Twin operas about the telephone explore their impact on love and human relations. These days, everyone has a smartphone in their pocket, a device we can’t possibly live without. And even though they’ve long moved past simply being a means to call, with a flurry of social media apps and rapid back and forth texting, they remain as integral and disruptive as they’ve ever been, … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Telephones by New Opera Singapore
Kidnapping gone wrong leads to closer look at class and racial tensions. Kidnappings in Singapore are few and far between, so when one happens, it’s almost always a matter of national interest. But beyond the tension derived from rescuing a hostage, what if a kidnapping was viewed from the kidnapper’s point of view, and used as a means to understand class differences? First developed under … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Ransom by A Mirage
Since they first met on the set of Theatreworks’ production of Beauty World in 1999, fellow theatremakers Claire Wong and Noorlinah Mohamed have remained fast friends to this day. Not only do they frequently hang out to chat over a meal or drink, the two also spend time sharing their innermost thoughts with each other, telling each other the stories of their families, musing on … Continue reading Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with Claire Wong and Noorlinah Mohamed on ‘Recalling Mother’
The power of literature lies in its ability to activate one’s imagination and consider the biggest question of all – ‘what if…?’ How often have we caught ourselves pondering what could have been? Or dreaming about the vast possibilities that the future holds? Those are questions that the 25th edition of the Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) aims to answer this year, as it returns from … Continue reading By The Book: Singapore Writers’ Festival 2022 – IF (JIKA, 若, எனில்)
Chong Tze Chien’s Poop! takes on new life for a Malay audience. According to the Islamic faith, a person commits suicide is sent straight to hell. Yet, within Malay culture, there remains the belief in the existence of hantus and lingering spirits that remain earthbound even after death. Does that then suggest there are alternative means to think about what lies after death, and use … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Berak by Teater Ekamatra
Singapore Ballet presents a well-loved ballet classic, Coppélia, from 15 – 18 September at Esplanade Theatre. As their first full-length classical ballet since Romeo and Juliet in March 2020, Coppélia ranks among the most enchanting and comical ballets in history, as a light-hearted ballet that sparks joy from within and promises to leave audiences tickled in their seats. Based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, … Continue reading Preview: Coppelia by Singapore Ballet
Clash of ideas turn a simple family melodrama into overwrought fever dream. Looking at the rising divorce rates in Singapore and around the world, it is all too easy to blame it on flaky couples who lack commitment, precluding the collapse of the institution of marriage and the family unit. But the reality is, relationships are much more complicated than simply signing a paper, and … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: Surviving Hope by The Flux Media
In the world of dating, finding your other half is often easier done from within the same industry. And for Nelson Chia and Mia Chee, who’ve known each other for over 20 years now, love came naturally for the two of them over their shared experiences in theatre. “We were actually both in NUS Theatre Studies at the same time, but in different batches, so … Continue reading See You, Anniversary: An Interview with Nelson Chia and Mia Chee on Nine Years Theatre and relationships
Letting go and moving on, one object at a time. According to Japanese decluttering consultant Marie Kondo, the key question one must first ask before deciding to keep or toss a physical object is “Does it spark joy?” But often, that is a query that leads to even further doubts – how do we know if it sparks joy or not? That is the question … Continue reading Review: Declutter Me! by Grace Kalaiselvi
ArtScience Museum invites visitors to embark on an intimate and personal journey that explores mental health and wellbeing. Making its Asian premiere, MENTAL: Colours of Wellbeing will be a welcoming space which offers different perspectives and stories across the mental health spectrum through the interplay of art, science, and technology. Co-curated with Science Gallery Melbourne, MENTAL will present over 20 interactive exhibits and large-scale installations … Continue reading Art What!: ArtScience Museum Asks ‘How Are You?’ with MENTAL – Colours of Wellbeing
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