Music Review: Shostakovich with Leonidas Kavakos & Hannu Lintu by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Under Hannu Lintu, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra delivers a gripping, emotionally-charged Shostakovich marathon alongside violinist Leonidas Kavakos. There was something revealing in a remark shared in conversation with Hannu Lintu beforehand, where he stated that the soloist, above all, must remain central. It is a simple philosophy, but one that shaped the entire evening. What emerged was not just a display of orchestral discipline, but … Continue reading Music Review: Shostakovich with Leonidas Kavakos & Hannu Lintu by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Music: A new chapter for Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s 2026/27 season with Hannu Lintu as Music Director

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s 2026/27 season signals a turning point. With Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu stepping in as Quantedge Music Director, the orchestra enters what its leadership describes as a period of discovery, recalibration and ambition. For Lintu, the decision to come to Singapore was not incidental, but deeply tied to a moment of transition in his own career. These kinds of engagements depend on … Continue reading Music: A new chapter for Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s 2026/27 season with Hannu Lintu as Music Director

Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with Maria Tri Sulistyani, founder of Papermoon Puppet Theatre, and playwright/director of ‘PUNO – Sewing Memories’

Twelve years ago, the story that would become PUNO: Sewing Memories began with a promise. Back in 2013, Papermoon Puppet Theatre was planning a collaboration with a close friend from the Philippines: puppetry artist Don Salubayba. “It was kind of like, wow, it’s amazing that we have so much in common, let’s do something together,” recalls director and playwright Maria Tri Sulistyani, also a co-founder … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with Maria Tri Sulistyani, founder of Papermoon Puppet Theatre, and playwright/director of ‘PUNO – Sewing Memories’

Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with Dr. Norzizi Zulkifli on adapting Macbeth for Randai and traditional arts in Malaysia

When Dr Norzizi speaks about randai, she does not describe it as an artefact or a genre. She describes the art form as something breathing, precarious, but alive. “Without ASWARA,” she says plainly of the National Academy of Arts, Cultural and Heritage of Malaysia, “randai is a dying traditional art form. It exists, but it is also not there. If you come to Kuala Lumpur … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with Dr. Norzizi Zulkifli on adapting Macbeth for Randai and traditional arts in Malaysia

Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with ‘La Luna’ director Mohd Fared Jainal, playwright Ridhwan Saidi, and star Munah Bagharib

In an age where the world often feels divided and overexposed to outrage, the most compelling theatre sometimes comes from stories that remind us what it means to live, work, and confront challenges together. This year’s La Luna, making its stage debut during Pesta Raya at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, does exactly that: it’s a feel-good comedy that also asks audiences to look … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with ‘La Luna’ director Mohd Fared Jainal, playwright Ridhwan Saidi, and star Munah Bagharib

Preview: Emergency Stairs x NAFA Industry Project 2026 – ‘Backstage Protocol’ and ‘Pulau Rindu’

Have you ever wondered about the forces shaping our lives that we don’t see? This April, a new generation of theatre-makers in Singapore is asking exactly that. The NAFA Industry Project 2026, co-presented by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, is a bold, immersive exploration of what they call “Invisible Architectures.” Think about the unseen systems, quiet hierarchies, and emotional undercurrents that shape … Continue reading Preview: Emergency Stairs x NAFA Industry Project 2026 – ‘Backstage Protocol’ and ‘Pulau Rindu’

Visual Art: core_memory – A solo exhibition by Chok Si Xuan at starch

This April, a new exhibition is asking big questions about the devices we carry, the systems we depend on, and the invisible histories embedded within them. From 17 April to 17 May 2026, artist Chok Si Xuan presents core_memory, a solo exhibition at starch, a space known for pushing the boundaries of experimental art. But this isn’t your typical gallery show. It’s an immersive, almost … Continue reading Visual Art: core_memory – A solo exhibition by Chok Si Xuan at starch

★★★★★ Theatre Review: Lao Jiu – The Musical 《老九》音乐剧 (2026) by The Theatre Practice

This definitive Singaporean Chinese musical reckons with the impossible decision between dreams and duty, and more crucially, what it costs to choose your own life in Singapore. First written and staged in 1990 by the late theatre doyen Kuo Pao Kun with The Theatre Practice (Practice), Lao Jiu was a script that was always meant to evolve. Originally a stage play, its eventual transformation into … Continue reading ★★★★★ Theatre Review: Lao Jiu – The Musical 《老九》音乐剧 (2026) by The Theatre Practice

★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Constellations by The Winter Players

Across the multiverse, there are highs and lows, but when the stars align, it strikes all the right notes. “Multiverse” may no longer be a novel concept in pop culture, but in Constellations, it becomes something far more intimate than spectacle. Staged by independent theatre company The Winter Players at the KC Arts Centre, this quietly ambitious production distils the vastness of parallel universes into … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Constellations by The Winter Players

Culture Cartel 2027 goes bigger, louder, and more ‘Wicked’ than ever with The Wicked Wallop collaboration

In Singapore, street culture has never stayed stilll and come January 2027, it’s about to hit a whole new gear. After years of building a loyal following across fashion, art, music and subcultures, Culture Cartel 2027 is returning with its boldest vision yet. Taking over Sands Expo and Convention Centre and the Bayfront Event Space from 15 to 17 January 2027, the event will span … Continue reading Culture Cartel 2027 goes bigger, louder, and more ‘Wicked’ than ever with The Wicked Wallop collaboration