Nothing But Pride for Local Talent: An Interview with Dick Lee (Singapopera 2018)

Dick Lee is perhaps one of the few Singaporeans whose name is immediately recognizable. For many Singaporeans, Dick is best known as the composer of ‘Home’, the song most synonymous with National Day. Written abroad while harbouring thoughts of missing Singapore, the 1998 song has since gone on to become a mainstay at just about every National Day Parade, at any and every Singaporean event … Continue reading Nothing But Pride for Local Talent: An Interview with Dick Lee (Singapopera 2018)

Reflections on a Skyline: An Interview with Here and Beyond Director Stanley Seah and Cast Member Jolene Wong

Toy Factory is having an incredibly busy year – they’ve already staged three brand new productions in 2018, ranging from epic hundred year musical to loving comedy tribute, and all of which were presented in Mandarin or Mandarin dialects. But this July, something quintessentially Singaporean will be coming your way, with the first ever stage adaptation of the only MOE-prescribed Singaporean O-Level Literature text – Here … Continue reading Reflections on a Skyline: An Interview with Here and Beyond Director Stanley Seah and Cast Member Jolene Wong

Review: My Grandfather’s Road by Neo Kim Seng (Cantonese versions, performed by Tan Cher Kian and Gary Tang)

Two ways to tell a poignant story of growing up in Cantonese.  First written as a book, in My Grandfather’s Road, Neo Kim Seng explores his familial history through the lens and geography of a bygone Singapore, thinking of his childhood growing up on what is literally his grandfather’s road (Neo Pee Teck Lane) and told through personal memories and anecdotes. While we previously watched the full … Continue reading Review: My Grandfather’s Road by Neo Kim Seng (Cantonese versions, performed by Tan Cher Kian and Gary Tang)

Beauty of Bettas: An Interview with Photographer Visarute Angkatavanich

If you didn’t know any better, the subjects in Thai photographer Visarute Angkatavanich’s exhibition at the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall may appear completely enigmatic. It can be difficult to tell what exactly these glorious, silk-like creatures are in these photographs, as they dance gracefully in the light, taking on watery shapes that bend and fold to become anything from flowers to fashion. But as … Continue reading Beauty of Bettas: An Interview with Photographer Visarute Angkatavanich

M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival 2018: EARTH and Filled with sadness, the old body attacks by T.H.E Dance Company (Review)

A double-bill of movement heavy pieces open the 2018 M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival. T.H.E Dance Company opened the 2018 M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival with a double bill of work. Featuring ‘EARTH’ by Humanhood and ‘Filled with sadness, the old body attacks’ by Kim Jae Duk, the festival kicked off to a strong start with both these thought-provoking, physically challenging pieces.  EARTH by Humanhood In … Continue reading M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival 2018: EARTH and Filled with sadness, the old body attacks by T.H.E Dance Company (Review)

Review: Framed, By Adolf by The Finger Players

Dark fairytale meets con-job for justice in this story-within-a-story about the holocaust and art. The art world is fickle and subjective, with the monetary worth of a painting determined by market forces and its value by its frame, specifically the way a backstory ‘frames’ and positions an artwork to give it legitimacy. But even the volatile art market is in agreement that a controversial work … Continue reading Review: Framed, By Adolf by The Finger Players

Review: My Grandfather’s Road by Neo Kim Seng (English version, performed by Karen Tan)

Put on your nostalgia goggles for this monologue about people and places past, laced with a pinch of death and loss.  To call a stretch of land your grandfather’s road sounds like an audacious claim. But for theatremaker Neo Kim Seng, that claim is rooted in truth, with Neo Pee Teck Lane quite literally named after his paternal grandfather. My Grandfather’s Road is adapted from … Continue reading Review: My Grandfather’s Road by Neo Kim Seng (English version, performed by Karen Tan)

Preview: dead was the body till i taught it how to move by Bhumi Collective

Life has a habit of throwing the greatest of curveballs when you least expect it. And in Bhumi Collective’s latest production, they’ll be tackling the story of one man who finds his once clear path now at a crossroads when faced with an unexpected crisis. Written by Edward Eng, directed by the Second Breakfast Company artistic director Adeeb Fazah, and with dramaturgy and movement direction … Continue reading Preview: dead was the body till i taught it how to move by Bhumi Collective

Preview: A Samsui Love Story by Project Plait X Tung Lok

Project Plait has formed a bit of a niche for itself in the years it’s been around. Adopting a form of site-specific dance performance, it stands out from the crowd by including a concept dear to all our hearts: food. Previous editions have included their virgin production Cardinal Sins at the now defunct Portico on Alexandra Road in 2015 surrounding the seven deadly sins, before evolving to … Continue reading Preview: A Samsui Love Story by Project Plait X Tung Lok

Blue Note Tokyo: A Touch of Class In The Heart of Tokyo

I’m convinced Tokyo is one of the most magical megalopolises to exist on the face of the earth. Beyond being situated in Japan (no doubt a favourite country of ours), there’s life all about the city from the crack of dawn to the fading of the last sunbeams. And in particular, Roppongi comes out tops when it comes to the king of Tokyo nightlife. But … Continue reading Blue Note Tokyo: A Touch of Class In The Heart of Tokyo