Singapore International Festival of Arts Announces Natalie Hennedige As Festival Director From 2021-23

The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) has announced Natalie Hennedige, Artistic Director at Cake Theatrical Productions, as the next Festival Director for SIFA 2021 to 2023, following current Festival Director Gaurav Kripalani as his three-year tenure draws to a close with SIFA 2020 next year. Hennedige will officially assume the role as Festival Director Designate in January 2020 where she will get to work … Continue reading Singapore International Festival of Arts Announces Natalie Hennedige As Festival Director From 2021-23

Film Fanatic: Anthony Chen’s Wet Season Wins Big at China’s Pingyao International Film Festival

Anthony Chen’s sophomore feature film Wet Season《热带雨》, about a Chinese language teacher, whose marriage and school life are fraying apart , has been awarded the Fei Mu Best Film Award and Cinephilia Critics’ Award at the 2019 Pingyao International Film Festival in China. Actress Yeo Yann Yann was also awarded Feimu Best Actress. The film opened in China to hot anticipation, and became the talk of … Continue reading Film Fanatic: Anthony Chen’s Wet Season Wins Big at China’s Pingyao International Film Festival

In London’s (Off) West End 2019: Little Miss Burden at The Bunker (Preview)

LONDON – Little Miss Burden, coming to The Bunker this December, is a vital tale of growing up with a wheelchair in the ‘90s – a poignant new coming-of-age story from award-winning playwright and screenwriter Matilda Ibini. Mashing together some serious ‘90s nostalgia, a Nigerian family in East London and Sailor Moon, Ibini’s new play draws on her own experiences as a teenager to tell the … Continue reading In London’s (Off) West End 2019: Little Miss Burden at The Bunker (Preview)

In London’s (Off) West End 2019: Deborah Bestwick to step down as director of Ovalhouse

LONDON – As construction work forges ahead for the new theatre in Brixton, Deborah Bestwick, Director of Ovalhouse for over 20 years, announces the next building block in the transition for the organisation.  Says Bestwick: “We are building a fantastic new theatre, designed to support Ovalhouse to do what it has always done best: welcome the widest range of audiences to see the best of new … Continue reading In London’s (Off) West End 2019: Deborah Bestwick to step down as director of Ovalhouse

Review: Now She Lives by Hole in the Wall

New theatre collective finds the absurdity and banality of a millennial life. The existential crisis has evolved from being a condition experienced by the lunatic fringe, to what is practically a pandemic in today’s day and age. For the current generation of millennials, it’s a problem that looms particularly large each and every day of their lives, as the news only gets increasingly depressing with … Continue reading Review: Now She Lives by Hole in the Wall

Toy Factory’s The Wright Stuff Festival 2019: Ashes, Ashes by Rajkumar Thiagaras (Review)

Some things are better left fed to the flames.  Two years ago, the Straits Times reported on the demolition of Lakshmi Villa, a generations old family home that had grown too costly to maintain, with the land sold off for development of new condominiums. Taking inspiration from this story, Rajkumar Thiagaras wrote his debut play Ashes, Ashes, presented as part of Toy Factory’s Wright Stuff Festival 2019. Directed … Continue reading Toy Factory’s The Wright Stuff Festival 2019: Ashes, Ashes by Rajkumar Thiagaras (Review)

da:ns festival 2019: Pas de Deux by Raimund Hoghe (Review)

Finding tenderness and connection in the face of seemingly irreconcilable differences.  Raimund Hoghe is a shorter than average 70-year old German man with a discernible hunchback, pale and serious. Takashi Ueno is a much younger Japanese man of average height, slim and lithe. One wonders how the two might even begin to find a point of connection with each other with these distinct physical builds and … Continue reading da:ns festival 2019: Pas de Deux by Raimund Hoghe (Review)

Review: A Very Singaporean Celebration – A Bicentennial Tribute by re:Sound Collective

Celebrating the Bicentennial, re:Sound style. How do you capture the founding of Singapore into a single symphony? Local composer Jonathan Shin certainly seems to have the answer, with the premiere of a brand new composition as part of re:Sound Collective’s A Very Singaporean Celebration. Opening with Shin’s 1819 Suite for Small Orchestra, the chamber orchestra began with a short introduction, a prelude of soft waves on our island … Continue reading Review: A Very Singaporean Celebration – A Bicentennial Tribute by re:Sound Collective

SGIFF 2019: Anthony Chen’s Golden Horse-Nominated Wet Season to Open SGIFF This November

Local writer-director Anthony Chen has a lot going for him – ever since winning the prestigious Camera d’Or for his film Ilo Ilo (2013), his star has only continued to rise, with his brand new film Wet Season set to open the 30th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) on 21st November 2019 at Capitol Theatre. The introspective feature was the sole Asian entry in competition at the 44th … Continue reading SGIFF 2019: Anthony Chen’s Golden Horse-Nominated Wet Season to Open SGIFF This November

Preview: VCHpresents Intimate Moments from West to East by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Intimate Moments’ is a new series of concerts giving audiences the chance to watch, listen and converse with a select musician of the Singapore Symphony family. The concerts are intimate, with this first one held in the cosy Victoria Concert Hall Dance Studio, with a rare chance to get up close to a musician and their instrument. This November, meet violinist Zhang Si Jing with … Continue reading Preview: VCHpresents Intimate Moments from West to East by Singapore Symphony Orchestra