★★★★★ Theatre Review: The BFG by the RSC, Chichester Festival Theatre, Roald Dahl Story Company, co-presented with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and SRT

A splendiferous invitation to dream big, in this magical adaptation of a beloved children’s classic with masterful puppetry and a giant heart full of hope. What if a single dream could change the world, and all it took was one small, brave “human bean” to believe in it? That spirit lies at the heart of The BFG by Roald Dahl, now reimagined in a breathtaking … Continue reading ★★★★★ Theatre Review: The BFG by the RSC, Chichester Festival Theatre, Roald Dahl Story Company, co-presented with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and SRT

Arts of Malaysia: Teater Normcore – Odisi Romansa by Ridhwan Saidi (Preview)

If you’re drawn to theatre that lingers somewhere between poetry and philosophy, Teater Normcore: Odisi Romansa might be one of the more intriguing productions to catch this season. Staged at the Black Box, Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) this May, the latest work by Malaysian playwright-director Ridhwan Saidi arrives with all the hallmarks of his signature style: quiet lyricism, a touch of deadpan humour, and … Continue reading Arts of Malaysia: Teater Normcore – Odisi Romansa by Ridhwan Saidi (Preview)

An Interview with actress Nathania Ong on finding her own voice and reclaiming Éponine in Les Misérables – The Arena Spectacular

In Les Misérables – The Arena Spectacular, scale is everything: a full orchestra onstage, sweeping projections, and a staging language that expands the musical’s visual and sonic reach. Yet within that enormity, the production’s emotional force hinges on something far more intimate. And doing exactly that is the character of Éponine. Portrayed by Singaporean performer Nathania Ong, the character emerges not as a peripheral tragic … Continue reading An Interview with actress Nathania Ong on finding her own voice and reclaiming Éponine in Les Misérables – The Arena Spectacular

★★★★★ Theatre Review: Secondary – The Musical (2026) by Checkpoint Theatre

Note: the performance reviewed featured understudies in the following major roles: Risa Ann Wong as Lilin, Nadya Zaheer as Mandy, Izzul Irfan as Omar, Fahim Murshed as Reyansh, Coco Wang as Ensemble (Discipline, Rong, Vice-Principal, Hui Ling), Nurulhuda Hassan as (Ensemble: Humour, Nadrah, Welfare, Amira, Cik Sya) weish’s Secondary: The Musical returns with a surer, more confident restaging, deepening the emotional resonance of an already … Continue reading ★★★★★ Theatre Review: Secondary – The Musical (2026) by Checkpoint Theatre

★★★★☆ Theatre Review: [title of show] (2026) by Sing’theatre

Metatheatrical musical pokes fun at the Broadway dream with charm and twee humour. Few musicals are as self-mythologising or as beloved within musical theatre circles as [title of show]. Since its debut, the meta-musical about two writers racing to create a musical has earned a kind of cult status, not just for its wit, but for how closely it mirrors the aspirations, anxieties, and inside … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Theatre Review: [title of show] (2026) by Sing’theatre

Preview: Moulin Rouge! The Musical lands in Singapore February 2027

Singapore’s cultural calendar is about to get a dramatic dose of glitter, glamour, and grand romance. In February 2027, the city will host the Southeast Asia premiere of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, a dazzling stage adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s iconic film at the Sands Theatre in Singapore. This isn’t just another musical passing through town. It’s a full-blown spectacle, one that has captivated audiences from … Continue reading Preview: Moulin Rouge! The Musical lands in Singapore February 2027

★★★★★ Theatre Review: Randai Macbeth by ASWARA

Shakespeare meets the Nusantara in a bold, visceral Macbeth reborn through randai. It’s no small feat to make a 400-year-old play feel fresh, but Randai Macbeth achieves exactly that, and then some. Presented by Malaysia’s ASWARA and directed by Dr Norzizi Zulkifli, this bold adaptation reimagines Macbeth through the cultural lens of the Nusantara, transforming Shakespeare’s tale of ambition and moral decay into something visceral, … Continue reading ★★★★★ Theatre Review: Randai Macbeth by ASWARA

★★★★★ Theatre Review: PUNO – Sewing Memories by Papermoon Puppet Theatre

A universally affecting, timeless tale of love and loss by masters of the puppetry form. PUNO: Sewing Memories is, in many ways, a ghost story. Or perhaps more precisely, it is the story of a ghost, though not in the way we might expect. From the very outset of the show, which played as part of the Esplanade’s 2026 Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of … Continue reading ★★★★★ Theatre Review: PUNO – Sewing Memories by Papermoon Puppet Theatre

★★★☆☆ Theatre Review: La Luna by Teater Ekamatra

A lively but unfocused stage adaptation of La Luna struggles to balance satire and substance, losing the impact and weight of its source material. Adapting a film for the stage is never about simple reproduction. Theatre demands transformation, with a rethinking of form, rhythm, and storytelling. But that transformation must still serve the story. The most successful adaptations do not replicate but reinterpret with purpose. … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Theatre Review: La Luna by Teater Ekamatra

★★★★☆ Theatre Review: The Christians by Wild Rice

Hell is other Christians. The Christians arrives as one of the most unexpected entries in Wild Rice’s 2026 programming, and perhaps one of its most surprisingly provocative. A company long associated with sharp political critique, queer advocacy, and a willingness to satirise conservative structures, this is a show that feels almost disarming in its restraint. Where one might expect irreverence, Lucas Hnath’s critically-acclaimed play instead … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Theatre Review: The Christians by Wild Rice