Arts of the UK 2020: Joe Sellman-Leava brings Monster and Labels to Bristol’s Wardrobe Theatre (Preview)

LONDON – Winner of more than five international awards, including a Fringe First, Joe Sellman-Leava comes to Bristol in early 2020 with two one-man productions putting the theatremaker’s skills on full display. Directed by Yaz Al-Shaater (Dead Reckoning, Young Vic; Boris World King, Trafalgar Studios), Monster explores ideas of aggression within relationships, while scrutinising the place of the male role model in society. Experimenting with form, it … Continue reading Arts of the UK 2020: Joe Sellman-Leava brings Monster and Labels to Bristol’s Wardrobe Theatre (Preview)

London’s VAULT Festival 2020: VOiD by TUTTI TUTTI Productions (Preview)

LONDON –  TUTTI TUTTI Productions presents the world premiere of Sophia Capasso’s VOiD at the VAULT Festival 2020. Written and performed by Capasso and directed by Bruce Webb, VOiD follows Ali, a girl who has always felt there was a darkness within her, but one moment may just have sent her over the edge. Exhausted and unable to detach reality from her own imagination, she spins a tale that … Continue reading London’s VAULT Festival 2020: VOiD by TUTTI TUTTI Productions (Preview)

Toy Factory’s The Wright Stuff Festival 2019: The Puppet King (玩具王) by Titus Yim

★☆☆☆☆ (Attended 2/11/19, Matinee) Final production of The Wright Stuff 2019 meanders in its exploration of existentialism.  While the characters of Pixar’s Toy Story have always dealt with inherent struggles surrounding ideas of abandonment and purpose, none of the ever faced these ideas head-on, at least, not with quite as much darkness as the one infused into Titus Yim’s The Puppet King. Directed by Renee Chua, The Puppet King is set … Continue reading Toy Factory’s The Wright Stuff Festival 2019: The Puppet King (玩具王) by Titus Yim

Rumah Dayak: An Interview with New Theatre Collective Rupa co.lab

The Singapore theatre scene is buzzing, with new collectives emerging year after year without fail. This time around, three founding members of Malay playwright collective Main Tulis Group (Hazwan Norly, Nabilah Said and Nessa Anwar) have come together to form Rupa co.lab, whose name is derived from the Sanskrit word प (rūpa), which means “form, shape”, and aims to reshape contemporary conversations through the lens … Continue reading Rumah Dayak: An Interview with New Theatre Collective Rupa co.lab

Preview: The Snowman presented by ABA Productions

As Christmas approaches, it’s time for a flurry of festive shows to come to town once again. And this December, ABA Productions is bringing the beloved tale of The Snowman to Singapore! When a young boy’s snowman comes to life on Christmas Eve, the two set off on a night-time quest for adventure. They meet Father Christmas, dancing penguins, reindeer and crowds of The Snowman’s friends, but will they escape … Continue reading Preview: The Snowman presented by ABA Productions

In London’s (Off) West End 2020: Mandy Picks a Husband at the Canal Cafe Theatre (Preview)

LONDON –  Inspired by her personal Instagram experiment, Mandy Picks a Husband is the hilariously dark and witty dating traumedy from seasoned New York theatre actress and stand-up comic, Amanda Broomell. Following acclaim at the 2019 Hollywood and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, this satirical exposé comes to London to reveal the highs and hurdles of falling in love. Prompted by the success of reality TV’s dating juggernaut … Continue reading In London’s (Off) West End 2020: Mandy Picks a Husband at the Canal Cafe Theatre (Preview)

Review: The Hawker by The Second Breakfast Company

★★☆☆☆ (Attended 13/11/19) Good attempt to immerse audiences in this novel concept, but let down by a central lack of purpose. The humble hawker centre is nothing short of a national icon. Representing our multicultural society with its mix of just about every kind of cuisine, along with its affordability and convenience welcoming diners of all class and backgrounds, it truly becomes a microcosm of Singapore … Continue reading Review: The Hawker by The Second Breakfast Company

Preview: Kalaa Utsavam 2019 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Back for its 18th edition, the Esplanade’s Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of the Arts returns this Deepavali season to present another 10 exciting days of the very best artists from across the Indian diaspora, presenting both traditional and contemporary works – and sometimes, a mix of both to keep us both rooted as we move into the future. Much of Kalaa Utsavam’s line-up this year … Continue reading Preview: Kalaa Utsavam 2019 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Preview: Beach Burden Bliss – A Double Bill @ Punggol Beach by Desert Wine Productions

As far as site-specific works go, beaches are a rather unlikely space to host a theatrical performance. But with Desert Wine’s Comfort Theatre Series, the local theatre company is doing just that, with the premiere of Beach Burden Bliss at Punggol Beach this November. Celebrating the Singapore Bicentennial with this production, Beach Burden Bliss invites audience members to visit Desert Wine’s comfy Beach Hut on the sand by … Continue reading Preview: Beach Burden Bliss – A Double Bill @ Punggol Beach by Desert Wine Productions

Review: The Gingerbread Man by SRT’s The Little Company

★★☆☆☆ (Performance attended 26/10/19) A children’s show that needed more time to rise in the oven. “Run run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man.” The iconic lines of everyone’s favourite anthropomorphic baked good has been taken quite literally in SRT’s The Little Company’s latest musical for kids, with the titular Gingerbread Man using his need for speed to … Continue reading Review: The Gingerbread Man by SRT’s The Little Company