Not Quite Murukku is a free 30-minute storytelling performance at PIP’s PLAYbox, Esplanade, on 21, 22, 28 and 29 November 2026. Each date has sessions at 11.30am, 12.15pm, 3.30pm and 5pm. Esplanade lists admission from age six and the performance language as English.
The storytelling programme is part of Kalaa Utsavam. The venue is on Level 4, and Esplanade lists free PLAYbox access for Esplanade&Me members with entrance check-in. Check the event page for session entry instructions and allow time to reach the room.
- Public sessions are on two weekends, with no weekday sessions shown.
- The performance lasts about 30 minutes and has no interval.
- The event’s age limit is six and above. General PLAYbox access has its own conditions.
- PIP’s PLAYbox normally closes for cleaning from 2pm to 3pm.
Find what you need
Which Not Quite Murukku showtime should you choose? · Is it free and do you need to register? · What is Not Quite Murukku about? · How to find PIP’s PLAYbox at Esplanade
| Dates | Showtimes | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 21 and 22 Nov | 11.30am, 12.15pm, 3.30pm, 5pm | PIP’s PLAYbox, Level 4 |
| 28 and 29 Nov | 11.30am, 12.15pm, 3.30pm, 5pm | PIP’s PLAYbox, Level 4 |
Which Not Quite Murukku showtime should you choose?
The official Esplanade programme lists the same four starts on each of the four days. The date range in the event heading runs from 21 to 29 November, but the performance dates are 21, 22, 28 and 29 November. Check the individual date before travelling.
Morning and lunchtime options
An 11.30am start should finish near noon, and a 12.15pm start around 12.45pm if the show runs to time. A family planning lunch afterwards can choose either. Leave time to find Level 4 and check in before the start. If you want the children to eat first, an earlier snack or one of the afternoon sessions may be easier.
Afternoon options
The 3.30pm show follows the PLAYbox’s regular cleaning break, and the 5pm show gives families a later start. Neither timetable guarantees entry if the session is full. Check the event’s current instructions on capacity and arrival. If the outing depends on a specific session, keep a simple backup rather than promising an exact show to a child before you check.
Is it free and do you need to register?
Esplanade lists Not Quite Murukku as free. Its PLAYbox visitor page describes membership access and entrance registration. Esplanade&Me Discover membership is free. The usual check-in asks for the account email and the number of people in your group, including infants in arms. Follow the specific performance rules first if the event gives additional instructions.
How old does a child need to be?
The show page lists admission from age six. General venue registration does not change this event’s age rule. If you are taking an older sibling to the show, arrange a separate public activity for anyone younger and agree where to meet after. Check general PLAYbox access before assuming it is available around a performance.
What does the cleaning break mean?
The PLAYbox normally opens from 11am to 6pm and closes for cleaning from 2pm to 3pm. Plan lunch or another public stop in that window. An afternoon audience can head upstairs after it reopens. The show’s entry and the space’s usual opening hours are related, so check both if you want time to read or play before the performance.
What is Not Quite Murukku about?
Manisha wants to make murukku with her mother for Deepavali. When her first attempts look different from Amma’s, she is disappointed. A fantastical guide helps her discover more ways the snack can be made. The story gives children an opening to talk about learning a family tradition and trying something again after a mistake.
An easy way to introduce the story
Ask the child about something they tried for the first time that looked different from an adult’s version. That might be drawing a shape, folding paper or helping in a kitchen. Then let the story develop in the room. It is enough for a child to know that the character is trying a new skill. The programme page describes storytelling. Check before assuming it includes cooking or food sampling.
After the show
Ask which part made the child laugh or which moment helped the character decide to try again. If the family has a similar food tradition, let relatives tell a short story about it. A child can draw a shape they remember or simply describe a favourite scene. Keep the activity optional if they want to move on to something else.
How to find PIP’s PLAYbox at Esplanade
PIP’s PLAYbox is on Level 4 at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Use Esplanade’s MRT walking guide for routes from Esplanade MRT (CC3) or City Hall MRT (EW13/NS25). Follow current indoor signs towards Level 4. The header photograph shows Esplanade in the wider Marina Bay setting.
Keep the theatre location clear
Esplanade has several halls and festival venues. Use PIP’s PLAYbox in any meeting message. If you are also seeing another Kalaa Utsavam programme, check its date, venue and admission separately. For a short family outing, one show and a meal may be enough. Add an outdoor walk only if the weather and the group’s energy suit it.
Two ways to plan the free storytelling outing
Morning show, then lunch
Check the weekend date, admission age and membership access. For the 11.30am or 12.15pm session, reach Esplanade early enough to get to Level 4 and check in. A lunch booking immediately after the estimated finish may leave too little time to come downstairs or meet someone waiting outside. Keep the meal flexible if the child wants to talk about the story or look around briefly.
Afternoon show after the cleaning break
The 3.30pm start follows the published 2pm–3pm PLAYbox cleaning break. If you reach Esplanade during that hour, choose another public space and follow the signs when it is time to go upstairs. For the 5pm show, check which other activities are still available if you want to stay afterward. The story itself can be the full outing.
What if your family has children on both sides of the age limit?
Plan the event around the older child’s admission. Ask another adult to take a younger sibling to a suitable public area, if that works for your group. Agree to meet at a place outside the performance room after roughly 30 minutes, with a margin for exit. It is easier when everyone knows where to go before the family splits.
A small activity to take home
Ask a child to draw two different spirals or describe something they learned by trying more than once. You can also ask someone older in the family how they learned a recipe or craft. The activity can take a minute or become a longer conversation depending on the child’s interest.
Frequently asked questions
Is Not Quite Murukku free?
Yes. Check the current Esplanade entry and PLAYbox registration instructions.
Is it on weekdays?
The published dates are 21, 22, 28 and 29 November.
What is the minimum age?
Esplanade lists ages six and above.
How long is the show?
About 30 minutes with no interval.
Which level is PIP’s PLAYbox?
Level 4 at Esplanade.
See the Singapore November and December events guide for more year-end outings.