Review: Acting Mad by The Necessary Stage

Exemplary, no holds barred look at mental health in the theatre industry. As much as mental health has entered common conversation these days, it remains one of the most misunderstood conditions in the workplace, seen as some kind of weakness, a burden to employers or worse, a fake excuse to get out of work. But what about in the theatre industry, where actors are constantly … Continue reading Review: Acting Mad by The Necessary Stage

Review: Fantastic Mr Fox 《了不起的狐狸爸爸》by The Little Company

Quality Roald Dahl adaptation buoyed by strong performances and high production value. Put together a crew of winsome animal protagonists, a group of nefarious farmers and a classic tale of innocents against oppressors, and you’ve got a triumph of a show waiting for you already. But what The Little Company’s Fantastic Mr Fox does that takes it one step further is combine high production value and strong … Continue reading Review: Fantastic Mr Fox 《了不起的狐狸爸爸》by The Little Company

N.O.W. 2019: Stand-up – Fresh + Raw (Review)

A 10-lesson course by one of Asia’s top 10 female comedians pays off for these new comedy hopefuls. Is it possible to even teach an art form as intuitive as stand-up comedy? Sharul Channa certainly thinks so, as she presents the graduating cohort of her very first 10-lesson course for beginners in N.O.W.’s Stand-Up: Fresh + Raw. Transforming the space at 72-13 to a cosier, more … Continue reading N.O.W. 2019: Stand-up – Fresh + Raw (Review)

Preview: The Multitudes Within Us by Wong Yun Qi and Agnes Chew

“We are both fluid and limitless. We expand and contract according to our whims, our caprices, and our desires. Let us never be limited by the fetters of definition.” – Agnes Chew, The Desire for Elsewhere It’s time to travel into a musical, lyrical wonderland as you take a deep breath and step through the looking glass with pianist Wong Yun Qi and writer Agnes Chew (author of … Continue reading Preview: The Multitudes Within Us by Wong Yun Qi and Agnes Chew

Review: We Were So Hopeful Then by The Necessary Stage

An attempt to highlight the invisible people key to a production’s success. In any theatre production, those deemed worthy of praise are often limited to cast and creatives. But even beyond them, there still exist people who are present in every production, yet never receive praise or acknowledgement they deserve. To highlight these invisible people then acts as one of the key goals of Ellison Tan’s We … Continue reading Review: We Were So Hopeful Then by The Necessary Stage

N.O.W. 2019: Nimita’s Place – Staged Reading (Review)

The tragedy of Partition leaves a haunting impression in this page to stage adaptation. When Akshita Nanda debuted her first novel last year, little did we expect to see it receive a stage adaptation just a year later. Directed by Edith Podesta, the staged reading may not be a full production, but still manages to mostly capture the essence of the original novel, trimming out material … Continue reading N.O.W. 2019: Nimita’s Place – Staged Reading (Review)

Review: Aladdin the Musical presented by BASE Entertainment Asia

It doesn’t matter how much you love the animated film – this staging of Aladdin is a whole new world in itself filled with theatrical magic of the best kind.   For all of Disney’s theatrical adaptations of their films, Aladdin certainly ranks among one of the best, effectively bringing out the colourful world of the film to the stage. Adapted from the 1992 animated film of the … Continue reading Review: Aladdin the Musical presented by BASE Entertainment Asia

Review: Broadway Beng – Last Beng Standing by Dream Academy

With a line-up of catchy numbers, a talented trio of chio buus and the ever-charming Sebastian Tan, Broadway Beng is better than ever before.  It’s hard to imagine that when Broadway Beng first premiered 13 years ago, little would Dream Academy have imagined that it would grow to become the icon of local theatre that it is today. And with Broadway Beng: Last Beng Standing (directed … Continue reading Review: Broadway Beng – Last Beng Standing by Dream Academy

Review: Love Ya Mom! by (爱呀,我的妈!) by Godot Theatre Company

Heartwarming tale that’ll bring anyone closer to their mom. There’s just some nights you need nothing more than a simple and clean musical to reassure and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Most recently, that musical happens to be Taiwanese theatre company Godot Theatre’s Love Ya Mom!, which played at the Esplanade Theatre in its overseas debut. Directed by Liang Chi-Ming, with music by acclaimed … Continue reading Review: Love Ya Mom! by (爱呀,我的妈!) by Godot Theatre Company

Review: First Fleet (第一舰队) by Nine Years Theatre and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre

Steering audiences to believe in the redemptive power of art. Written and directed by Nelson Chia, First Fleet marks a bold move for the Nine Years Theatre artistic director, clearly differentiating them from the rest of the companies producing works relating to Singapore’ colonial history this year. Taking inspiration from both historical figures and Thomas Keneally’s novel The Playmaker, First Fleet instead focuses on Australia’s colonial history. And more specifically, the … Continue reading Review: First Fleet (第一舰队) by Nine Years Theatre and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre