★★★★★ Review: Brown Boys Don’t Tell Jokes by Checkpoint Theatre

Myle Yan Tay’s professional debut is a sublime exploration of male friendship and the minority experience. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Huzir Sulaiman) 10 Script (Myle Yan Tay) 10 Performance (Gosteloa Spancer, Krish Natarajan, Ebi Shankara, Adib Kosnan, Shahid Nasheer) 10 Set Design (Petrina Dawn Tan) 9 Lighting Design (Petrina Dawn Tan) 8 Sound Design (Shah Tahir) 8 Costume/Hair and Makeup (Huzir Sulaiman/Norehan Fong-Harun) … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Brown Boys Don’t Tell Jokes by Checkpoint Theatre

Preview: Session Zero by Checkpoint Theatre

The term ‘Session Zero’ is probably an unfamiliar one, unless you play tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons. The phrase refers to the first meeting between a game master and their players, meeting for the first time and establishing the rules of play for the campaign they’re about to embark on. It’s a ritual of trust, lays down the groundwork, and deciding on how things … Continue reading Preview: Session Zero by Checkpoint Theatre

★★★★☆ Review: Keluarga Besar En. Karim (The Karims) by Checkpoint Theatre

Wholesome family drama about the importance of communication. Over the last year, the pandemic has forced multiple productions to either postpone, or reimagine themselves for a digital space. While there are those that have successfully utilised and harnessed the potential of platforms like Zoom, others instead opted for a straight up livestream, where audiences would simply watch a video recording of the show. And then … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Keluarga Besar En. Karim (The Karims) by Checkpoint Theatre

Review: Still Life by Checkpoint Theatre

An activist uses art as a means of  finding new ways of seeing and recalling her mother.  Former AWARE president Dana Lam is known more for being an activist than an artist. But take a peek at her biography in the programme booklet, and you’ll notice that she’s performed in more shows that you’d expect. In addition, Dana is also a trained painter, and it … Continue reading Review: Still Life by Checkpoint Theatre

Checkpoint Theatre’s Still Life: An Interview with Playwright/Performer Dana Lam

When we first met Dana Lam at a preview of her new play Still Life last year, we were struck by the quiet strength the former AWARE president exuded as she confidently performed a poetic interpretation of scenes from her life. This was helped in part by the countless artworks displayed all around her studio in Goodman Arts Centre, offering us a glimpse into Dana’s life not just … Continue reading Checkpoint Theatre’s Still Life: An Interview with Playwright/Performer Dana Lam

Preview: Still Life by Checkpoint Theatre

Last year, we caught a preview of a new play from Checkpoint Theatre while it was still in development. Now, that play is finally ready to be staged, as Checkpoint Theatre premieres artist-writer Dana Lam’s Still Life as the very first production of their 2019 season this February. Directed and dramaturged by Checkpoint Theatre co-artistic director Claire Wong, Still Life is Dana Lam’s reflection on her life and art-making, … Continue reading Preview: Still Life by Checkpoint Theatre

Still Life: Open Studios by Checkpoint Theatre

Dana Lam is perhaps most famous for being a former President of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), alongside having published a photobook during the heady GE 2006 days. But did you also know that she’s a trained artist? Once taught by Milenko and Delia Prvacki, Dana has been given the chance of a lifetime: produced by Checkpoint Theatre, Dana will tell the … Continue reading Still Life: Open Studios by Checkpoint Theatre

Review: Thick Beats for Good Girls by Checkpoint Theatre

Pooja Nansi and Jessica Bellamy delve into the history and personal significance of hip hop in a fun and insightful performance. Before we begin, take a moment to think about your favourite hip-hop artist is. Is it Tupac with the deeply emotional and strangely prescient The 7 Day Theory? Could it be pre-Kardashian Kanye West making waves and pushing genre boundaries with 808s & Heartbreak? Or is it … Continue reading Review: Thick Beats for Good Girls by Checkpoint Theatre

Thick Beats for Good Girls: An Interview with Creators Pooja Nansi, Jess Bellamy and Huzir Sulaiman

Jess Bellamy and Pooja Nansi have just completed a day of rehearsals at Checkpoint Theatre in Goodman Arts Centre. Their space is marked out in colourful shades of tape, while a visualisation board consisting of rappers from Nicki Minaj to Kanye West is stuck on a wall. Joined by director and dramaturg Huzir Sulaiman, we’re here to get down and find out about Checkpoint Theatre’s … Continue reading Thick Beats for Good Girls: An Interview with Creators Pooja Nansi, Jess Bellamy and Huzir Sulaiman

Preview: Thick Beats for Good Girls by Checkpoint Theatre

What exactly makes a good girl? Is she religious and knows her prayers by heart? Can she ever let go and take a walk on the wild side and still be good? And above all – can good girls ever call the shots? All these questions and more just might be answered in Checkpoint Theatre’s newest production this April. Directed by Huzir Sulaiman, Checkpoint will be premiering an … Continue reading Preview: Thick Beats for Good Girls by Checkpoint Theatre