Pesta Raya 2018: Tarakucha! by Sean Ghazi and Ida Mariana (Review)

The Esplanade’s annual Pesta Raya festivities are always a joy to attend and witness. With a whole host of well-curated activities celebrating Malay culture, this year’s festival even feels like a massive party, as fireworks went off nearby at the National Day preview, and a mini pasar malam was in full swing at the Esplanade itself. As part of Pesta Raya 2018, Malaysian singer Sean … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2018: Tarakucha! by Sean Ghazi and Ida Mariana (Review)

Review: Happy Ever Laughter 2018 – The Battle by Dream Academy

A change in format and strong curation makes Dream Academy’s signature comedy show more laugh out loud than ever before. There’s nothing more exciting than a show with stakes, and with the fourth edition of Dream Academy’s Happy Ever Laughter, those stakes are raised as the signature comedy show pits 12 of Singapore’s best comedians against each other as they vie for the title of Singapore’s funniest. Taking on … Continue reading Review: Happy Ever Laughter 2018 – The Battle by Dream Academy

Pesta Raya 2018: Alkesah (Review)

A colourful romp of unbridled fun through Malay folklore opens Pesta Raya 2018. The Malay oral tradition is a rich one, full of colourful characters and unforgettable stories. But as these tales become increasingly hard to hear in the traditional form, so must they evolve with the times to find a new audience. That evolution can be seen in the 2018 Pesta Raya – Malay … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2018: Alkesah (Review)

RWS’ Football Fever: Giant Pacific Octopus, Ollie, at S.E.A. Aquarium Predicts France to Win 2018 World Cup

We all know that octopi are incredibly smart creatures, and some might even say, clairvoyant. As part of Resorts World Sentosa’s World Cup celebrations, Ollie, a two-year-old male Giant Pacific Octopus residing at the S.E.A. Aquarium predicted on 12th July that France would defeat Croatia and be crowned champion in the Finals match. Why is an octopus so smart? It could be because they have three … Continue reading RWS’ Football Fever: Giant Pacific Octopus, Ollie, at S.E.A. Aquarium Predicts France to Win 2018 World Cup

On Tour: Petrina Kow’s Walking In Beauty Goes To London (produced by Blue Bean Productions)

LONDON/SINGAPORE – After a successful premiere at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2018, Petrina Kow‘s Walking in Beauty is making a trip up to London, featuring new stories and new cast members in a one night only show at Theatre Delicatessen this July! Directed and curated by Petrina Kow and produced by Blue Bean Productions, Walking in Beauty presents a series of real stories told by women from both Singapore … Continue reading On Tour: Petrina Kow’s Walking In Beauty Goes To London (produced by Blue Bean Productions)

Pesta Raya 2018: TARAKUCHA! by Sean Ghazi and Ida Mariana (Preview)

Created by and starring Malaysian singer and actor Sean Ghazi, TARAKUCHA! is described as “the Terrer-Menerrer Big Band with a Malaysian twist”, and essentially continues Sean Ghazi’s fascination with the Malaysian songbook, after the release of his AIM award-winning album ‘Semalam’. In TARAKUCHA!, expect a night of music from Malaysia’s greatest composers and songwriters, ranging from P. Ramlee to Sudirman to Jimmy Boyle. But know that these won’t be straight covers … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2018: TARAKUCHA! by Sean Ghazi and Ida Mariana (Preview)

Review: dead was the body till i taught it how to move by Bhumi Collective

Proof that theatre provides a safe space for anyone to tell the most heartwrenching of stories. There’s a saying that all stories are worth telling, if only one knows how to tell them. In dead was the body till i taught it how to move, Bhumi Collective presents the story of an ordinary boy going through extraordinary trauma and grief. While going through university in Warwick, ex-Ministry … Continue reading Review: dead was the body till i taught it how to move by Bhumi Collective

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Interview with Director Daniel Yang and Cast Members Jin Shi Jie and Pu Xueliang

Based off the memoir that shot American author Mitch Albom to fame, Taiwan’s Godot Theatre Company will be presenting their smash hit stage adaptation of Tuesdays with Morrie at the Esplanade next week! As a memoir, Tuesdays with Morrie found resonance with audience members worldwide when it was first published in 1997. Tuesdays with Morrie follows Mitch as he spends every Tuesday with his college professor Professor Morrie Schwartz, … Continue reading Tuesdays with Morrie: An Interview with Director Daniel Yang and Cast Members Jin Shi Jie and Pu Xueliang

Dream Academy’s Happy Ever Laughter 2018: An Interview with Selena Tan

Happy Ever Laughter, Dream Academy’s biennial standup comedy spectacular, returns for its fourth outing this week, and Dream Academy artistic director Selena Tan has decided to rock the boat with a twist – a comedic battle to the death as two teams of Singapore’s best and most promising comedians vie for the rights to call themselves the nation’s funniest! Says Selena: “We started Happy Ever Laughter … Continue reading Dream Academy’s Happy Ever Laughter 2018: An Interview with Selena Tan

Pesta Raya 2018: An Interview with Zulfadli ‘Big’ Rashid (Alkesah)

Just as one’s ears prick up for a story the moment one hears the magical words ‘once upon a time’, storytellers of Malay folklore begin their tales with an equally powerful opener – ‘alkesah’, or ‘as the story goes’. And celebrating that long history of oral tradition then, is the aptly titled Esplanade commissioned musical Alkesah, opening the Esplanade’s 2018 Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of the … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2018: An Interview with Zulfadli ‘Big’ Rashid (Alkesah)