Radin Mas – A Princess

of Singapore

By Mini Monsters Limited

Pre-show © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

About Mini Monsters LimitedMini Monsters Limited is the Education Outreach arm of TV Production

House Dua M Pte Ltd, helmed by the Creative Directors, Rilla Melati

Bahri & Najip Ali. Their aim is to revive the interest in the Malay

language by offering an interesting and fun approach in its learning. It

is hence apt that their motto is “Berhibur dan Belajar” (Entertain and

Educate).

To promote active Malay learning, Mini Monsters Limited provides

Malay language school programmes in schools around Singapore.

This is their 3rd year producing theatre shows as part of Esplanade’s

F.Y.I season.

ABOUT

Radin Mas – A Princess of Singapore

© The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Fascinated by the legend of Princess Radin Mas, Gary begins to wonder if

the legend is a part of Singapore’s history as he uncovers historical evidence

to prove the story to be true. He goes back to a time when Singapore was

known as Temasek with the help of a magic book and tries to change history

by helping Princess Radin Mas. Is it true that the princess was rescued from

her heartless uncle by a loyal servant? Did the princess and her father flee to

Temasek? Will the princess be able to save her father? Gary hopes to

discover the answers to these questions and help the princess along the way.

This tale about loyalty, love and perseverance is told through traditional Malay

art forms such as kuda kepang (horse dance), silat (martial arts), wayang

kulit (shadow puppetry) and Indonesian gamelan music.

Radin Mas – A Princess of Singapore will help pupils to understand the history

behind Radin Mas, a local neighbourhood, and the various traditional Malay

art forms.

© The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Think-Pair-Share

1. Do you know what a legend is?

2. Who is Radin Mas?

3. Is she a real person?

What are legends?

•It is a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as

historical.

•However, some details may be true and some may not

be true.

•Details cannot be proven to be a fact because there are

no documented evidence.

Can you spot where the Radin Mas constituency is on the map of Singapore?

Did you know that the area is named after a very beautiful princess, Puteri

Radin Mas Ayu?

Who is Radin Mas?

© The Esplanade Co. Ltd

• She is a real princess from Java who came to Temasek with her

father, Pangeran Agung Adipati.

• Even though she is a real person and she died saving her father,

nobody knows for sure if the events are facts.

• The stories were passed down orally. This means that the stories

were told through the spoken form. There are no documents to prove

that the events were 100% accurate. Image Source: A Village Remembered – Kampong Radin Mas 1800-1973

Radin Mas – A Princess of Singapore

© The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Can you guess why the area was named after her?

When Puteri Radin Mas Ayu came to Temasek, she lived in the very

same area you saw on the map. The area is also known by its

other name, Telok Blangah.

Image Source: A Village Remembered – Kampong Radin Mas 1800-1973

Map of IndonesiaPrincess Radin Mas is from Java. Do you know

where Java is?

Image source: Google maps

Map of IndonesiaDo you know where Java is?

Island of Java

Did you know?

•Java is an island.

•Java is estimated to have been inhabited by early

Man, about one and a half million years ago.

• Between the 8th and 9th century A.D., the rulers of the

Sailendra Dynasty built Borobudur Temple, the world’s

largest Buddhist monument.

•Between the 8th and 10 century A.D., the Sanjayas

built the largest Hindu complex , the Prambanan

Temple.

•Some of the traditional art forms that come from Java

have been around for more than a thousand years.

Borobudor Temple

Image source: wikipedia.com and travel.nationalgeographic.com

Prambanan Temple

Image source: wikipedia.com and www.yukiba.com

Radin Mas – A Princess of Singapore features music, dance, theatre and a martial art form that come from Java.

Let’s find out what these are!

Do you know what the horses in the pictures are used for?

Do you know what art form this is?

Image source: www.longwindingroad.wordpress.com and tribunnews.com

Kuda Kepang

• Kuda kepang is a type of traditional Javanese dance depicting a

group of horsemen.

• Horsemen "ride" the horses.

• Horsemen are actually dancers.

• In Java, this art form is known as kuda lumping.

• In Singapore, it is known as kuda kepang. Kuda means “horse”.

• A lot of kuda kepang performances are based on Hindu epics.

Image source: tribunnews.com

Do you know what the man is holding?

Image source: explore.id.blogspot.com

Wayang Kulit

• The figures are puppets.

• The puppets are used in

wayang kulit, a type of shadow

puppetry.

•Puppets are made of buffalo

hide and horn handles.

•Some traditional performances

can go up to nine hours.

•A lot of stories are based on

Hindu epics.

Image source: http://prasetya.ub.ac.id/

Do you recognise this martial art form?Have you seen it anywhere before?

If yes, where?

Image source: silatireland.com

Silat

• A form of martial arts.

•Spread throughout the Malay Archipelago since 7th A.D. including Java

•Became the martial arts form of choice for sultans, bendahara (prime

minister), hulubalang (warriors) and panglima (knight).

•There are over 1000 types of silat forms all over Asia, including

Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar.

• Traditional music is often used as an accompaniment.

Image source: wikipedia

Keris

•A traditional asymmetrical dagger from Java.

•Keris are often carved in meticulous detail.

•Made up of bilah (blade), hulu (hilt) and warangka (sheath).

•Used in silat.

•Spread to Malay archipelago and is now a weapon associated with the

Malay culture.

Image source: halimlading.com

bilah hulu

warangka

During the show….

1.Find out more about the Legend of Radin

Mas Ayu.

2.Find out more about Javanese culture and

the different art forms.

3.Learn a few Javanese words.

4.Enjoy the show and observe the 12

Golden Rules of Theatre!

Also, don’t forget to visit the Jendela at the Esplanade for our special visual arts exhibition on local legends,

Tales from Jalan Buang Hoe.

The Jendela is located on level 2, next to the Esplanade

Recital Studio. So pop by right after the show!

Located at level 2, next to

Esplanade Recital Studio