Huayi Festival 2019: Dear John by M.O.V.E. Theatre (Review)

A musical soundscape through unorthodox means. When John Cage’s controversial 4’33 premiered in 1952, never might the avant-garde composer have imagined the sheer impact he might have had in the field of music theory. Infamous for being four minutes and thirty three seconds of ‘silence’ as an orchestra stands still onstage, the work reflects Cage’s interests in Zen Buddhism, and his magnum opus epitomizing the theory … Continue reading Huayi Festival 2019: Dear John by M.O.V.E. Theatre (Review)

Huayi Festival 2019: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by Li Liuyi Theatre Studio (Review)

Tragedy seems written in the stars in this lengthy production as the cosmos themselves bid our sweet prince goodnight.  Ranking among Shakespeare’s best works, it’s little surprise that Hamlet has seen countless productions and interpretations over the centuries. Opening the Esplanade’s Huayi Festival 2019, director Li Liuyi’s latest production of the piece sees the moody protagonist played by film star Hu Jun (Red Cliff, East Palace West Palace), … Continue reading Huayi Festival 2019: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by Li Liuyi Theatre Studio (Review)

Preview: Still Life by Checkpoint Theatre

Last year, we caught a preview of a new play from Checkpoint Theatre while it was still in development. Now, that play is finally ready to be staged, as Checkpoint Theatre premieres artist-writer Dana Lam’s Still Life as the very first production of their 2019 season this February. Directed and dramaturged by Checkpoint Theatre co-artistic director Claire Wong, Still Life is Dana Lam’s reflection on her life and art-making, … Continue reading Preview: Still Life by Checkpoint Theatre

Review: Off Centre (2019) by The Necessary Stage

A Singaporean classic through and through, as disturbingly relevant now as it was then. There’s good reason why Off Centre is considered one of the most important works of the Singapore literary canon; the hallmark of a classic play lies primarily in its ability for both story and characters to transcend time, and Off Centre achieves all of these in spades, triumphantly returning to the stage as bold as it … Continue reading Review: Off Centre (2019) by The Necessary Stage

Crazy Poor Sita: An Interview with Sharul Channa On Her Newest Show

Comedian extraordinaire Sharul Channa may be better known for her acid-tongued acerbic wit and jabs, but last year, surprised us with a series of dramatic monologues presenting the stories of various women in the Indian community at Kalaa Utsavam 2018. Now, Sharul is back to kickstart her 2019 season with a brand new show that continues to build on that craft, with Crazy Poor Sita premiering in … Continue reading Crazy Poor Sita: An Interview with Sharul Channa On Her Newest Show

Toy Factory’s The Transition Room: An Interview with Stanley Seah and Goh Boon Teck

This February, Toy Factory opens their 2019 season with a brand new production. Written and directed by Toy Factory Associate Artistic Director Stanley Seah, The Transition Room will be making its premiere at the Drama Centre Black Box, after previously having had a dramatized reading held at Toy Factory’s space at NOWplaying@17. Originating about 4 years ago as a school play, Stanley elaborates more on how The Transition … Continue reading Toy Factory’s The Transition Room: An Interview with Stanley Seah and Goh Boon Teck

Pink Floyd Tribute Band Welcome to the Machine Presents Brain Damage This February

Following a rousing set at Beerfest 2018, Southeast Asia’s one and only Pink Floyd tribute band ‘Welcome To The ‘Machine’ is back this February with a monster of a show. Playing for one night only at The Lab at Kallang Place, Welcome to the Machine presents Brain Damage, a mega concert featuring two of Pink Floyd’s most critically acclaimed albums in their entirety. Released in 1973 … Continue reading Pink Floyd Tribute Band Welcome to the Machine Presents Brain Damage This February

Preview: Off Centre (2019) by The Necessary Stage

26 years since its premiere in 1993, The Necessary Stage (TNS) is once more bringing back one of their most well known plays to the stage in 2019 – Off Centre. Written by TNS Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma and directed by TNS artistic director Alvin Tan, Off Centre was a bold new step forward for Singapore theatre as it cast an honest and unflinching spotlight on the stigma of … Continue reading Preview: Off Centre (2019) by The Necessary Stage

M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2019: Catamite by Loo Zihan (Review)

A moving lesson on the life-cycle of objects. There is a belief in the Japanese Shinto religion that everything, including everyday household objects, possesses a life force of its own. From umbrellas to notebooks, clothes to food, each of these items, while seemingly non-living, have the potential to mean and be so much more than what they initially appear to be to the right person. … Continue reading M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2019: Catamite by Loo Zihan (Review)

M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2019: Q&A (the 36 questions) by Rachel Erdos and Dancers (Review)

Falling in love with dance. In a 1997 SUNY Stony Brook study, psychologist Arthur Aron and his colleagues explored whether intimacy between two complete strangers could be accelerated by having them ask each other a set of 36 questions. While the questions begin innocently and playful enough, postulating about an ability one might like to wake up to the next day or if one would like … Continue reading M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2019: Q&A (the 36 questions) by Rachel Erdos and Dancers (Review)