spontaneous sing-alongs to classic tunes. Founder Catherine Sng describes the group as a community built on friendship, play and joy. “We meet weekly to make friends and have fun. This allows us to spend our later years more meaningfully and our children don’t have to worry about us,” she says.
Then there’s When You Believe, a two-night musical concert co-produced by Gateway Entertainment and TVB International. It features fan-favourite contestants from Hong Kong’s hit show Midlife, Sing & Shine!, feel-good celebration of musical comebacks and rediscovering dreams. The concert also stars father-and-daughter illusionists Lawrence and Priscilla Khong, whose storytelling magic promises to make this show a standout.
Stories that heal and connect
Beyond glitz and song, the festival’s more intimate performances offer reflection and tenderness.
倒带 (Rewind), a Mandarin play written by Neo Hai Bin and directed by Li Xie, is inspired by the real-life story of a cancer survivor. It’s described as a meditation on wounds, healing and rediscovering purpose- a poignant reminder that life’s second act can still be full of hope.
Meanwhile, Where the Sunflowers Grow, a non-verbal puppetry performance, invites children and grandparents to journey together through themes of ageing, loss and renewal. Designed for audiences aged five and up, it’s a gentle, intergenerational story about love and the cycle of life.
Coffee, conversations and community
Beyond performances, the Sunshine Festival encourages participation through workshops and talks. There are Tote-ally Art sessions where families can bond over painting tote bags using coffee or potato stamps, Morning Moves stretching classes for seniors, and a Coffee Talk led by Catherine Sng titled Facing Grief with Joy — a safe space to reflect on resilience and emotional wellbeing.
As Priscilla Khong, Executive Director of Gateway Theatre, explains, the festival also speaks to the community around Bukit Merah, where many seniors live. “Having senior-focused programmes allows us to better cater to and engage with the seniors and their families in our neighbourhood,” she says.
Also read: Music as a gateway to Science: How The Music Scientist is reimagining Early Learning in Singapore
A movement of joy and meaning
What makes Sunshine Festival special isn’t just its programming — it’s its message. By bringing together seniors, families, and artists, it challenges the notion that creativity belongs to the young. It reminds us that joy, curiosity and connection don’t have an age limit.
In a world where ageing is often framed as decline, Gateway Theatre’s Sunshine Festival shines through as a counter-narrative- one that celebrates living fully, laughing loudly and creating boldly, no matter the year on your IC.
Tickets and full programme details are available at gatewaytheatre.sg/events/sunshine-festival.
