★★★☆☆ Review: The Change by Gangguan Theatre

Gangguan makes their debut with a solution for climate change in search of a medium. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Edward Eng) 6 Script (Edward Eng) 6 Performance (Dennis Sofian) 7 Lighting Design (Ian Pereira) 6 Total 25/40 (63%) Final Score: ★★★☆☆ Everyone knows the climate crisis is important. But the sheer magnitude of the climate crisis and individual paralysis in the face of … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: The Change by Gangguan Theatre

★★★★☆ Review: Chestnuts – Sibeh Strange in the Multiverse

Singapore’s longest running parody returns with a vengeance after 7 years, spoofing everything from Marvel to The LKY Musical. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Jonathan Lim) 7 Script (Jonathan Lim) 7 Performance (Jonathan Lim, Judy Ngo, Audrey Luo, Timothy Wan, Nelson Chia) 8 Music (Elaine Chan) 8 Sound Design (Bob Wong) 7 Multimedia Design (Genevieve Peck) 7 Lighting Design (Tai Zi Feng) 7 Costumes … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Chestnuts – Sibeh Strange in the Multiverse

★★★☆☆ Review: Offending The Audience by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Flawed revival of Handke’s classic fails to find a place in the contemporary world. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Ang Gey Pin) 6 Script (Peter Handke and devised parts by cast) 6 Performance 7 Lighting Design (David Li) 7 Total 26/40 (65%) Final Score: ★★★☆☆ Since premiering in Germany in 1966, Peter Handke’s Offending The Audience has gained a reputation for being a quintessential … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Offending The Audience by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

★★★☆☆ Review: Dream School by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Oversimplification of problems in arts education makes this less of a forum than it is another angry shout into the void against the system. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Li Xie) 5 Script (Devised by Li Xie and Cast) 5 Performance 7 Lighting Design (David Li) 7 Total 24/40 (60%) Final Score: ★★★☆☆ Presented as part of Emergency Stairs and NAFA’s Industry Project 2022, … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Dream School by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

★★★★★ Review: Pinocchio by Wild Rice

Italian fairytale proves powerful inspiration for Wild Rice’s annual pantomime. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Pam Oei) 10 Script (Thomas Lim) 9 Performance (Mae Elliessa, Ebi Shankara, Siti Khalijah Zainal, Dwayne Lau, Michelle Ler, Vester Ng) 9 Music – Composition/Lyrics (Julian Wong / Joel Tan) 9 Live Music (Joel Nah, Feri Susanto, Colin Yong, Brandon Wong, Rizal Sanip) 9 Choreography (Gino Babagay) 9 Set … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Pinocchio by Wild Rice

Review: Playwrights’ Cove 2022 by The Necessary Stage

From featuring promising young theatremakers at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival, to the creative jamming of The Orange Playground, in recent years, The Necessary Stage (TNS) has been increasingly moving towards the developing of new works and setting the foundations for a new generation of theatremakers. This year, TNS has also brought back Playwrights’ Cove, a playwriting training and mentorship programme led by Resident Playwright … Continue reading Review: Playwrights’ Cove 2022 by The Necessary Stage

Review: Mina Kaye – Live In Concert 2022 by Sight Lines Entertainment

If there was ever any doubt of local actress Mina Kaye’s capabilities, then attending her live concert would have dispelled them all; even three months pregnant, Mina puts on a showstopper of a performance in Mina Kaye – Live In Concert that marks her as a true professional. Directed by Sight Lines Entertainment artistic director Derrick Chew, as part of the company’s 10th anniversary, the … Continue reading Review: Mina Kaye – Live In Concert 2022 by Sight Lines Entertainment

★★★★☆ Review: Baby Queen dir. Lei Yuan Bin (SGIFF 2022)

Charting the birth of the new queer Singapore through the portrait of a queen. There may be countless jokes around the ever-growing list of letters that make up the LGBTQ+ initialism, but in many ways, that problematisation of clear definition and categories is precisely what makes the queer community so beautiful – the sheer diversity across the rainbow spectrum of identities. And in Singapore, where … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Baby Queen dir. Lei Yuan Bin (SGIFF 2022)

★★★☆☆ Review: Kingdoms Apart by Chong Tze Chien and Esplanade – Theatres on The Bay

Held back by the weight of its ambition in this valiant but problematic new staging of The Mahabharata. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Chong Tze Chien) 6 Script (Chong Tze Chien) 6 Performance 7 Set Design (Eucien Chia) 7 Sound Design (Darren Ng) 8 Lighting Design (James Tan) 8 Costumes/Hair/Makeup (Yuan Zhiying & Jacqueline Teo/Ashley Lim/Bobbie Ng) 5 Multimedia (Koo Chia Meng) 7 Puppetry … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Kingdoms Apart by Chong Tze Chien and Esplanade – Theatres on The Bay

★★★★☆ Review: Extinction Feast by The Theatre Practice

Experimental eco-theatre fishes out the complexities of climate paralysis. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Ang Xiao Ting) 7 Script (Nabilah Said, Lee Wai Lokm Ang Xiao Ting, Sim Xin Yi, and Andrew Marko) 5 Performance (Andrew Marko) 9 Set Design (Chen Szu-Feng) 7 Lighting Design (Faith Liu Yong Huay) 8 Multimedia Design (Elizabeth Mak) 9 Sound Design (Ferry and Sandra Tay) 8 Costumes (MAX.TAN) … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Extinction Feast by The Theatre Practice