Preview: 过年 The Nutcracker by The National Ballet of China

While primarily known as a Christmas ballet, you can expect the 2018 Yuletide spirit to carry on well into 2019 with the arrival of The National Ballet of China’s production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in January this year. Presented by MyChinaChannel, 过年 The Nutcracker performs in Singapore for the very first time at the Esplanade Theatre from 18th to 20th January 2019, and plays as part of the company’s 60th … Continue reading Preview: 过年 The Nutcracker by The National Ballet of China

In London’s West End 2018: Young Vic’s The Inheritance at the Noel Coward Theatre (Review)

A moving portrayal of Howards End seen through the lens of a 21st century queer narrative. LONDON – For the generation of gay men who came after the AIDs crisis of the 1990s, how could they even begin to understand the horror of what those who came before them went through? Directed by Stephen Daldry, Matthew Lopez’s The Inheritance opens on a similar note, asking not how to … Continue reading In London’s West End 2018: Young Vic’s The Inheritance at the Noel Coward Theatre (Review)

Preview: VCH Organ Series – Thomas Trotter – Arrival, 1819 by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

As part of their VCH Organ Series, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra presents esteemed British virtuoso organist, Thomas Trotter, in an evening recital of organ greats. Playing tunes from Bach’s Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, to Ginastera to Liszt, get set for an evening of celebrating familiar and famous British tunes, including the glittering magnificence of Holst’s Jupiter and the regal grandeur of Elgar’s … Continue reading Preview: VCH Organ Series – Thomas Trotter – Arrival, 1819 by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Preview: The Transition Room by Toy Factory

Besides the announcement of the second part of their theatrical trilogy at SIFA 2019, Toy Factory will be opening their 2019 season with their all new production The Transition Room. Making the bold transition from experimental to mainstage, The Transition Room originated as a dramatized reading held at Toy Factory’s space at NOWplaying@17, and will receive a full theatrical adaptation next February at the Drama Centre Black Box. Directed and … Continue reading Preview: The Transition Room by Toy Factory

In London’s (Off) West End 2019: Call Me Vicky (Preview)

LONDON – Sister scriptwriters Nicola and Stacey Bland are set to premiere their debut play this February. Based on a true story, Call Me Vicky brings audiences back to Elephant & Castle in 1980s, as Martin and his best friend Debbie are about to head to Soho’s premier drag club – The Golden Girl. But unbeknownst to them, this will be a night that will change Martin’s life … Continue reading In London’s (Off) West End 2019: Call Me Vicky (Preview)

M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2019: An Interview with Michael Pinchbeck, Writer/Director of A Fortunate Man (Preview)

50 years ago, writer John Berger (Ways of Seeing) and Swiss photographer Jean Mohr collaborated on the book A Fortunate Man, a visionary, philosophical tome that meditated on what it means to be a doctor or member of the healthcare professional. Following the life of English country general practitioner John Sassall, a combination of storytelling and photography brings to life his daily routines, his compassions and practice. … Continue reading M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2019: An Interview with Michael Pinchbeck, Writer/Director of A Fortunate Man (Preview)

M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2019: An Interview with Nabilah Said and Noor Effendy Ibrahim of ANGKAT (Preview)

Having helmed our favourite play of 2018, suffice to say that we’re excited about director Noor Effendy Ibrahim taking the reins once more and starting off 2019 with a brand new play, premiering as part of the 2019 M1 Singapore Fringe Festival. Written by Nabilah Said, ANGKAT: A Definitive, Alternative, Reclaimed Narrative of a Native is set to be a highlight of the festival, and follows the … Continue reading M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2019: An Interview with Nabilah Said and Noor Effendy Ibrahim of ANGKAT (Preview)

Singapore Art Week 2019: An Interview with Fajrina Razak, Curator of Of Wax, Dyes and Labour

The Indonesian tradition of Batik has a rich history stemming from the island of Java, an art form that involves wax-resist dyeing to create intricate recurring patterns on bales of cloth, these days considered a sign of class and often expensive. At the same time, locally at least, batik is an art form that’s fast eroding, with just a handful of practitioners left. Such was … Continue reading Singapore Art Week 2019: An Interview with Fajrina Razak, Curator of Of Wax, Dyes and Labour

Singapore Art Week 2019: An Interview with Toh Hun Ping (Dance of A Humble Atheist @ Objectifs)

As far as hiatuses go, six years is pretty long. But for contemporary video artist Toh Hun Ping, that period of time has been spent carefully preparing for his triumphant return, with a solo exhibition set to premiere at Singapore Art Week 2019. Presented by Objectifs, Dance of a Humble Atheist marks Toh Hun Ping’s comeback with a multidisciplinary visual arts installation not only featuring brand new innovative … Continue reading Singapore Art Week 2019: An Interview with Toh Hun Ping (Dance of A Humble Atheist @ Objectifs)

Museum Musings: Raffles In Southeast Asia at the Asian Civilisations Museum

What do we really know about Sir Stamford Raffles and his role in 19th-century Southeast Asia beyond what we’ve read in our social studies textbooks? What was the larger global and regional geo-political context in the lead-up to the so-called “founding” of modern Singapore?  Co-curated by Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) and The British Museum, as part of the Singapore Bicentennial commemoration in 2019, gear up … Continue reading Museum Musings: Raffles In Southeast Asia at the Asian Civilisations Museum