Singapore Theatre Festival 2018: An Interview with Festival Co-Artistic Director Alfian Sa’at

W!ld Rice’s 2018 Singapore Theatre Festival has just completed its first weekend, starting off with a strong note with three fantastic new plays and peripheral activities as they once again dive deep into the very heart of the human condition, and specifically, the Singaporean human condition. With two weeks to go and five more new, almost completely sold out plays set to premiere, we asked playwright and 2018 … Continue reading Singapore Theatre Festival 2018: An Interview with Festival Co-Artistic Director Alfian Sa’at

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Interview with Director Daniel Yang and Cast Members Jin Shi Jie and Pu Xueliang

Based off the memoir that shot American author Mitch Albom to fame, Taiwan’s Godot Theatre Company will be presenting their smash hit stage adaptation of Tuesdays with Morrie at the Esplanade next week! As a memoir, Tuesdays with Morrie found resonance with audience members worldwide when it was first published in 1997. Tuesdays with Morrie follows Mitch as he spends every Tuesday with his college professor Professor Morrie Schwartz, … Continue reading Tuesdays with Morrie: An Interview with Director Daniel Yang and Cast Members Jin Shi Jie and Pu Xueliang

Review: Chinatown Crossings by Drama Box

A melancholic trip down memory lane that effectively harnesses the history and geography of the place once known as Kreta Ayer. If you had a chance to look at photos of Chinatown in the 70s and 80s, it would virtually be unrecognizable from the same bustling tourist district of today. There are so many aspects of Chinatown that have changed over the years, and with Chinatown … Continue reading Review: Chinatown Crossings by Drama Box

Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》(July 2018) by Nam Hwa Opera

Nam Hwa Opera is having a busy summer period. Just last week, the fifty year old Teochew Opera troupe performed two full length operas at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, and this coming Sunday, they’ll be showcasing the tenth edition of their quarterly Nam Hwa Blazes programme at the Aliwal Arts Centre! The last edition in April saw the troupe showcasing three classic Teochew Operas, highlighting the … Continue reading Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》(July 2018) by Nam Hwa Opera

Review: 《告亲夫》Prosecuting the Husband by Nam Hwa Opera

The Chinese Opera I experienced growing up was always a very communal type of activity. Setting up makeshift stilt stages on the roadside, I’d join my excited grandparents as they dragged us along to watch in the evenings, particularly closer to the seventh month periods. As much as I never did master any dialect, these operas remained a fascinating aspect of my childhood as the … Continue reading Review: 《告亲夫》Prosecuting the Husband by Nam Hwa Opera

Reflections on a Skyline: An Interview with Here and Beyond Director Stanley Seah and Cast Member Jolene Wong

Toy Factory is having an incredibly busy year – they’ve already staged three brand new productions in 2018, ranging from epic hundred year musical to loving comedy tribute, and all of which were presented in Mandarin or Mandarin dialects. But this July, something quintessentially Singaporean will be coming your way, with the first ever stage adaptation of the only MOE-prescribed Singaporean O-Level Literature text – Here … Continue reading Reflections on a Skyline: An Interview with Here and Beyond Director Stanley Seah and Cast Member Jolene Wong

Keeping Teochew Opera Alive: An Interview with Tan Wei Tian, Wendy Lee and Teo Meng Hock of Nam Hwa Opera

This June, Nam Hwa Opera continues their 2018 season with two one night only shows at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre – Teochew Opera film classics《告亲夫》Prosecuting the Husband and《刘明珠》Lady Liu Ming Zhu. Whether you’re a Chinese Opera diehard fan or completely new to the scene, don’t miss this chance to relive the glory days of the past and catch this traditional art form performed by one of Singapore’s leading … Continue reading Keeping Teochew Opera Alive: An Interview with Tan Wei Tian, Wendy Lee and Teo Meng Hock of Nam Hwa Opera

Preview: Here and Beyond by Toy Factory

This July, Toy Factory takes on the local literary scene as they adapt Singapore’s only local MOE prescribed literature text for ‘O’ Level students! In Here and Beyond (edited by Cyril Wong), 12 quintessentially Singaporean stories charting the complexities, hardships and shared love and dedication to the Singapore we call home were collected from some of our most renowned local writers. Now, watch as these 12 stories by … Continue reading Preview: Here and Beyond by Toy Factory

Review: Citizen Dog by The Finger Players

The spirits are at play in both reality and fiction in this new work tackling issues of land ownership and the foibles of human desire. Pu Songling’s monstrous 18th century collection of over 400 supernatural stories Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Liaozhai Zhiyi) has remained fascinating over the years, with its quirky supernatural characters from failed scholars to alluring fox spirits interwoven with a strong satirical edge. … Continue reading Review: Citizen Dog by The Finger Players

Preview: 《告亲夫》Prosecuting the Husband and《刘明珠》Lady Liu Ming Zhu by Nam Hwa Opera

With its humble beginnings as an amateur music and drama association by a group of Teochew opera enthusiasts, Nam Hwa Opera has braved the test of time to reach its 55th anniversary this year! Having given over 130 public performances, the opera troupe continues to enrich local arts and culture by keeping this art form well and alive even today. This June, the troupe will … Continue reading Preview: 《告亲夫》Prosecuting the Husband and《刘明珠》Lady Liu Ming Zhu by Nam Hwa Opera