Wild Rice’s Director’s Residency Programme to present four new productions by up-and-coming directors

From left: Thong Pei Qin, Sim Yan Ying ‘YY’, Ivan Heng, Victoria Chen and Hazel Ho Following the re-opening of their theatres this November, Wild Rice has announced four more upcoming shows, each helmed by an up-and-coming director. These theatremakers were each part of Wild Rice’s Directors’ Residency Programme, and comprise Victoria Chen, Hazel Ho, Sim Yan Ying ‘YY’ and Thong Pei Qin. All four … Continue reading Wild Rice’s Director’s Residency Programme to present four new productions by up-and-coming directors

★★★★☆ Review: De Gaulle dir. Gabriel Le Bomin

French patriotism on the big screen in this celebration of the former French president. With the need to strike a careful balance between entertainment and respect for the subject matter without coming off as trite, patriotic films aren’t the easiest thing to make. Yet with Gabriel Le Bomin’s De Gaulle, the biopic seems to have captured a riveting image of the former French president’s courage and elevates … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: De Gaulle dir. Gabriel Le Bomin

Preview: Singapore International Film Festival goes hybrid for 31st edition

As is the case with local film festivals over the last few months, a pandemic isn’t going to stop the annual Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) from pushing forth, as a hybrid festival taking place both in cinemas and online. Now in its 31st edition, this year’s festival takes place from 26th November to 6th December 2020, and celebrates resilience and hope as the festival … Continue reading Preview: Singapore International Film Festival goes hybrid for 31st edition

Arts Down Under 2020: Fat Kids Are Harder To Kidnap On Zoom by How Drama (Preview)

Missed How Drama’s Zoom edition of their signature Fat Kids Are Harder To Kidnap sketch marathon in June? Good news – they’re back this November, this time playing as part of the 2020 Melbourne Fringe Festival. Performed live (no pre-recording!) on Zoom, Fat Kids Are Harder To Kidnap puts its actors to the ultimate race against the clock – to perform 15 playlets and sketches into just … Continue reading Arts Down Under 2020: Fat Kids Are Harder To Kidnap On Zoom by How Drama (Preview)

Arts of the UK 2020: Polka Theatre offers Christmas present to supporters with free Christmas film for ages 4+

LONDON – Polka may have been closed throughout 2020 but their re-told A Christmas Carol is the theatre’s gift to their supporters. Created by Ian Nicholson and Sam Wilde, the team behind the viral lockdown hit I Want My Hat Back, this free 15-minute short film is for the whole family to be enjoyed over the festive period. It will be available exclusively from 19th December … Continue reading Arts of the UK 2020: Polka Theatre offers Christmas present to supporters with free Christmas film for ages 4+

Arts of the UK 2020: Introducing spikizi – the first global community-led accent app for the creative industries

LONDON – spikizi is a new app which gives performers thousands of authentic accents immediately, wherever they are, using the phone in their pocket. Almost every actor in the entertainment industry has had to quickly pick up an accent; for an audition, a showcase, an ad, a self-tape. Social media is littered with callouts for friends to read a few lines in a desired accent, whether … Continue reading Arts of the UK 2020: Introducing spikizi – the first global community-led accent app for the creative industries

Arts of the UK 2020: Bush Theatre reopens with Travis Alabanza’s ‘Overflow’

LONDON – Overflow, a hilarious and devastating tour of women’s bathrooms by acclaimed writer and performer Travis Alabanza (Jubilee, Burgerz), will be the first public performance at the Bush following national restrictions. Overflow is a monologue and will be presented in line with government guidelines and with social distancing measures in place. Transgender actress, writer, and poetReece Lyons will perform the role of Rosie in Overflow. … Continue reading Arts of the UK 2020: Bush Theatre reopens with Travis Alabanza’s ‘Overflow’

By The Book: An Interview with Sonny Liew, creator of The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye

It’s been five years since The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye was first published, and since then, has gone on to win a slew of awards, ranging from the 2016 Singapore Literature Prize for English Fiction, to three Eisner Awards in 2017 for Best Writer/Artist, Best Publication Design, and Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia. But for graphic novelist Sonny Liew, life hasn’t changed … Continue reading By The Book: An Interview with Sonny Liew, creator of The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye

★★★★★ Book Review: The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye (5th Anniversary Edition) by Sonny Liew

A genre-breaking graphic novel presenting the history of Singapore with charm, accessibility and power. I first picked up a copy of The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye when I learnt about its Eisner nominations back in 2017. While I’d previously read creator Sonny Liew’s shorter work in anthologies such as Kazu Kibushi’s Flight or Liquid City (edited by Sonny), a full-length graphic novel from the cartoonist was unexpected, to … Continue reading ★★★★★ Book Review: The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye (5th Anniversary Edition) by Sonny Liew

Preview: Kalaa Utsavam 2020 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Now in its 19th edition, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s annual Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts is back to spread hope to all its viewers. This year’s edition focuses on the power of the arts to build resilience and reconnect audiences to the beauty of nature and see the light in life, complete with a key visual that takes inspiration from the … Continue reading Preview: Kalaa Utsavam 2020 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay