Review: Main² by Teater Ekamatra (Pesta Raya 2017)

When one thinks of Hari Raya, one thinks of tasty ketupats, pasar malams and LED lights outside houses of those celebrating this joyous occasion. It’s almost impossible to link it to issues such as drugs, incest, rape and domestic violence. But for Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit, no issue is too dark to bare on stage in Main².   Commissioned for the inaugural Pesta Raya back in 2002, Aidli ‘Alin’ … Continue reading Review: Main² by Teater Ekamatra (Pesta Raya 2017)

Artist Spotlight: Interview with Sim Yan Ying and Adib Kosnan (and WIN tickets to Without Reason!)

Ever been in an interracial relationship, or have friends who’ve been in one? If you have, then you’ll probably be familiar with the dilemma the protagonists of Without Reason are struggling with. A classic boy-meets-girl love story between a Malay boy and a Chinese girl, Without Reason pits the young couple against all odds, from religious differences to doubt from friends and family, and will take … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Interview with Sim Yan Ying and Adib Kosnan (and WIN tickets to Without Reason!)

Preview: Pesta Raya 2017 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay puts Malay culture front and centre again from 20th to 23rd July with the 16th edition of the annual Pesta Raya Malay Festival of the Arts! Celebrating the rich heritage of Malay traditional and contemporary arts, the 2017 Pesta Raya festival will be bringing both old favourites and new artists to the stage. Check out some of the highlights … Continue reading Preview: Pesta Raya 2017 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Review: The Car by Our Company

In theatre, themes of death and family are never far from the stage. Although riffing on such familiar themes, The Car still feels fresh and very accessible in the hands of Our Company, who make a triumphant return after a two year break with their new production of Verena Tay’s 2005 play.  Commissioned by the Esplanade as part of the F.Y.I. (Feed Your Imagination) initiative to provide local primary … Continue reading Review: The Car by Our Company

Preview: M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival 2017 – The Other

The annual M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival returns with an all new edition and lineup of shows this July! Presented by ArtsWok Collaborative in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, this year’s edition of Peer Pleasure tackles the theme of The Other. Concerned with the increasingly diverse world we live in, The Other deals with the increasing rise of ignorance leading to … Continue reading Preview: M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival 2017 – The Other

Preview: The Car by Our Company

What would you leave behind in your will to your children? If it’s your favourite car, then you’re all set for when Our Company Limited stages local playwright Verena Tay’s play The Car at the Esplanade Theatre Studio this July, commissioned by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay for its Feed Your Imagination (F.Y.I) 2017 series for students. First staged in 2005 and walking away as … Continue reading Preview: The Car by Our Company

Review: Fatimah and her Magic Socks by The Esplanade

Based on the popular children’s book of the same name by theatre practitioner Zizi Azah, The Esplanade presents a glorious stage adaptation directed by Daniel Jenkins that tingles with creativity with its all star creative team. Spreading the message of acceptance with the simple story of a pair of mismatched socks, Fatimah follows our young heroine with a sunny disposition who dares to be different. When told … Continue reading Review: Fatimah and her Magic Socks by The Esplanade

Preview: Fatimah and her Magic Socks by The Esplanade

Esplanade’s 2017 PLAYtime! series features Fatimah and Her Magic Socks, adapted from the children’s book of the same name. Aimed at children aged 2-4 years old, Fatimah will convey the message of acceptance through a simple analogy of mismatched socks. The PLAYtime! series is an interactive experience and will appeal to kids with the 360 degree action, with actors weaving in and out of the audience, and audience members … Continue reading Preview: Fatimah and her Magic Socks by The Esplanade

Review: Hope (Harap) by Teater Ekamatra

Hope (Harap) boasts a stellar cast, from Sani Hussin, to YouTube celebrity Hirzi Zulkiflie, to Apprentice star and rising stage presence Fir Rahman, as well as Siti Hajar Abd Gani and Nur Zakiah Bte Mohd Fared. Originally written by Haresh Sharma and performed in English in 1994, this 2017 version sees it translated into Malay by Zulfadli Rashid, and directed by Mohd Fared Jainal. Primarily discussing the main theme … Continue reading Review: Hope (Harap) by Teater Ekamatra

Review: This Chord and Others [The Studios 2017]

For the first time since 2000, Haresh Sharma’s This Chord and Others returns to the stage! Directed by Timothy Nga, the play stars Thomas Pang, Pavan J Singh and Neo Hai Bin as three friends and colleagues as their friendship is put to the test in the face of a potential job promotion. This Chord is of course, a pun on the word ‘discord’, and this theme was … Continue reading Review: This Chord and Others [The Studios 2017]