Review: Bruch Violin Concerto and Mahler 5 by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Dubbed a violin prodigy in Singapore, Singapore Symphony Orchestra Artist-In-Residence Chloe Chua performed Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the orchestra this March. Known for his impassioned melodies and searing energy, Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 has been described as the composer’s “richest and the most seductive”, this particular concerto requires great control and pacing, both of which came through in the performance. Chloe … Continue reading Review: Bruch Violin Concerto and Mahler 5 by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Review: Solo/Oray Aal 2023 by SITFE

6 new monologues that explore and celebrate Indian identity, and relations. Now in its second instalment, the Singapore Indian Theatre and Film Explorers (SITFE) presented their new edition of their Solo/Oray Aal monologue series. Bringing together writers, directors and actors to create and perform six brand new monologues, Solo/Oray Aal 2023 reminded audience members of the power of joy, and how celebration marks the light at … Continue reading Review: Solo/Oray Aal 2023 by SITFE

★★★★★ Review: Kemas by Teater Kami

The horror of isolation is brought to life, in a terrifying play about the loneliness of existence. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Moli Mohter) 9 Script (Moli Mohter) 9 Performance (Dalifah Shahril, Rusydina Afiqah, Mahyonis Mahfudz, Suhaila M Sanif) 9 Costume Design (Moli Mohter) 8 Lighting Design (Emanorwatty Saleh) 8 Sound Design (Tini Aliman) 10 Total 53/60 (88%) Final Score: ★★★★★ There’s a popular … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Kemas by Teater Kami

★★★★★ Review: Two men, ten years later (两男常罩) by HORSE

30 years of growing together as friends and artists. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Edward Lam) 9 Performance (Chen Wu-kang and Su Wei-chia) 9 Choreography (Chen Wu-kang and Su Wei-chia) 9 Music (Lee Shih-yang) 9 Lighting Design (Chen Chao-chun) 8 Video Design (Sun Ruey-horng) 8 Stage Design (Liao Yin-chiao) 8 Costume Design (Yu-fang Teng) 8 Total 68/80 (85%) Final Score: ★★★★★ After meeting as … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Two men, ten years later (两男常罩) by HORSE

★★★★☆ Review: The Paiseh Pieces by The Second Breakfast Company

New musical sees 2BCo stretching into new directions as they tackle the perils of adulting. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Adeeb Fazah) 8 Book (Adeeb Fazah) 8 Music/Lyrics (Bennett Bay/Stephanie Phang) 8 Performance (Gail Belmonte, Kevin Brendan, Nadya Zaheer, Fiona Chua, Misha Paule Tan, Rino Junior John, Sharon Mah, Tan Rui Shan) 8 Costume Design (Denise Dolendo) 8 Choreography (Pat Jon Gregory) 8 Set … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: The Paiseh Pieces by The Second Breakfast Company

★★★★★ Review: ART by Godot Theatre Company

Fragile friendship torn asunder by abstract art. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Liang Chi-Ming) 10 Script (Yasmina Reza) 9 Performance (Pu Hsueh-Liang, Chu Chung Heng and Tseng Kuo Chen) 10 Stage Design (Nieh Kuang-Yen) 8 Costume Design (Chin Ping-Ping) 8 Lighting Design (Tsao An-Huei) 8 Music Composition/Arrangement (Chen Kao-Hwa) 8 Total 61/70 (87%) Final Score: ★★★★★ No matter how many times we’ve watched ART, … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: ART by Godot Theatre Company

★★★★★ Review: Kafka’s Ape by Phala O Phala and Tony Bonani Miyambo

Brilliant dramatic monologue shows ugliness of speciesism and tyranny of society. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Phala O Phala) 9 Script (Phala O Phala) 8 Performance (Tony Bonani Miyambo) 9 Total 26/30 (87%) Final Score: ★★★★★ A cursory glance at a single human and ape, and you’d swear we were worlds apart. Yet surprisingly, the two species share almost 99% of the same DNA. … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Kafka’s Ape by Phala O Phala and Tony Bonani Miyambo

★★★☆☆ Review: Never The Bride by The Necessary Stage

Searching for meaning beyond marriage as the endgame. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Alvin Tan) 6 Script (Rajkumar Thiagaras, Ryan Ang, Fadhil Daud) 6 Performance (Rajkumar Thiagaras, Ryan Ang, Fadhil Daud) 6 Composition / Sound Design (Emily Wong Ng Jing) 7 Scenography (Petrina Dawn Tan) 6 Multimedia /Film (Genevieve Peck / Tan Wei Ting) 8 Choreography (Ryan Ang) 7 Total 46/70 (66%) Final Score: … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Never The Bride by The Necessary Stage

★★★☆☆ Review: Less Than Half by Adib Kosnan, Yarra Ileto & Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Glass half empty perspective towards how a nation cares for its minorities. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Adib Kosnan, Yarra Ileto) 7 Script (Aswani Aswath, NAFA students) 6 Performance (NAFA students) 7 Sound Design (Alif Danial Ahmad) 7 Lighting (Tai Zi Feng) 7 Total 34/50 (68%) Final Score: ★★★☆☆ In a world where appearances are everything, it is far too often that we try … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Less Than Half by Adib Kosnan, Yarra Ileto & Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

★★★☆☆ Review: Mother of Compost by Noémie Huttner-Koros

An invitation to ponder over the future of families in the anthropocene. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Andrew Sutherland) 7 Script (Noémie Huttner-Koros) 7 Performance (Noémie Huttner-Koros) 8 Audiovisual Design (Edwin Sitt) 6 Lighting Design (Jasmine Lifford) 7 Costume Design (Molly Werner) 7 Stage Design (Molly Werner) 6 Sound Design (Lyndon Blue) 8 Total 54/80 (68%) Final Score: ★★★☆☆ Noémie Huttner-Koros loves babies. But … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Mother of Compost by Noémie Huttner-Koros