CHILDAID is borrowing some old-fashioned magic from the traditional detective genre for its annual fundraiser this year. Instead of the usual concert, SPH Media’s tentpole charity event is being transformed into a musical dinner theatre where guests will be served food while they try to solve a period whodunit performed around them. 

Set in 1930s pre-independent Singapore, the mystery centres on a fictitious arts school’s annual gala which boasts musical performances by its best students. But midway through the celebration, its star performer goes missing. Thankfully, the police chief is on hand to help solve the mystery of her disappearance, together with help from a group of students and all the dinner guests.

ChildAid is now looking for young talents aged between six and 19 who can act, sing, dance or play a musical instrument to perform in the show. Kids and teens interested in taking part must record a video of themselves performing, upload it to YouTube and go to str.sg/ca23entry or scan the QR code to submit their entry by Aug 17, 1pm.

Along with the video, they should include a short write-up on why they’d like to perform for ChildAid. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an audition, conducted in person between Sep 2 and 8. Rehearsals will run from Oct 30 to Dec 3. The event will be held at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre on Dec 4.

Organised by The Business Times and The Straits Times, the event will raise money for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. The pocket money fund provides students from low-income families a monthly allowance for school-related expenses, while the artists fund helps talented young students from low-income families to pursue the arts for free.

ChildAid 2023 is titled Mesra, which means conviviality, warmth and the spirit of togetherness in Malay, an apt theme for a post-Covid era. Main sponsors for ChildAid 2023 are UOB, Citi Singapore and Mohamed Abdul Jaleel, founder and CEO of MES Group, a property and logistics solutions company.

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Chen Huifen, editor of The Business Times, said: “For the past 19 years, ChildAid has always found ways to grow and reinvent itself. Amid the current trend of immersive entertainment, ChildAid has taken the bold step of rethinking its concert format… I’m certain this dinner theatre will be a memorable night for everyone.”

Jaime Ho, editor of The Straits Times, said: “We hope that those taking part in this year’s auditions and ultimately in the event at the end of the year will also experience that spirit of kinship and community, as they join hands in raising funds for those in need amongst us.”

This year’s ChildAid is conceived and produced by How Drama, a young theatre company best known for its revues and dramedies. Melissa Sim, co-artistic director of How Drama and creative director of ChildAid 2023, says: “I’m honoured to be the first female creative director of ChildAid. My team at How Drama is all set to make this an immersive, interactive and heartfelt evening for both performers and the audience.”

Previous artistic directors include Iskandar Ismail, Jeremiah Choy, Dick Lee and Jeremy Monteiro.

Now in its 19th year, ChildAid has raised over S$28 million since 2005 and aided over 210,000 children. Past ChildAid child performers include singers Nathan Hartono and Amni Musfirah, composer Julian Wong and guitarist Kevin Loh, all of whom have grown up and gone on to establish full-time music careers.

Celebrities who have performed in ChildAid include Lee, Monteiro, Benjamin Kheng, Jasmine Sokko and Wong Kah Chun. Even Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has appeared twice, playing his guitar. 

Wong Wei Kong, editor-in-chief of SPH Media’s English/Malay/Tamil Media (EMTM) group, said: “Over the years, we have uncovered many talents among our young performers, and we hope the 2023 version will unearth more.”