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)

bakchormeeboyNovember 3, 2020Leave a comment

Arts, Dance with Me, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Review, Singapore

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)

bakchormeeboyOctober 31, 2020Leave a comment

Arts, Books, By The Book, Interview, literature, Review, Singapore

★★★☆☆ 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

bakchormeeboyOctober 26, 2020October 26, 20203 Comments

Art What!, Arts, Dance with Me, Hong Kong, Review

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)

bakchormeeboyOctober 22, 2020Leave a comment

Review, Singapore

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

bakchormeeboyOctober 20, 2020October 22, 2020Leave a comment

Arts, Review, Singapore

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

bakchormeeboyOctober 19, 2020Leave a comment

Arts, Concert, Review, Theatre

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

bakchormeeboyOctober 17, 2020November 16, 2020Leave a comment

Arts, Review, Singapore

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

bakchormeeboyOctober 16, 20201 Comment

Arts, Books, By The Book, Interview, literature, Review, Singapore

★★★★☆ Book Review: A Fickle and Restless Weapon by Jason Erik Lundberg

Well-crafted fantasy version of Singapore brings the satire and drama in full force. Singapore is a country that’s often touted as so modern, it belongs in a science fiction film. Heck, even HBO’s Westworld filmed here on location for its third season. So it’s little wonder that with a little imagination, our island home serves as the perfect base for a refreshingly original science fiction story, … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Book Review: A Fickle and Restless Weapon by Jason Erik Lundberg

bakchormeeboyOctober 15, 2020Leave a comment

Arts, Books, By The Book, literature, Review, Singapore

★★★☆☆ Book Review: My BFF Is An Alien – Sabotage by Vivian Teo

Feisty schoolgirls return to battle mean classmates and the perils of social media. When the first book in Vivian Teo’s My BFF Is An Alien series ended, Bukit Timah Girls’ School student Abriana was left forlorn when best friend (and alien royalty) Octavia returned to her home planet, not knowing exactly when she’d be back to visit. As it turns out, it wouldn’t be too long, as … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Book Review: My BFF Is An Alien – Sabotage by Vivian Teo