Food For Thought: Like coming home to a good meal at Hashida Private Dining

One of the first types of Japanese cuisine anyone is exposed to is probably sushi, a dish that Chef Kenjiro ‘Hatch’ Hashida is best known for, thanks to the critical acclaim and fans garnered for his restaurant Hashida Sushi.  But Hashida Sushi has never just been about sushi in the straight and narrow way – sure, you’ll get your fair share of high quality nigiri, … Continue reading Food For Thought: Like coming home to a good meal at Hashida Private Dining

★★★★☆ Review: Crazy Christmas Fun-raising Concert – Keep the DREAM Alive by Dream Academy

The show must go on, as Dream Academy brings back their beloved Crazy Christmas revue to save 2020. It’s been a tough year for all of us, but if it’s one thing we’ve learnt, it’s that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. And for us at least, over the last few years, we’ve come to look forward to our new annual … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Crazy Christmas Fun-raising Concert – Keep the DREAM Alive by Dream Academy

Review: Dating Sim (beta ver. Zoom) by ATTEMPTS

ATTEMPTS’ foray into the digital sphere subverts dating sims to explore how women are viewed and objectified. If you’ve ever played a dating simulator game, then you’d know that the way to ‘win’ is to be strategic in your interactions with your intended ‘waifu’/’best girl’, and make sure you pick the best possible option to ensure a romantic match and good ending for your player … Continue reading Review: Dating Sim (beta ver. Zoom) by ATTEMPTS

Review: POPPY – a ‘made-for-the-internet’ Theatre Experiment

Exploring the perils of activism and social media for young people today. When Kuo Pao Kun wrote his environmentalism-focused play The Silly Little Girl and The Funny Old Tree in 1987, the internet had only just been invented and global warming still one of the furthest things on people’s minds. But 33 years on, at the height of the social media age and climate change … Continue reading Review: POPPY – a ‘made-for-the-internet’ Theatre Experiment

Review: The Silence of a Falling Tree by COMPOUND

Meditative audio journeys exploring essentialism. In adapting for the restrictions placed on live performances due to the pandemic, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) has turned to the digital space for presentation, with many of its commissioned work taking the form of audio experiences instead. The latest of these to premiere is COMPOUND’s The Silence of a Falling Tree, where listeners are taken on ‘immersive sonic … Continue reading Review: The Silence of a Falling Tree by COMPOUND

Review: A Bird Calls You To Moscow by Joel Tan and Tan Shou Chen

A breakup in audio form, accompanied by piano music.  There’s always something about piano music that’s irresistibly evocative, able to make the simplest of events feel like the end of the world. Simply hearing it is enough to provoke a reaction, and in A Bird Calls You To Moscow, helps create an excessive amount of heartbreak. Written by Joel Tan and directed by Tan Shou … Continue reading Review: A Bird Calls You To Moscow by Joel Tan and Tan Shou Chen

★★☆☆☆ Review: Candide by Young & Wild

The pitfalls of optimism are explored in Young & Wild 2020’s showcase performance.  According to playwright Mark Ravenhill, the word ‘optimism’ had only been in use for about 20 years when Voltaire wrote his satirical novella Candide in 1759. And interestingly enough, beyond the idea of hope, the word ‘optimism’ was also born from the idea of the ‘optimal’, where one believes that whatever path one’s … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: Candide by Young & Wild

★★★☆☆ Review: Josée dir. Kim Jong-Kwan

Beautiful scenery and strong performances can’t save the doomed romance between a paraplegic and university student. Pitched as a romance flick set to evoke tears, lush, gorgeous cinematography, a stirring soundtrack, and two incredibly charming stars in the leading roles, new Korean film Josée seems to have a recipe for success. A remake of Japanese flick Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2003) (coincidentally, an anime … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Josée dir. Kim Jong-Kwan

★★★☆☆ Book Review: GE2020 – Fair or Foul? by Bertha Henson

A useful compendium for all that went down in GE2020. The 2020 Singapore General Elections were an unprecedented one – who would ever have expected to vote during a pandemic? But as much as the results essentially maintained the status quo, there was still plenty of drama that emerged in the weeks leading up to it, and if you’d like to relive that chapter of … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Book Review: GE2020 – Fair or Foul? by Bertha Henson

★★★☆☆ Book Review: Robert Yeo at Eighty – A Celebration (edited by Dr Ismail S. Talib)

A celebration of a literary pioneer in one book.  Birthday parties are all about making the birthday boy feel good about himself. After all, it’s his special day. And in much the same vein, Robert Yeo at Eighty is exactly that, as it collects praise, tributes, memories, and even fan fiction inspired by his work into a single volume. Over the course of the book, … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Book Review: Robert Yeo at Eighty – A Celebration (edited by Dr Ismail S. Talib)