★★★★☆ Review: Pleasant Island by Silke Huysmans and Hannes Dereere (The Studios 2023)

A modern parable of man’s insatiable greed and the destruction left in its wake. Marking the second part of their Mining Trilogy series, Pleasant Island turns theatremakers Silke Huysmans and Hannes Dereere’s attention to the tiny island republic of Nauru. Surrounded entirely by water in the middle of Micronesia, Nauru’s fascinating history makes for a riveting case study, literally once being the richest island in … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Pleasant Island by Silke Huysmans and Hannes Dereere (The Studios 2023)

★★★☆☆ Review: Mining Stories by Silke Huysmans and Hannes Dereere (The Studios 2023)

It’s always good to look at the story from a different perspective. The truth is rarely pure and never simple, and often, it takes a medley of voices and points of view to get the full picture. Particularly when living in an internet age, where perspectives are often skewed and we live in echo chambers, it becomes more important than ever to consider events with … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Mining Stories by Silke Huysmans and Hannes Dereere (The Studios 2023)

★★★★☆ Review: Unforgotten The Musical by Musical Theatre Limited

Facing one’s fears and trauma to tell the story of survival. There are some things in life that are best left unsaid. But there are also some things that should absolutely be made known, the key parts of one’s own personal history that when spoken aloud, begins a process of healing by acknowledging and facing these debilitating traumas head-on. That is the newfangled methodology young … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Unforgotten The Musical by Musical Theatre Limited

★★★☆☆ Review: Re:Assembly by Drama Box

The anatomy of tragedy, seen from multiple angles. So much of the time, Singaporeans are so focused on looking out for themselves, that they become blindsided to the darker, more problematic aspects of society, so much that they aren’t even aware when others are suffering in silence. That’s something that starts as young as one’s school days, and the earlier one becomes aware of it, … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Re:Assembly by Drama Box

★★★★★ Review: Broadway Beng – Growing gOLD by Dream Academy

Stay gold as Broadway Beng celebrates his 50th birthday. 50 is the new 40, at least according to Sebastian Tan, better known by his stage persona Broadway Beng. Playing the iconic character for 17 years now, Sebastian has returned to celebrate his 50th birthday with revue show Broadway Beng: Growing gOLD, containing his signature mix of Hokkien songs and musical numbers and charisma in spades. … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Broadway Beng – Growing gOLD by Dream Academy

Review: Cuckoo at The Royal Court Theatre (London)

by Robyn Ong LONDON – In the Royal Court Theatre’s newest offering, directed by Vicky Featherstone, Michael Wynne’s Cuckoo juxtaposes the ordinary lives of four generations of women with an inescapable sense of existential doom, exploring themes of digital alienation and intergenerational discontent. Cuckoo is at its heart a kitchen sink drama, with most of the action taking place in widowed grandmother Doreen’s Birkenhead living … Continue reading Review: Cuckoo at The Royal Court Theatre (London)

Review: Kumar Guilty by Ra Ra Productions and Base Entertainment Asia

No holds barred. With all his years in comedy, Kumar has always seemed like someone who boldly moves forward, never one to be slowed down by regret. A force of nature taking human form, Kumar is the kind of performer who never holds back, forever unabashedly, unapologetically frank with his remarks and jokes, and always keeping it real and genuinely himself onstage. Which is precisely … Continue reading Review: Kumar Guilty by Ra Ra Productions and Base Entertainment Asia

★★★★★ Review: Monster 怪物 dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda

Truth that lies buried under the pressures of society. A monster is often imagined to be a singular, bestial creature bringing terror to all in its vicinity, a wickedness and intentionality behind its cruelty that warrants a hero to vanquish it. Yet, monsters are not born but made, where behind every action is a reason, to the extent that we wonder – is it possible … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Monster 怪物 dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda

★★★☆☆ Review: Kusu Island by The Fool Theatre

Newcomers to the scene keep this short but sweet production buoyed. It’s been four long years since their last production, but Singapore theatre company The Fool Theatre is finally back with a brand new show: Kusu Island. Continuing their series of productions reimagining the origins of Singapore’s islands, this time around, they’re adapting the legend of Kusu Island into an Mandarin musical, perfect for audiences … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Kusu Island by The Fool Theatre

Review: Open Stage 2023 (cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival 2023)

Each year, cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival’s Open Stage programme is always one of the most exciting platforms to look forward to, gathering and curating short works from all corners of the world and presenting them as a mixed bill. The diversity you get in a single presentation is unparalleled, and celebrates movement, experimentation and varied perspectives. This year, a total of seven works were selected … Continue reading Review: Open Stage 2023 (cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival 2023)