★★☆☆☆ Review: Oleanna by Major Minor Encounters and The Windland Collective

Two-hander pitting professor against student in battle of allegations, yet lacking in power. While revered as among the most dramatic in theatre, David Mamet’s plays have never been easy to stage, often requiring seasoned actors with a certain aura to carry both the weight and length of his dialogue. As such, younger theatremakers tend to struggle to deliver the full extent of the material onstage, … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: Oleanna by Major Minor Encounters and The Windland Collective

★★★☆☆ Review: Playing with Fire by Checkpoint Theatre

Metatheatrical look at the research process behind a play, and what it means to keep each other safe. Ever since the concept of sustainability and the looming climate crisis entered the public consciousness, the petrochemical industry has risen to become or at least close to, public enemy number one for their continued burning of fossil fuels, and the endless, rising stream of carbon emissions. Why … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Playing with Fire by Checkpoint Theatre

★★★★★ Review: Disgraced (2024) by Singapore Repertory Theatre

Fear and self-loathing in Islamophobic America. There’s a common saying that one of the worst pieces of advice to give to anyone is to ‘just be yourself’. Indeed, as much as a country like the USA posits itself as one that welcomes individualism and uniqueness, there also often seems to be certain OB markers where the moment you step even a little outside of what … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Disgraced (2024) by Singapore Repertory Theatre

Preview: Oleanna by Major Minor Encounters and The Windland Collective

This August, graduates from the Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI) will be staging an independent production of David Mamet’s controversial play, Oleanna. The production is the result of a collaboration between independent collectives Major Minor Encounters, co-founded by Singaporean theatre performer, playwright, and arts manager Choy Chee Yew, and The Windland Collective, co-founded by Swathilakshmi Perumal, actor and theatre-maker from Tamil Nadu, India. Both collectives strive … Continue reading Preview: Oleanna by Major Minor Encounters and The Windland Collective

★★☆☆☆ Review: National Day Charade by Wild Rice

Meta-commentary on the annual NDP sees how Wild Rice would celebrate National Day, their way. Whether you see it as propaganda or a celebration of nationhood, the annual National Day Parade (NDP) is without a doubt one of the quintessential parts of the Singapore calendar. But how accurate is it, really, of reflecting our lives as Singaporeans, and representing our hopes, dreams and often complicated … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: National Day Charade by Wild Rice

★★★☆☆ Review: All The World’s A Sea by The Theatre Practice

Ambitious speculative fiction epic questions how we will find our way amidst an unknown future. Facing the waves of chaos that rock our world, it can oftentimes feel impossible to overcome the overwhelming feelings of displacement all around us, from the helplessness felt towards climate change and war, to the sense that we’re being left behind as technological fast approaches the singularity, and the world … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: All The World’s A Sea by The Theatre Practice

Disgraced: An Interview with director Daniel Jenkins, and cast members Ghafir Akbar and Shrey Bhargava

In 2016, Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) presented a sold-out run of Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Disgraced, gripping audiences with its provocative subject matter, dealing with race relations in a post 9/11 America. Eight years on, SRT is bringing it back for a second run this August, with a brand new cast and creative team, and perhaps, more relevant than ever before. Leading the team … Continue reading Disgraced: An Interview with director Daniel Jenkins, and cast members Ghafir Akbar and Shrey Bhargava

★★★★☆ Review: Phinny & Wally by Nine Years Theatre

Nine Years Theatre’s foray into children’s theatre tugs at the heartstrings and covers a sea of themes. In the world of children’s theatre, a show often has to go beyond pure entertainment, to also include teachable moments and life lessons for its young audiences to take away. The quality of a children’s show then hinges on the execution of several core tenets, including the level … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Phinny & Wally by Nine Years Theatre

Preview: Disgraced (2024) by Singapore Theatre Company

The Singapore Theatre Company is delighted to announce the restaging of Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Disgraced at the KC Arts Centre – Home of STC from 13 August 2024. Following a sold-out run in 2016, this gripping and provocative drama returns to challenge and captivate audiences once more. Disgraced is set in an upscale New York City apartment where Amir, a successful lawyer with … Continue reading Preview: Disgraced (2024) by Singapore Theatre Company

All The World’s A Sea: An Interview with director Kuo Jian Hong and cast member Clinton Zhang

No one can predict the entirety of what lies ahead, but one can always extrapolate based on current circumstances. For local theatre company The Theatre Practice (Practice), they’re giving audiences a glimpse five seconds into the future with their speculative work All The World’s A Sea this August. Restructured and reimagined from their 2018 piece I came at last to the seas, this new play has … Continue reading All The World’s A Sea: An Interview with director Kuo Jian Hong and cast member Clinton Zhang