Return to Neo Pee Teck Lane. Neo Kim Seng’s My Grandfather’s Road is back, this time as part of the Esplanade’s 2019 season of The Studios. While overall following the same plot and arc as the last time we watched it. Now taking place in the Esplanade Theatre Studio, our experience begins even before we step into the performance space, where Kim Seng has set up … Continue reading The Studios 2019: My Grandfather’s Road (RHDS) (English Version) by Neo Kim Seng (Review)

Neo Kim Seng’s My Grandfather’s Road has had a wild journey since it was first created in 2015 for Cake Theatrical Productions’ Running with Strippers. The biographical work was based on the history of his actual grandfather Neo Pee Teck, which had a side road in Pasir Panjang named after him, and has gone on not only to become published as a book, but also a Cantonese version … Continue reading The Studios 2019: An Interview with Playwrights Neo Kim Seng, Gary Tang and Tan Cher Kian of My Grandfather’s Road (RHDS)

Eleanor Wong is sometimes better known for her position as a law professor at NUS’ Faculty of Law. But to most of the arts community, she is perhaps best known for her seminal Invitation to Treat trilogy of plays, narratively linked by their protagonist, Ellen Toh. Set in the 90s, Ellen is a lawyer who realises she is a lesbian. But coming out, both to society and … Continue reading The Studios 2019: An Interview with Director Chen Yingxuan and Performer Oon Shu An of Mergers & Accusations

Post-colonial blues from the personal stories of three minority actresses.  With a title like Miss British, it’s easy to assume that the second show of the Esplanade’s 2019 The Studios Season is all about British identity. It’s a misnomer, and in fact, deals primarily with the impact, trauma and legacy that British colonialism has left behind on minorities. Directed by Felipe Cervera, Miss British comes at a timely … Continue reading The Studios 2019: Miss British by The Art of Strangers (Review)

As the Esplanade’s 2019 seasons of The Studios roars into its second week, The Art of Strangers presents a brand new show – Miss British. Based off an original idea by Sharon Frese, who stars alongside Grace Kalaiselvi, Rebekah Sangeetha Dorai and Riduan Zalani, Miss British is a devised, multi-disciplinary work questioning the British identity, thinking about issues of both the monarchy and slave trade. What then are the prejudices and social hierarchies left behind … Continue reading The Studios 2019: An Interview with Felipe Cervera, Director of Miss British