6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
My Perfect Weekend with SRT's artistic director Gaurav Kripalani
Gaurav Kripalani is the artistic director of the Singapore Repertory Theatre. PHOTO: COURTESY OF GAURAV KRIPALANI
Who: Gaurav Kripalani, 53, is the artistic director of the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT). Over his 23 years with the company, he has produced more than 100 plays.
The company is now staging Macbeth as part of its Shakespeare In The Park series. Running at Fort Canning Park till June 1, the outdoor production reimagines the Bard's classic tale of ambition, betrayal and the devastating cost of power. Previous runs of SRT's Shakespeare In The Park include Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
'My perfect weekend would entail watching a good play, enjoying a plate of my favourite chicken rice, spending time with friends and family, and catching up on sleep.
Every May, my friends and family organise a picnic for me in the park for my birthday weekend, as my birthday falls on May 8.
In true Singaporean fashion, what is on the menu is a major part of the planning.
There is usually an impressive spread and, over time, the whole thing has grown into something of a production. Each year, they choose a theme and go all out with decorations and props. It is equal parts over-the-top and incredibly thoughtful.
Being able to lie on a picnic mat under the stars with those near and dear to you, enjoying a drink and a sumptuous meal, is a kind of magic you do not find often.
For me, food, laughter and being surrounded by people who matter most – that is what makes a weekend perfect. And the cherry on top? Being able to sleep in late the next morning.
When I do eventually surface, Sunday tends to be fairly relaxed and s tarts with coffee. I love the aroma as much as the taste – there is something comforting and almost ritualistic about it. I am quite addicted, to be honest.
Gaurav Kripalani celebrating his 53rd birthday at a picnic.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GAURAV KRIPALANI
I am also a bit of a news junkie, so I usually spend a couple of hours reading a mix of newspapers – local and international. It is my version of a slow Sunday.
In the evening, I will often head out to catch a play and a meal with friends. Then it is back home, just in time to catch an Arsenal match or a Formula One race – sometimes both, if I am lucky.
I feel very blessed to have a wonderful family and a few special friends who always go out of their way to make my birthday weekends memorable. They are the heart of it all – and the reason these weekends mean so much. '
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