Nine Years Theatre’s follow-up to last year’s theatre for young audience debut is just as fun, bringing in new friends and issues for both kids and parents to dip into.

In theatre, sequels are rare, as audiences often fear being “left behind” if they missed the first instalment, or worry that the magic can’t be sustained across iterations. Fortunately, Nine Years Theatre’s (NYT) brand new theatre for young audiences, Phinny and Wally: Echoes of Home, faces none of those risks.

Written by Cherilyn Woo, it functions fully as a standalone work while rewarding those who saw last year’s production. Returning to the story of besties, dolphin Phinny (Cheryl Ho) and beluga whale Wally (Jodi Chan), we watch as they venture into new waters, encountering threats and forging bonds with Arlo (Vester Ng), a bowhead whale searching for his family. To help him reunite with them, they must brave the perils of ship-filled waters, where danger looms ever closer.

The experience begins even before entering the theatre, as Education & Engagement Lead Teo Pei Si engages the young audience at the foyer with fascinating facts about whale communication, the impact of ship noise, and simple, everyday actions to fight climate change. These nuggets of knowledge prime children perfectly for the underwater tale that follows. Inside the Drama Centre Black Box, children once again play the role of corals watching the drama unfold.

Unlike last year’s immersive staging, Mohd Fared Jainal’s set opts for a proscenium style, but one cleverly reimagined as a mini-amphitheatre. Audiences sit on colourful cushions on a step-like platform, surrounded by reef-like splashes of paint, while mobile set pieces on wheels allow scenes to shift fluidly and provide more space for actors where necessary. The lighting by Emanorwatty Saleh strikes a balance between naturalistic shimmer and playful invention, transforming the stage into a disco-like ocean floor during musical moments.

With director Deonn Yang now at the helm, the show is infused with a sense of whimsy and sincerity that keeps the energy buoyant. The actors never talk down to the audience, but embody marine creatures who respond with innocence and vulnerability to their changing world. Audrey Tang’s costumes enhance this believability: Arlo’s triangular hoodie nods to his “bowhead,” while his large tail visually ties him to Phinny and Wally. The result is a fully immersive underwater world that audiences can dive right into.

At just under an hour, the production maintains attention with sharp pacing and variety. Songs, interactive moments, and even the occasional jump-scare (as ships and nets descend from the ceiling) keep children engaged. There are no surtitles, but the story is easy to follow through expressive performances and clear staging. In fact, the young audience needed no explanations afterwards, as their involvement spoke for itself. They gleefully pointed out where characters were hiding, gasped at the sudden arrival of ships, and cheered when Arlo finally achieved his heartfelt and much-deserved reunion.

Performance-wise, Cheryl Ho continues to shine as she returns as Phinny, layering the dolphin’s worrywart tendencies with touching depth, while Jodi Chan feels like a natural fit for Wally, endearing audiences with warmth and expressiveness. Meanwhile, Vester Ng’s Arlo adds childlike mischief and charm, completing the trio with the right balance of humour.

While last year’s focus was on plastic pollution, this sequel broadens the lens to climate change. It’s a daunting topic, but the show distills it into tangible moments for the kids to understand: melting ice caps shifting the environment, whalesong and echolocation guiding lost family members, and the looming presence of ever-busier shipping lanes. The ending is hopeful yet bittersweet, acknowledging the inevitability of change while encouraging resilience, a surprisingly mature take for children’s theatre, but one handled with accessibility and care.

In a landscape where much children’s theatre borrows from fairy tales and folklore, Phinny and Wally feels refreshingly original. By weaving timely environmental themes into a heartfelt tale of friendship, Nine Years Theatre has created a work that resonates with both children and adults, while carving out space for Mandarin-language theatre for young audiences in Singapore. With oceans of potential left to explore, this series has the depth and buoyancy to keep swimming for years to come. In short: a whale of a time.

Photo Credit: Tan Ngiap Heng

Phinny & Wally – Echoes Of Home plays from 22nd to 31st August 2025 at the Drama Centre Black Box. Tickets available from Peatix

Production Credits

Playwright Cherilyn Woo Director Deonn Yang Cast Jodi Chan, Cheryl Ho, Vester Ng Producer Mia Chee Script Translator Nelson Chia Set Designer Mohd Fared Jainal Lighting Designer Emanorwatty Saleh Costume Designer Audrey Tang Sound Designer Lynette Quek Education & Engagement Lead / Facilitator Teo Pei Si Production Manager Celestine Wong Stage Manager Natalie Wong Assistant Stage Manager Lee Jia Min