★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Yusof – Portrait of a President by Teater Ekamatra

A dignified and contemplative play honouring Singapore’s first president with quiet grace. Playing as part of the Esplanade’s 60 Connections – At Home and Afar SG60 celebrations, the decision to restage Yusof: Portrait of a President marks an invitation to look deeper into the life story of our first president, alongside his enduring ideas and belief that dignity, unity, and justice should form the foundations … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Yusof – Portrait of a President by Teater Ekamatra

An Interview with Teater Ekamatra on ‘Yusof’, Singapore’s first president, and the man behind the name

During a 1961 National Day mass rally, a man by the name of Yusof Ishak stood before the nation and delivered a watershed speech that galvanised the nation towards unity and solidarity. It was a bold vision for a young country emerging from centuries of colonial rule and only beginning to imagine itself as independent, and four years on, that very gifted man would go … Continue reading An Interview with Teater Ekamatra on ‘Yusof’, Singapore’s first president, and the man behind the name

★★★☆☆ Review: National Memory Project by Teater Ekamatra

The future of Singapore is bleak, in a city that is all too willing to archive its past. While across the world, developing and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in daily life is fast becoming the norm, it’s been especially worrying that local government entities have been leaping onto the AI trend and adopted it as the next big thing. From designing posters to interactive … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: National Memory Project by Teater Ekamatra

★★★★☆ Review: Berak by Teater Ekamatra

Chong Tze Chien’s Poop! takes on new life for a Malay audience. According to the Islamic faith, a person commits suicide is sent straight to hell. Yet, within Malay culture, there remains the belief in the existence of hantus and lingering spirits that remain earthbound even after death. Does that then suggest there are alternative means to think about what lies after death, and use … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Berak by Teater Ekamatra

Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with Teater Ekamatra’s Mohd Fared Jainal and Zulfadli Rashid on ‘Berak’

When Chong Tze Chien’s Poop was first staged back in 2010, the new play was a tour de force that firmly cemented The Finger Players (TFP) as a company to watch, with a heartbreaking story about love and loss, told through evocative music, effective lighting, and of course, whimsical puppetry. 12 years on and several restagings later, the contemporary classic is getting a brand new … Continue reading Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with Teater Ekamatra’s Mohd Fared Jainal and Zulfadli Rashid on ‘Berak’

Teater Ekamatra leaves Aliwal Arts Centre

After almost a decade of calling Aliwal Arts Centre home, Teater Ekamatra will move out on 28th February 2022. Marking this moment, the company is showcasing a special multimedia installation by local artist Safuan Johari, Packing/Unpacking, as a nod to the company’s history and legacy in Singapore, on show from now till Sunday, 6th February. Teater Ekamatra’s plans for the future are an acknowledgement of … Continue reading Teater Ekamatra leaves Aliwal Arts Centre

Review: A Clockwork Orange by Teater Ekamatra

Teater Ekamatra drags audiences into a dangerous dystopia where nothing and nobody can be trusted. Across the history of dystopian fiction, there is perhaps none quite as visceral and teetering on the edge of existential dread and horror as the society depicted in Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange. But even more terrifying than that perhaps is the realisation that such a dystopia is becoming more and more … Continue reading Review: A Clockwork Orange by Teater Ekamatra

Teater Ekamatra’s A Clockwork Orange: An Interview with the Cast and Creatives

British author Anthony Burgess’ seminal novel A Clockwork Orange has seen countless adaptations over the years, from stage plays to its best known iteration – a 1971 film version directed by Stanley Kubrick. But of all these adaptations, one we’ve yet to see is a version created in a Singaporean context. Enter Teater Ekamatra’s newest production – a Malay language adaptation of A Clockwork Orange, set to premiere this September, … Continue reading Teater Ekamatra’s A Clockwork Orange: An Interview with the Cast and Creatives

Preview: A Clockwork Orange by Teater Ekamatra

  In a city filled with often-broken promises, I am your good narrator, brother. Now, help yourself. As I warble, and you peet. A dash of blood and a little keroncong. Alas there will be no hollow after our hearts grow stale of crying. Gathering some of the best talents in local theatre today, Teater Ekamatra is set to stun with a brand new, Malay … Continue reading Preview: A Clockwork Orange by Teater Ekamatra

Preview: Chonteng by Teater Ekamatra

Presented as part of their Artist Residency Programme, this April, Teater Ekamatra presents Rizman Putra’s Chonteng. Translating to ‘doodle’ in English, the installation takes the form of drawings exploring ideas of line and mark making based loosely on the method of automatic drawing, documenting the stream of iconography and creatures from the consciousness of the artist. First explored in previous exhibitions Labyrinth of Things I and II, which were … Continue reading Preview: Chonteng by Teater Ekamatra