Review: There is no future in nostalgia – Studio A by Centre 42 (SIFA 2023)

In Arthur Yap’s poem ‘there is no future in nostalgia’, the Singaporean poet considers that it is better to leave the past behind, as urbanisation comes into play and continues this exhausting process of erasure, over and over again. In response to this, the resident playwrights of crafted new plays inspired by the poem, and were presented as a staged reading in Studio, part of … Continue reading Review: There is no future in nostalgia – Studio A by Centre 42 (SIFA 2023)

★★☆☆☆ Review: MATERIA by Andrea Salustri (SIFA 2023)

Object theatre performance more focused on experimentation and play than making a point. Better known as styrofoam to most people, polystyrene has become the most abundant plastic manufactured around the globe, used across the world primarily as food packaging. Gaining a bad reputation for being harmful to ecosystems and environments if disposed of incorrectly, is it possible that we’ve been too harsh towards it all … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: MATERIA by Andrea Salustri (SIFA 2023)

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Samir Veen of Ontroerend Goed, on interactive theatre piece ‘£¥€$ (LIES)’

For the ordinary person going about our lives, it’s already enough of a headache just keeping our finances in order. But if you were suddenly given a chance to join the super-rich and mess around with the world economy, wouldn’t you leap at the opportunity? At this year’s Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA), Belgian theatre collective Ontroerend Goed arrives on our shores to present … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Samir Veen of Ontroerend Goed, on interactive theatre piece ‘£¥€$ (LIES)’

★★★★☆ Review: Angel Island by Brian Gothong Tan and Huang Ruo (SIFA 2023)

A visually stunning, sobering history lesson of Chinese discrimination in America told through music and song. Across history, the United States of America has always been seen as a haven for immigrants, welcoming a diverse group of foreigners from around the world with nothing but the dream of a better life. But amidst such glories, America has also been plagued by a nasty streak of … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Angel Island by Brian Gothong Tan and Huang Ruo (SIFA 2023)

★★★★★ Review: Abyss by Hyerim Jang (SIFA 2023)

an orchid standing by the windowhas beautiful scent of leaves and branchesonce it fronted the Autumn wind,fades by the frostalthough lost its flowerthe scent lasts foreverit breaks my heartwipe the tears with my sleeve Sorrow and pain are difficult feelings to escape, often embedded within the body and subconsciously passed down from generation to generation, growing to dangerous levels if not dealt with. In Hyerim … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Abyss by Hyerim Jang (SIFA 2023)

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Joanna Dudley, creator of art installation ‘We Will Slam You With Our Wings’

Artist Joanna Dudley primarily specialises in the medium of performance, singing and music theatre. So it might be somewhat surprising that the 2023 Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) is presenting an installation work from her, rather than a full-blown performance. But if you take a look at We Will Slam You With Our Wings, the performance and performative aspect of it comes through quite … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Joanna Dudley, creator of art installation ‘We Will Slam You With Our Wings’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with MOJOKO, curator of digital art showcase ‘PR1V4CY’

In a world of social media, where we’ve unwittingly put our entire lives on the internet and selling away our personal data to big corporations to do as they will, how much privacy do we really have? As part of the 2023 Singapore International Festival of Arts, curator MOJOKO gathers a motley crew of digital artists to address the phenomenon of this fast-disappearing luxury, and … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with MOJOKO, curator of digital art showcase ‘PR1V4CY’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with dancer Muna Tseng, creator of ‘Me, You, Then, Now’

Hong Kong-born, New York-based dance artist Muna Tseng has made a name for herself over the years, developing a four decade-long illustrious career working at the fluid intersections of contemporary dance, visual design, new music and avant-garde theatre. In her work Me, You, Then, Now, which plays for one night only at the 2023 Singapore International Festival of Arts, audience members are invited to join … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with dancer Muna Tseng, creator of ‘Me, You, Then, Now’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Andrea Salustri, creator of ‘MATERIA’

The star of Andrea Salustri’s show MATERIA is not a person, but a material – polystyrene, one of the most common forms of plastic. Under Salustri’s manipulation, he allows it to come alive, and questions how we engage with objects, and to consider the life behind the ordinary. MATERIA also explores the balance between being a facilitator and being a performer, as the focus gradually shifts … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Andrea Salustri, creator of ‘MATERIA’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Festival Director Natalie Hennedige

In 2022, Natalie Hennedige went from artistic director of Cake Theatre, to Festival Director of the annual Singapore International Festival of Arts. Together with her team, the veteran theatremaker programmed a slew of works in her debut year, and established her own spin on the festival by theming each edition around ‘The Anatomy of Performance’, specifically zooming in on the concept of rituals last year. … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Festival Director Natalie Hennedige