Review: Here and Beyond by Toy Factory

A Toy Factory triumph in this adaptation of the only O-Level Literature Singapore text. Adapting a piece of literature from one medium to another can be challenging. The language alone already poses difficulty, such as how translating prose to drama runs the risk of either being weighed down by the length of the text or losing the original essence of the language altogether. Toy Factory’s Here … Continue reading Review: Here and Beyond by Toy Factory

Review: Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow 2018

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow is always welcome back to Singapore shores year on year. Bringing back the very best of Australia’s up and coming comedians, attending a show guarantees a good night out and more than a couple of laughs along the way. This year’s edition saw five standups take to the stage, as each of them brought their A-game and their keen … Continue reading Review: Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow 2018

Preview: Basket! Another Aliwal Arts Night Crawl?!

Aliwal Art Centre’s annual multidisciplinary festival returns this July, and this year, they’re focusing on an unexpected theme: baskets. But if you know a little about the history behind Arab Street, then baskets probably wouldn’t come as a surprise at all. After all, ever since the 1960s, Arab Street has a respectable tradition of basketry and rattan shops, and this rich history and more will … Continue reading Preview: Basket! Another Aliwal Arts Night Crawl?!

Preview: Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow 2018

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow, Australia’s biggest comedy festival, has become somewhat of a mainstay after making its way down here year after year. Returning once again this week after a riotous edition last year, this year’s edition will feature another five of the best laugh out loud comedians from Down Under as they joke, cajole and sketch their way to evoke the biggest … Continue reading Preview: Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow 2018

On Tour: Tan Liting’s Pretty Butch Goes To Taiwan

Given the short run of most local plays, it’s always a joyous occasion to hear when a local play receives a second run, or a chance to be presented beyond Singapore. When we watched Singaporean playwright Tan Liting’s Pretty Butch at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival back in 2017, we praised it as “a play that will strike a chord with almost anyone in the audience, … Continue reading On Tour: Tan Liting’s Pretty Butch Goes To Taiwan

Preview: Souvenir – A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins by Sing’theatre

Meryl Streep may have popularised the story in a 2016 film, but this year, watch the story of infamous tone deaf opera singer Florence Foster Jenkins come to life onstage with Sing’theatre’s production of Souvenir! In this hilarious and heartwarming tale, watch as Singapore’s Hossan Leong takes on the role of Cosme McMoon, Florence’s accompanist on piano who lovingly tells the tale of her rise to fame … Continue reading Preview: Souvenir – A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins by Sing’theatre

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