★★★★☆ Review: Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding by Singapore Repertory Theatre

SRT ends the year with a riotous dinner theatre production about a lust for life. In 1998, the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) went where no local theatre company had gone before when they staged a play called Ah Kong’s Birthday Party. Considered one of the earliest forms of dinner theatre in Singapore, the interactive production featured actors entertaining each table, karaoke moments, and of course, … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding by Singapore Repertory Theatre

Arts of Malaysia: An Interview with playwright Adriana Nordin Manan, director Ghafir Akhbar and star Putrina Rafie of new play ‘Fault Lines’

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – A fault line refers to the geographic phenomenon of fractures in the Earth’s crust, potentially leading to earthquakes. Metaphorically speaking, this would then refer to cracks in the relationship between two parties, and perhaps if left unresolved, potentially result in disaster. That happens to be the issue at the heart of new play Fault Lines, which makes its premiere this Thursday … Continue reading Arts of Malaysia: An Interview with playwright Adriana Nordin Manan, director Ghafir Akhbar and star Putrina Rafie of new play ‘Fault Lines’

Kalaa Utsavam 2023: An Interview with choreographer Aditi Mangaldas on feminine desire in her solo dance show ‘FORBIDDEN’

Sexism has been a problem since time immemorial, and one of the most problematic perceptions that continue to dog women everywhere is the gatekeeping of their sexuality, where society feels the need to dictate the way a woman’s desires should be expressed or contained. And one of the most prominent countries where this continues to remain an issue is India. Realising how these taboos and … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2023: An Interview with choreographer Aditi Mangaldas on feminine desire in her solo dance show ‘FORBIDDEN’

Kalaa Utsavam 2023: An Interview with Shiv Tandan, creator of ‘Fistful of Rupees’

When he was still based in Singapore, Shiv Tandan was a rising star in the local theatre scene, having penned the hit play The Good, The Bad and the Sholay back in 2011, when he was still an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore. Since then, he went on to become an associate artist with Checkpoint Theatre, assisting across various projects and productions, received … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2023: An Interview with Shiv Tandan, creator of ‘Fistful of Rupees’

Kalaa Utsavam 2023: An Interview with co-directors Subramanian Ganesh and Karthikeyan Somasundram on Agam Theatre Lab’s ‘Twin Murder In The Green Mansion’

In 2012, Britain’s The Mischief Theatre Company struck gold with a little theatre production – The Play That Goes Wrong. An incredibly clever comedy that sees an amateur drama club putting on a murder mystery play, things quickly go awry as the set falls apart, actors forget cues, and essentially, everything that can possibly go wrong, does. Riotous and receiving international acclaim, the play quickly … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2023: An Interview with co-directors Subramanian Ganesh and Karthikeyan Somasundram on Agam Theatre Lab’s ‘Twin Murder In The Green Mansion’

Kalaa Utsavam 2023: Kumar spills the tea on new show ‘The Great Indian Mix’

Kumar may be Singapore’s top comedian, unfiltered and ready to comment about everything Singaporean with his observational humour, where in the spirit of equality, everyone is equally susceptible to a joke or two. But this November, Kumar will be taking his comedy in a more focused direction, as he performs a brand new show for Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s Kalaa Utsavam – Indian … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2023: Kumar spills the tea on new show ‘The Great Indian Mix’

Mari Kita Main Wayang: An Interview with director Alvin Tan and playwright Zulfadli Rashid on the then, now and future of Peranakan theatre

Amongst the many forms of cultural theatre that exist in Singapore, one of the rarer genres would be Peranakan theatre. Often presented in Baba Melayu language, the art form was prevalent from the 1920s to the early 1960s but went dormant for over 20 years. In 1984, it was revived in a landmark play, Pileh Menantu, by the late Peranakan playwright Felix Chia, commissioned for … Continue reading Mari Kita Main Wayang: An Interview with director Alvin Tan and playwright Zulfadli Rashid on the then, now and future of Peranakan theatre

M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024 explores pressing social issues and the ways we relate and connect to each other

Over the years, the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival (M1SFF), organised by The Necessary Stage (TNS), has undergone a variety of changes to the way it’s been run, from taking on specific themes and topics, to responding to art work. But at its heart, M1SFF has always been about one key goal – to present small scale local and international work that address key social issues, … Continue reading M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024 explores pressing social issues and the ways we relate and connect to each other

Preview: Crack the Case – Mind Hunter by Sight Lines Entertainment

Sight Lines Entertainment presents an immersive live mystery theatre experience, “Crack the Case: Mind Hunter”. Designed for a wide range of players, Crack the Case: Mind Hunter invites those who are seeking an adrenaline rush, hardcore mystery enthusiasts craving a fresh challenge, and friends and families ready to test their wits together to experience a groundbreaking blend of reality and fiction where the boundaries between … Continue reading Preview: Crack the Case – Mind Hunter by Sight Lines Entertainment

A new lease on life: Koh Chieng Mun stars in lead role as a 70-year old bride in SRT’s ‘Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding’

Back in the 90s, actress Koh Chieng Mun became a household name in every Singaporean family for her iconic role as Dolly Tan on Mediacorp’s hit sitcom Under One Roof. Ever since that star turn, Koh has remained mostly booked and busy, continuing with television and film work (including 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians), and even venturing into stand-up comedy at one point. Now, at the … Continue reading A new lease on life: Koh Chieng Mun stars in lead role as a 70-year old bride in SRT’s ‘Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding’