From Singapore to the World: An Interview with Faizal Abdullah and Nur Khairiyah on bringing ‘Siapa Yang Bawa Melayu Aku Pergi?’ to Edinburgh

A cosmopolitan city like London may be diverse enough to welcome people of all races and backgrounds from Europe, America and Asia, but what happens when a lesser known ethnic group shows up? How then do they claim space and establish their own identity, when their very existence remains virtually unknown by the majority of the population? For Singaporean Malay theatremaker Faizal Abdullah, that comes … Continue reading From Singapore to the World: An Interview with Faizal Abdullah and Nur Khairiyah on bringing ‘Siapa Yang Bawa Melayu Aku Pergi?’ to Edinburgh

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Circa Associate Director Ben Knapton, and Tour Manager Todd Kilby, for ‘Humans 2.0’

Death-defying acrobatics, the human body stretched to its extremes, and intimate choreography that makes us feel for the performers – who doesn’t love the circus? In Circa’s Humans 2.0, the Australian circus company is taking the species to the next level, and blends movement, dance, theatre, and circus together to explore how we connect, attract, repel and attach, how we commune and how we isolate. … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Circa Associate Director Ben Knapton, and Tour Manager Todd Kilby, for ‘Humans 2.0’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Toshiki Okada, playwright and director of ‘NEW-ILLUSION’

In the realm of theatre, what is real and what is not? That’s a line further blurred in Japanese theatre production NEW-ILLUSION. Utilising chelfitsch’s innovative EIZO-Theater style, watch as life-size projections create dynamic illusions that live actors play with. In NEW-ILLUSION, projected images of a man and a woman begin talking about a play that was performed in the theatre, a play set in the … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Toshiki Okada, playwright and director of ‘NEW-ILLUSION’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Thanapol Virulhakul, director of ‘INTERMISSION’

In INTERMISSION, traditional Thai music and contemporary dance practice intertwine to examine the body as a political site and the sociopolitical power of dance. Stuck in the state-enforced past and unable to see the future of his own country, choreographer Thanapol Virulhakul proposes Thai postmodern dance as a method to navigate Thailand’s socio-political power structure that infiltrates all areas of a citizen’s life. A single … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Thanapol Virulhakul, director of ‘INTERMISSION’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with SUKKI, Daniel Kok and Luke George, co-creators of ‘LOVE DIVINE’

Ever imagined an arts event taking place at an elite club? This May, as part of the 2023 Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA), Singapore’s Queen of Burlesque, SUKKI joins forces with performance artists Daniel Kok and Luke George to present LOVE DIVINE, a truly unique performance taking place at the lush CÉ LA VI at Marina Bay Sands. Over the course of the evening, as … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with SUKKI, Daniel Kok and Luke George, co-creators of ‘LOVE DIVINE’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with ‘BLKDOG’ director/choreographer Botis Seva

The black dog of depression very rarely leaves. And for today’s youth, it seems to follow them everywhere, what with having to cope in a world that’s constantly at war, a place that’s seemingly not built for them. Addressing this issue is Botis Seva’s BLKDOG, a hip hop theatre performance that asks us – How do we fight through our vices and inner demons to … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with ‘BLKDOG’ director/choreographer Botis Seva

Flipside 2023: An Interview with Pityu Kenderes, co-artistic director of The Old Trout Puppet Workshop and co-creator of ‘Famous Puppet Death Scenes’

Everyone knows the best part of tragedies are the epic, bloody, melodramatic death scenes. So why not craft an entire show that gives you the best of the best, with an entire series of death scenes one after another? Enter Famous Puppet Death Scenes, where puppets will do just that for you, showcasing gruesome, shocking, silly, and ultimately, cathartic deaths of puppets. Created by Canada’s … Continue reading Flipside 2023: An Interview with Pityu Kenderes, co-artistic director of The Old Trout Puppet Workshop and co-creator of ‘Famous Puppet Death Scenes’

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)

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’