This document provides ideas for dressing up as characters from fairy tales with a Singapore twist. It lists original fairy tale characters and proposes Singapore versions, for example Cinderella in a traditional Singapore outfit instead of a ballgown. Other ideas include a durian coach, Snow White as a samsui woman, and the Beast as a merlion. Teachers are encouraged to have students create props from recyclable materials and write a short description comparing their character to the original. The goal is to put a local spin on well-known fairy tale figures.

1. Ideas for
Dress Up as a Fairy Tale
Character Day

2. Singapore Fractured Fairy Tale Characters
Original Fairy Tale Character Singapore Version
Cinderella Ballroom gown and glass slippers Local traditional outfit with a tiara
Traditional shoes e.g. Peranakan beaded slipper
Pumpkin coach (NOTE: Student
creates the prop but still has to dress
up as a character from the story –
e.g. the stage coach driver)
A durian coach (or any other local fruit)
Prince Charming Wears a SAF uniform – Civil Defence, Police
Officer, etc. (student can design the uniform
including hat and make it out of recyclable
materials)
Little Red
Riding
Hood
Wears a red cape and carries a picnic
basket
Wears a local Uniform Group’s attire (e.g. Girls
Brigade/Brownies) and sells local traditional
kueh (create the prop) OR can be a boy wearing
a Scouts/Boys Brigade Uniform

3. Original Fairy Tale
Character
Singapore Version
Emperor’s
New
Clothes
Emperor Chinese Emperor garments
or Malay Sultan garments
with crown (create the
prop)
Advisor to the
Emperor
Modern day executive in
suit and tie
Beauty and
the Beast
Beast holding a
rose
Merlion-like creature/lion
with orchid (national
flower)
Singapore Fractured Fairy Tale Characters

4. Original Fairy Tale
Character
Singapore Version
Snow White
and the Seven
Dwarfs
Wicked Witch
holding a poisoned
apple
Wicked Witch wears the black- coned
hat but dresses in a local attire and
carries a poisoned local fruit e.g.
rambutan (create the prop)
Snow White Dress as a Samsui woman
Pied Piper of
Hamelin
Pied Piper Pest controller (in uniform and carries
handmade prop – insecticide)
Replace flute with a local musical
instrument
Puss in Boots Puss (a cat) Singapura Cat
Singapore Fractured Fairy Tale Characters

5. Original Fairy
Tale Character
Singapore Version
The Little
Mermaid
Mermaid Can have a koi fish body/tail
Pinocchio Gepetto Local cobbler/puppet-maker
Pinocchio Chinese opera character /
wayang kulit character
Three Little
Pigs
The Pigs Mousedeer (or any other
local animal)
Singapore Fractured Fairy Tale Characters

6. Tips
 When dressing up as an animal – students can create an animal
mask (include other possible parts like a tail)
 When dressing up as a human character – students can create the
attire using mah-jong paper and colour/design it to resemble a
uniform, a royal attire, etc.
 When creating a prop (e.g. a fruit, a flower, a crown, a wand, etc.)
– students can use recyclable materials to create it and then paint
the prop
Note to teachers: Use the next few slides to compare the original
fairy tale character and the fractured version

7. Cinderella is a Japanese in
a kimono and has a
painted face
Cinderella

8. The Princess is oriental
and wearing a cheongsam
with a Chinese hair pin as
an ornament
Princess and the Frog

9. Ariel is an Indian with the
traditional ‘pottu’ on her
forehead and hair
ornament
Ariel The Little Mermaid

10. The Princess is an African
Tribal princess complete
with accessories and local
attire
Princess Jasmine from
Aladdin

11. Beauty and the Beast
Belle – Dressed in a Korean attire
Beast – A tiger and dressed in a Korean
attire

12. Aladdin
Prop:
Replace the lamp with a lantern
Attire:
Wear a Batik sarong to replace the pants
Create a keris (Malay traditional weapon) to
replace the sword

13. Prince Charming
Attire:
Create and wear any of the local Armed
Forces uniform

14. Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland
Prop:
Replace the tall hat with a hand-made
Chinese opera headdress

15. Local cobbler
(Elves and the Shoemaker)

16. Note To Teachers
Do emphasise to your students to create the props from recyclable
materials
Students are NOT required to bring the actual object
Students MUST have a short write-up of their character and how it is
local / different from the original fairy tale character. Consider the
following points:
 What is the fairy tale title?
 What is their character in the fairy tale?
 How does it show the Singapore element? (compare the actual fairy tale
character and the one they are representing)