Theatre Review: The Lighthouse by Patch Theatre (SIFA 2026)

Surreal, interactive series of experiential light installations that turn physics into magic, ideal for younger audiences. For those who have never quite learnt about reflection and refraction in science class, interactions with light can feel like pure magic. That sense of innocent mystery is exactly what Patch Theatre harnesses in The Lighthouse, an experiential promenade work that guides audiences through a series of interconnected rooms … Continue reading Theatre Review: The Lighthouse by Patch Theatre (SIFA 2026)

SIFA 2026: Makan Culture – An interview with playwright Jo Tan and director Krish Natarajan on makan, mayhem and making meaning

What happens when theatre stops asking audiences to sit still and instead invites them to eat, speak, and play? At the festival village of the 2026 Singapore International Festival of Arts, new experience Makan Culture unfolds as a lively, unpredictable encounter that sits somewhere between performance and gathering. Created by Jo Tan and directed by Krish Natarajan, the work brings together music, puppetry, and audience … Continue reading SIFA 2026: Makan Culture – An interview with playwright Jo Tan and director Krish Natarajan on makan, mayhem and making meaning

SIFA 2026: The Lighthouse – An interview with Patch Theatre artistic director Geoff Cobham on light and children’s theatre

In The Lighthouse, light isn’t something you simply watch, but something you step into. Created by Geoff Cobham for Patch Theatre, the work invites audiences, both young and the young-at-heart, to move through a glowing landscape of shifting rooms, reflections, and surprises, where curiosity leads the way. Presented as part of the 2026 Singapore International Festival of Arts, this immersive experience rethinks what theatre for … Continue reading SIFA 2026: The Lighthouse – An interview with Patch Theatre artistic director Geoff Cobham on light and children’s theatre

★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Phinny & Wally – Echoes of Home by Nine Years Theatre

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 … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Phinny & Wally – Echoes of Home by Nine Years Theatre

More Whale: An Interview with Nine Years Theatre, playwright Cherilyn Woo and director Deonn Yang on crafting the Phinny & Wally sequel

Following the heartwarming success of their debut children’s production Phinny & Wally in 2024, Nine Years Theatre (NYT) is diving deeper into the world of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) with Phinny & Wally: Echoes Of Home, a brand new, standalone sequel running from 22 to 31 August 2025 at the Drama Centre Black Box. Aimed at children aged 5 to 8 and performed in … Continue reading More Whale: An Interview with Nine Years Theatre, playwright Cherilyn Woo and director Deonn Yang on crafting the Phinny & Wally sequel

Review: The Lost Lending Library by Punchdrunk Enrichment

Punchdrunk makes its Singapore debut with an immersive show for young audiences, and conjuring up the magic of storytelling. Making a name for themselves as masters of sprawling, immersive theatre, UK’s Punchdrunk brings its educational wing to Singapore for the first time, with their children’s theatre show The Lost Lending Library at the Esplanade, focusing on crafting a sprawling world where storytelling takes centrestage. Playing … Continue reading Review: The Lost Lending Library by Punchdrunk Enrichment

★★★★★ Review: The Feelings Farm by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

A moving, necessary primer on emotional intelligence for both children and adults. The beauty of the arts often lies in how they are able to produce powerful emotional responses, representing and platforming a degree of authenticity onstage that allows for audiences to undergo catharsis. And in a country like Singapore, where emotional and mental health are just beginning to enter mainstream conversation, it seems more … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: The Feelings Farm by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

The Feelings Farm: An Interview with Amanda Chong on connecting with children and managing emotions

“Like a Pixar film onstage.” That’s how writer Amanda Chong imagines any kind of Theatre For Young Audiences theatre should feel like, rather than talking down or infantilising it in any way, able to connect not just with children, but even with the adults accompanying them by speaking to some fundamental, universal, relatable truths. And in many ways, that is precisely what she’s achieved with … Continue reading The Feelings Farm: An Interview with Amanda Chong on connecting with children and managing emotions

★★★★☆ Review: Phinny & Wally by Nine Years Theatre

Nine Years Theatre’s foray into children’s theatre tugs at the heartstrings and covers a sea of themes. In the world of children’s theatre, a show often has to go beyond pure entertainment, to also include teachable moments and life lessons for its young audiences to take away. The quality of a children’s show then hinges on the execution of several core tenets, including the level … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Phinny & Wally by Nine Years Theatre

Phinny & Wally: An Interview with writer/director Cherilyn Woo on Nine Years Theatre’s foray into children’s theatre

For years, local theatre company Nine Years Theatre has been producing original and adapted works in Mandarin, primarily targeted at adults, and showcasing the beauty and art of the Chinese language. But this July, they’re breaking new ground and attempting to bring in a completely different demographic of audience – children. Kicking off this new initiative is original production Phinny & Wally, set to premiere … Continue reading Phinny & Wally: An Interview with writer/director Cherilyn Woo on Nine Years Theatre’s foray into children’s theatre