★★★★☆ Review: Mama Weed (La Daronne) dir. Jean-Paul Salomé

Isabelle Huppert shines in this thrilling film about a good cop gone bad.  Isabelle Huppert is nothing short of a legendary actress, and one of the best of all time. So it’s no surprise that she takes centrestage and steals the limelight in her latest film Mama Weed (La Daronne), the opening film for the 2020 French Film Festival in Singapore. Adapted from Hannelore Cayre’s novel of … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Mama Weed (La Daronne) dir. Jean-Paul Salomé

Review: Tune In 2020 by Ding Yi Music Company

As one of Singapore’s foremost Chinese chamber music ensembles, it’s always been a part of Ding Yi Music Company’s ethos to make sure their sound remains relevant, and show the world that there is still very much a place for Chinese chamber music in this day and age. That’s an idea that comes to the fore with their annual Tune In concert, with this year’s edition marking … Continue reading Review: Tune In 2020 by Ding Yi Music Company

Review: Solara & Luna by City Contemporary Dance Company (Hong Kong)

HONG KONG – Whether you’ve been literally confined to your home for work, or simply feel the strain of being unable to travel, there’s a definite sense of claustrophobia that’s descended upon the world thanks to the coronavirus situation. For Hong Kong, that’s a feeling that’s been further aggravated by the political situation, and has only led to further doom and gloom. Perhaps the one solution … Continue reading Review: Solara & Luna by City Contemporary Dance Company (Hong Kong)

Review: The Escape Game by s**t kingz (da:ns Festival 2020)

When we last saw them at FULL OUT! for da:ns Festival 2019, Japanese street dance quartet s**t kingz charmed us with their cheeky choreography and their commitment to fun as they danced their hearts out onstage. While they can’t be physically present this time, the Esplanade has commissioned and co-produced a brand new digital show from them for this year’s da:ns Festival, one that’s sure to … Continue reading Review: The Escape Game by s**t kingz (da:ns Festival 2020)

★★★☆☆ Book Review: The Fisherman King by Kathrina Mohd Daud

Bringing Bruneian folklore, mythology and royal drama to the forefront. Of all the Southeast Asian countries out there, perhaps the one whose folktales least enters the shared consciousness of pop culture is Brunei’s. With Kathrina Mohd Daud’s The Fisherman King, readers get more than a taster of the country’s lore, with mythical creatures, ancient rituals, and royal blood thrown into the mix. Framed as a story … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Book Review: The Fisherman King by Kathrina Mohd Daud

Arts of Hong Kong 2020: A Lover’s Concerto Episode 2 by City Contemporary Dance Company (Review)

HONG KONG – Following Episode 1 of A Lover’s Concerto in September, Hong Kong’s City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) returned this week with their second episode showcasing the sheer number of couples who had met through the company. This time around, Goh Boon Ann and Wu Yi-San, and Chang Lan-Yun and Luo Fan each presented dance films each couple starred in, once again displaying strong onscreen chemistry, … Continue reading Arts of Hong Kong 2020: A Lover’s Concerto Episode 2 by City Contemporary Dance Company (Review)

Television Time: Walking the Yangtze with Ash Dykes on National Geographic

If you ever wanted to inspire someone to start hiking, you might want to start them off on Walking the Yangtze with Ash Dykes. The two-part documentary follows Welsh adventurer and athlete Ash Dykes as he spends almost a year trekking across China, and becoming the first ever person to walk the entire length of the iconic Yangtze River. Premiering this October on National Geographic, Ash Dykes … Continue reading Television Time: Walking the Yangtze with Ash Dykes on National Geographic

Review: Poetry Under The Southern Bough by Toy Factory Productions

SIFA returns to live theatre with a tribute to Ming Dynasty poems in this stark but poignant production. While the final part of A Dream Under The Southern Bough has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the introduction of live performance pilots to test the viability of venues accommodating performing arts, Singapore International Festival of Arts and Toy Factory have been given an … Continue reading Review: Poetry Under The Southern Bough by Toy Factory Productions

Review: Blindspot 观心 by NUS Chinese Drama

NUS Chinese Drama highlights student struggles that may be hiding in plain sight.  Initially meant to have premiered during the 2020 NUS Arts Festival, NUS Chinese Drama’s original production Blindspot finds new life as a Zoom performance uploaded to YouTube. Directed by Judy Ngo, the devised work follows the lives of two students, each one dealing with their own set of adjustment issues as they settle into … Continue reading Review: Blindspot 观心 by NUS Chinese Drama

SIFA v2.020: More programmes announced as 2020 comes to a close

Following the successful launch of SIFA v2.020 in June, Singapore’s pinnacle arts festival announces an exciting lineup of programmes to wrap up 2020. Presented by Arts House Limited (AHL), this next wave of shows, workshops, talks and podcasts programmed between October and December showcases the resilience and resourcefulness of artists in the face of once unimaginable challenges wrought by the pandemic. Adapting swiftly to new techniques and … Continue reading SIFA v2.020: More programmes announced as 2020 comes to a close