Summoning ghosts of the past in the hopes of laying bullies to rest. What school doesn’t have its share of ghost stories? From supposed paranormal activity or strange sightings after hours, students across generations have passed down these haunting tales from one batch to the next batch. But amidst the supernatural, school can also truly be a terrifying place to be a teen, with an … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: Assembly by Drama Box
Julian Wong passes on the legacy of Zubir Said with a heartfelt lesson on music, nation building, and chasing dreams. In 1928, a young man made the decision to take fate into his own hands, go against his father’s wishes, and pursue a life of music. With only the clothes on his back and a clean towel in hand, he left his village of Bukit … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Don’t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita by Wild Rice
GEORGE TOWN, PENANG – On 9th July 2022, after two years of the pandemic, the annual George Town Festival (GTF) heralded a long-anticipated return to a fully-live format, as the Penangite capital came to life with a plethora of arts and cultural events, from music to film and performing arts. At the head of the festival is Jack Wong, who has been organising the event … Continue reading George Town Festival 2022: An Interview with Festival Director Jack Wong
The history of Singapore as seen through the eyes of Mrs Lee Kuan Yew. Everyone knows Lee Kuan Yew, first Prime Minister of Singapore who steered the nation from British colony to independent first world nation. But few know the story of his wife, Madam Kwa Geok Choo, often shying away from the limelight, yet always by his side as an integral part of his … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Kwa Geok Choo by Toy Factory Productions
In the face of an overwhelmingly, unthinkably chaotic world, where those in power and age-old systems show no sign of ever changing, it’s easy to sink into a feeling of eternal dread, where it feels as if anything and everything we do is futile and ultimately, inconsequential. How then do we push on and finding meaning in our actions? For theatremaker Edith Podesta, that’s a … Continue reading Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with Edith Podesta on ‘Inconsequential Goddess’
In just a few weeks, we’re about to see the very first festival dedicated entirely to musical theatre taking place in Singapore. Organised by local theatre company Sing’theatre (it’s right there in the name!), with over 30 events in the line-up, there’s something for everyone in the inaugural Musical Theatre Fringe Festival (MTFF). Directing the festival is TJ Taylor, Associate Artistic Director at Sing’theatre, who’s … Continue reading A Platform For The Community: An Interview with Musical Theatre Fringe Festival director TJ Taylor
This August, Singapore’s favourite comedy and cabaret trio are back to celebrate 20 years of Dim Sum Dollies. Comprising Selena Tan (Crazy Rich Asians, Shotgun Wedding, Chang & Eng), Pam Oei (Faghag, Tartuffe, Hotel) and Jo Tan (Tiong Bahru Social Club, King, Tartuffe), the three leading ladies will once again take to the Capitol Theatre stage, and charge full steam ahead with a brand new show, Still Steam. Slated to … Continue reading Preview: Dim Sum Dollies – Still Steam by Dream Academy
Since overseeing the artistic direction of SCENES: Participatory Practices, a festival that was meant to happen in-person but went digital in the thick of COVID-19 back in 2020, Han Xuemei has gone on a year-long sabbatical in 2021, received the Young Artist Award from the National Arts Council, and joined Koh Hui Ling as Co-Artistic Director of Drama Box in April 2022. To date, Xuemei … Continue reading Preview: Assembly by Drama Box
Wild Rice has released a studio cast recording of Don’t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita – its upcoming musical tribute to the life and legacy of the late, great Zubir Said. The album features music found, arranged and performed by Julian Wong, accompanied by some of Singapore’s finest musicians and young vocalists. Zubir Said is best known to Singaporeans as the composer of Majulah Singapura, … Continue reading Wild Rice releases studio cast recording of ‘Don’t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita’, full of Zubir Said’s hidden gems
Now into its 25th year, the much-loved playwriting competition in Singapore, the 24-Hour Playwriting Competition returns on 16-17 July. For the first time, T:>Works invites past participant and transdisciplinary poet and performance maker, Ang Kia Yee, to conceptualise this year’s competition. They responded to the call by proposing the first ever hybrid competition with a focus on ecocentric considerations, exploring liveability and sustainability. The T:>Works … Continue reading Registration now open for T:>works’ 24-Hour Playwriting Competition 2022
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