New ending to Orwell’s classic further blurs the line between man and beast. For centuries, humans have evolved from prehistoric creatures to the hyper-intelligent dominant species on Earth today. But in a world filled with constant war and animosity, one can’t help but think if somewhere inside our modern minds, there still lies a hint of that original animal instinct, and whether we truly can … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Animal Farm by Wild Rice
Ambitious attempt to create an immersive Cathay multiverse sends mixed messaging. In the ‘good old days’, there used to exist the Cathay Hotel, which existed as both a hotel and a cinema. As a gathering space, it offered a sense of community when members of the public would come together to watch a film, the golden age of Singapore’s cinema scene where we’d see local … Continue reading ★☆☆☆☆ Review: Cathay Hotel – The Curse of the Missing Red Shoe by Vertical Submarine
It’s morality versus materialism in this debut production by Singapore’s first eco-theatre company. Raising a child is hard – not only does it incur tremendous financial strain, but children are also incredibly vulnerable and susceptible to the elements, where one wrong move could result in infant death. With so much stress incurred, it’s no wonder that a child’s birth also has immense effects on a … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: The Nest by Rainshadow Studios
More mayhem and madness as How Drama returns with a new edition of their signature show. In a year that’s been characterised with the chaos of a ‘post-COVID world’, with borders opening up and a new normal that feels like we’re going back to the old normal, there’s only one thing to do – make sense of it by making light of it all. And … Continue reading Review: Fat Kids Are Harder to Kidnap 2022 by How Drama
New edition of Dancers’ Locker explores nature, culture, and features innovative use of space. In the wake of the pandemic, local dance company Frontier Danceland has come through with a slew of new skillsets, from performing onscreen to further developing their technique and poise. Now, returning to fully-live performances, they’ve taken their experiences from the pandemic and transmuted it into new works for Dancers’ Locker … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Dancers’ Locker 2022 by Frontier Danceland
Heartfelt and sincere new work shows the potential of Singaporean musicals. You’ve seen them at MRT exits, you’ve had them approach you while having a meal at the local coffee shop. With the tissue aunty being so ubiquitous in Singapore, she’s something of a national icon, and high time she became the centre of focus in a show. Written, composed, and directed by the late … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Tissue Aunty The Musical by Caricapture Theatre
Puzzling song cycle features catchy numbers but little emotional staying power. It’s no surprise that love is and always has been a central theme across musicals, with characters expressing the nature of love at first sight and chance encounters, or the tragedy of breakups and unrequited pining through song. All of this is captured in Joey Contreras’ 2020 musical In Pieces, which follows eight individuals … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: In Pieces by 7/8 Musical Collective
Brutally honest depiction of millennial parenthood reveals the cracks in the system. The fourth trimester refers to the 12-week period immediately after a mother gives birth, an additional three months of physical and emotional labour as both parent and child adjust to their new lives. But while just about every mother goes through this, very little of it has been shown onstage and onscreen, and … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: The Fourth Trimester by Checkpoint Theatre
Weaving a tangled web of shame. Across the pantheon of Greek myths, the stories that have always stood out are the ones that deal with mortally unfair punishment from the gods, often taking the form of metamorphosis and the resulting body horror that follows. In the tale of Arachne for example, a talented but proud weaver is cursed by Athena after proving to be more … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Inconsequential Goddess by Edith Podesta (The Studios 2022)
Chaos is the formula for laughter, in this loving, low-budget parody of Jurassic Park. If it’s one country that has a thing for dinosaurs, it’s Singapore, with everything from the Jurassic Mile to Jurassic Park-themed rides at Universal Studios. Perhaps one film franchise that encapsulates that shared obsession and wonder for these ancient beasts is Jurassic Park, still going strong to this day with the … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: Hold On To Your Butts at The Improv Company’s Nook @ Aliwal
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