Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Xu Bing, Director of Dragonfly Eyes (SGIFF 2017)

Chinese visual artist Xu Bing is primarily an installation based artist. But in 2017, he made his film directorial debut with Dragonfly Eyes, snagging the FIPRESCI Prize and Special Mention: Ecumenical Jury at the Locarno International Film Festival 2017. Dragonfly Eyes continues Xu’s ongoing exploration of communication and the way we interact, carefully editing down over 11,000 hours of footage obtained from surveillance cameras to create a completely unstaged, … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Xu Bing, Director of Dragonfly Eyes (SGIFF 2017)

Artist Spotlight: Vivian Qu, Director of SGIFF 2017 Opening Film Angels Wear White

Vivian Qu has plenty of producing credits to her name and is a star in the Chinese independent film community, having produced arthouse films such as Knitting (2008), Night Train (2007) and Black Coal, Thin Ice (2014). But besides producing, the Chinese filmmaker also has a firm hand on creating her own works,  having scripted and directed her critically acclaimed debut Trap Street in 2013 and with it, becoming the first Chinese female filmmaker to … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Vivian Qu, Director of SGIFF 2017 Opening Film Angels Wear White

The Godfather Speaks II: Daniel Boey on the 2017 Singapore Fashion Awards

The SFAs first started in 2001, and was a biennial event before taking a hiatus in the mid-2000s. After its revival in 2016, it is now set to become an annual event in the fashion calendar. Said Boey: “Fashion designers used to be akin to rock stars in the 90s, each of them having huge followings and droves of fans. But the scene has changed … Continue reading The Godfather Speaks II: Daniel Boey on the 2017 Singapore Fashion Awards

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with W!ld Rice’s Ivan Heng, Glen Goei and Pam Oei

W!ld Rice’s annual Christmas pantomime opens in less than a week, and we couldn’t be more excited to catch it. Since its inception, W!ld Rice’s pantos have gone above and beyond simply being a show for children to enjoy with their families, to becoming all-encompassing theatrical extravaganzas filled with a whole barrel of laughs and plenty of love to go around. This year, they’ll be … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: An Interview with W!ld Rice’s Ivan Heng, Glen Goei and Pam Oei

#mydurianturns15: An Interview with Ravi Sivalingam, Esplanade Head of Operational Support Services

“Tell them the trivia!” Esplanade Communications Specialist Gina Koh says, grinning eagerly. Ravi groans but relents. “I can never forget the Esplanade’s anniversary date because my birthday falls on the same day – 12th October.” Ravi Sivalingam may not be a familiar face to the public, but within the Esplanade’s walls, the Head of Operational Support services is a huge personality who’s been with them … Continue reading #mydurianturns15: An Interview with Ravi Sivalingam, Esplanade Head of Operational Support Services

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Masachika Ichimura (NINAGAWA: Macbeth)

Masachika Ichimura is one of the most prolific Japanese actors alive today. His career spans over forty years, including roles in Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins (2010) and for animation fans, the voice of Mewtwo in Pokemon: Mewtwo Returns (2000). Ichimura also happens to be an incredible theatre actor, having made his theatre debut as King Herod in a 1973 production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and will be gracing the … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Masachika Ichimura (NINAGAWA: Macbeth)

Mosaic Music Series 2017: An Interview with Canvas Conversations

The Esplanade’s regular Mosaic Music Series returned last night as the season kicked off with local band Canvas Conversations in collaboration with fellow local musician FERRY (of Giants Must Fall), as they performed a dreamy electronic music set at the Esplanade Annexe Studio. Consisting of four members, namely Vick Low, Jeff Hue, Namie Rasman and Bings Lee, the band first came to attention at Noise 2015, before … Continue reading Mosaic Music Series 2017: An Interview with Canvas Conversations

Preview: The Sound of Music at Mastercard Theatres

The hills are alive once again as The Sound of Music returns to Mastercard Theatres this November! Winning six Tony Awards in its original 1959 Broadway run, including Best Musical, The Sound of Music is arguably the biggest success story of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The Sound of Music is best known to audiences through the critically and commercially acclaimed 1965 film starring Julie Andrews, nabbing five Oscars and still … Continue reading Preview: The Sound of Music at Mastercard Theatres

Preview: Our Town by Intercultural Theatre Institute (+Interview with Director Kok Heng Leun)

Presented in collaboration with the Esplanade, the Intercultural Theatre Institute’s graduating cohort will be performing their newest show at the Esplanade Theatre Studio this November, following their previous production of Leakages. Directed by Drama Box Artistic Director and Arts NMP Kok Heng Leun, ITI presents American playwright Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize winning play – Our Town.  Written in 1938, Our Town is a metaphysical theatre piece and plays out like … Continue reading Preview: Our Town by Intercultural Theatre Institute (+Interview with Director Kok Heng Leun)

Spirited Away: Meeting the Team Behind L’arietta’s Purgatory

Stepping into their rehearsal space at UWCSEA, we watch the members of L’arietta’s upcoming production of Purgatory already in the midst of a jovial conversation, easily cracking jokes with each other while chatting animatedly. It’s the very image of a happy family, and we were taken with how in sync the entire group felt at first sight. Founded in mid-2015 by soprano Akiko Otao and tenor … Continue reading Spirited Away: Meeting the Team Behind L’arietta’s Purgatory