★★★★☆ Review: Chestnuts – Sibeh Strange in the Multiverse

Singapore’s longest running parody returns with a vengeance after 7 years, spoofing everything from Marvel to The LKY Musical. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Jonathan Lim) 7 Script (Jonathan Lim) 7 Performance (Jonathan Lim, Judy Ngo, Audrey Luo, Timothy Wan, Nelson Chia) 8 Music (Elaine Chan) 8 Sound Design (Bob Wong) 7 Multimedia Design (Genevieve Peck) 7 Lighting Design (Tai Zi Feng) 7 Costumes … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Chestnuts – Sibeh Strange in the Multiverse

★★★☆☆ Review: Offending The Audience by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Flawed revival of Handke’s classic fails to find a place in the contemporary world. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Ang Gey Pin) 6 Script (Peter Handke and devised parts by cast) 6 Performance 7 Lighting Design (David Li) 7 Total 26/40 (65%) Final Score: ★★★☆☆ Since premiering in Germany in 1966, Peter Handke’s Offending The Audience has gained a reputation for being a quintessential … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Offending The Audience by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

★★★☆☆ Review: Dream School by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Oversimplification of problems in arts education makes this less of a forum than it is another angry shout into the void against the system. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Li Xie) 5 Script (Devised by Li Xie and Cast) 5 Performance 7 Lighting Design (David Li) 7 Total 24/40 (60%) Final Score: ★★★☆☆ Presented as part of Emergency Stairs and NAFA’s Industry Project 2022, … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Dream School by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

RATA – new grounds, new sounds: An Interview with director Safuan Johari

In the blink of an eye, another year has gone by, and we’ll soon be saying goodbye to 2022. But before the year ends, sound artist and music producer Safuan Johari will be concluding it with a bang, as he and the Esplanade premiere the RATA Orkestra this December. Rounding off the Esplanade’s In New Light season of commissioned work at the newly opened Singtel … Continue reading RATA – new grounds, new sounds: An Interview with director Safuan Johari

Six outstanding arts practitioners honoured for their pursuit of artistic excellence with Singapore’s top arts accolades

The National Arts Council (NAC) has conferred two Cultural Medallions and four Young Artist Awards today at the Istana. The distinguished awards recognise outstanding artists for their artistic excellence, distinctive body of works and contributions to developing our nation’s arts and cultural landscape. This year’s awards celebrate a diverse group of artists specialising in different fields, who have contributed to enhancing the vibrancy of our … Continue reading Six outstanding arts practitioners honoured for their pursuit of artistic excellence with Singapore’s top arts accolades

Wild Rice announces An Inspector Calls, The Butterfly Lovers and Hotel as first three shows of 2023

With the end of 2022 comes the beginning of 2023, and with that – a brand new theatre season for leading Singapore theatre company Wild Rice, who’ve just announced the first three shows of 2023 – a new staging of J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls, the arrival of the first English-language opera adaptation The Butterfly Lovers, and the restaging of their critically-acclaimed Hotel. A thought-provoking … Continue reading Wild Rice announces An Inspector Calls, The Butterfly Lovers and Hotel as first three shows of 2023

★★★★★ Review: Pinocchio by Wild Rice

Italian fairytale proves powerful inspiration for Wild Rice’s annual pantomime. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Pam Oei) 10 Script (Thomas Lim) 9 Performance (Mae Elliessa, Ebi Shankara, Siti Khalijah Zainal, Dwayne Lau, Michelle Ler, Vester Ng) 9 Music – Composition/Lyrics (Julian Wong / Joel Tan) 9 Live Music (Joel Nah, Feri Susanto, Colin Yong, Brandon Wong, Rizal Sanip) 9 Choreography (Gino Babagay) 9 Set … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Pinocchio by Wild Rice

An Interview with Gangguan Theatre’s Edward Eng, Writer/Director of new play ‘The Change’

In a year where we have finally begun to move beyond the shadow of the pandemic, new global problems begin to rear their head in our face once again, with the most prominent of those being climate change. But in the face of a global crisis, how do we keep our chin up and do something useful about it? New theatre company Gangguan Theatre will … Continue reading An Interview with Gangguan Theatre’s Edward Eng, Writer/Director of new play ‘The Change’

Preview: Kumar XXX by Dream Academy

THIRTY… DIRTY… FLIRTY… From being stripped bare, to being a superhero, one ruling Queen has done it all. That Queen happens to be Kumar, Singapore’s number 1 drag queen and queen of comedy, as Kumar celebrates THIRTY fabulous years in show business – i.e. XXX (which is indeed the Roman numerals for 30!) So with a name like Kumar XXX, expect there to be some raunchy, X-rated … Continue reading Preview: Kumar XXX by Dream Academy

Music Is: SCO Ruan musicians to charm audiences with their deep and melodic tunes in “Music Tuesdays: Joyful” concert

Nine SCO ruan musicians will be coming together to put up the Music Tuesdays: Joyful concert, happening on 1 November 2022 (Tuesday), 7.30pm. Musicians from the ruan section, accompanied by other SCO musicians will be presenting world premiere of new works, including newly-composed pieces by young local composers. Veteran ruan musician Koh Kim Wah will be retiring by the end of this year. Hence, the … Continue reading Music Is: SCO Ruan musicians to charm audiences with their deep and melodic tunes in “Music Tuesdays: Joyful” concert