Huayi Festival 2019: The Way of Zhuang Zi (庄子兵法) by Story Works (Review)

Nerve wracking thriller of a play that keeps you guessing every step of the way. Happiness is the absence of striving for happiness. I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man. Of the many Chinese philosophers we grew up learning from our scholar of a Chinese teacher … Continue reading Huayi Festival 2019: The Way of Zhuang Zi (庄子兵法) by Story Works (Review)

Huayi Festival 2019: FOUR FOUR EIGHT (四四八) by Emergency Stairs (Review)

Warning: This review may contain spoilers Journey to the centre of the self…and Liu Xiaoyi. Over the years, Emergency Stairs Artistic Director Liu Xiaoyi has made it abundantly clear that the work he puts out staunchly refuses to conform to theatrical standards, having created work that subverts the norm, be it a piece of anti-theatre deliberately attempting to crush audience expectations or even performing in unusual … Continue reading Huayi Festival 2019: FOUR FOUR EIGHT (四四八) by Emergency Stairs (Review)

Huayi Festival 2019: Dear John by M.O.V.E. Theatre (Review)

A musical soundscape through unorthodox means. When John Cage’s controversial 4’33 premiered in 1952, never might the avant-garde composer have imagined the sheer impact he might have had in the field of music theory. Infamous for being four minutes and thirty three seconds of ‘silence’ as an orchestra stands still onstage, the work reflects Cage’s interests in Zen Buddhism, and his magnum opus epitomizing the theory … Continue reading Huayi Festival 2019: Dear John by M.O.V.E. Theatre (Review)

Huayi Festival 2019: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by Li Liuyi Theatre Studio (Review)

Tragedy seems written in the stars in this lengthy production as the cosmos themselves bid our sweet prince goodnight.  Ranking among Shakespeare’s best works, it’s little surprise that Hamlet has seen countless productions and interpretations over the centuries. Opening the Esplanade’s Huayi Festival 2019, director Li Liuyi’s latest production of the piece sees the moody protagonist played by film star Hu Jun (Red Cliff, East Palace West Palace), … Continue reading Huayi Festival 2019: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by Li Liuyi Theatre Studio (Review)

Preview: Happy Chinese New Year Concert 2019 by Ding Yi Music Company

Ding Yi Music Company returns this February, opening their 2019 season with their annual Happy Chinese New Year concert! Playing at the China Cultural Centre Theatre once again, this year’s edition of the festive places a stronger focus on Singaporean talent and composers, Happy Chinese New Year Concert 2019 will feature a repertoire of favourite Mandopop and classic Chinese music, from Liu Chang’s Rippling Brook Capriccio《小河淌水随想曲》to … Continue reading Preview: Happy Chinese New Year Concert 2019 by Ding Yi Music Company

Preview: Esplanade presents Huayi Festival 2019

There’s already plenty to get excited about for the 2019’s arts season! Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay, has launched their 2019 Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts lineup, and we couldn’t be more excited for this 17th edition. Taking place from 15th to 24th February 2019, Huayi 2019 builds on the success of last year’s five new commissioned works, working together with both local … Continue reading Preview: Esplanade presents Huayi Festival 2019

Preview: The Severing Sword (情断昆吾剑) by Nam Hwa Opera

Nam Hwa Opera rounds off its 55th anniversary celebrations with the world premiere of a brand new Wuxia Teochew Opera! Titled The Severing Sword, the opera will premiere in March 2019, and be directed by Toy Factory artistic direction Goh Boon Teck. Based on a popular wuxia novel by genre master Liang Yu Sheng, The Severing Sword follows a series of unfortunate events set into motion … Continue reading Preview: The Severing Sword (情断昆吾剑) by Nam Hwa Opera

Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》(January 2019) by Nam Hwa Opera

Nam Hwa Opera returns next January with the 3rd Anniversary edition of ‘Nam Hwa Blazes’! Presented at the Ci Yuan Community Club at 3pm and 7pm, the quarterly outreach performance presents Nam Hwa’s brightest talents as they’re given a platform to showcase classical Teochew Opera to the public. Best of all – it’s completely free to attend, and even if you can’t make it in person, the 7pm … Continue reading Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》(January 2019) by Nam Hwa Opera

Preview: A Voyage to Nanyang V – Balik Kampong by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra

The Singapore Chinese Orchestra returns this November with SCO Young People’s Concert: Voyage to Nanyang V – Balik Kampong. This time around, they’ll be featuring the beloved “Ah De” in this final episode, played by SCO Resident Conductor Quek Ling Kiong as the orchestra takes audiences on a trip down memory lane! Rediscover Singapore’s old days, where the multicultural and heartwarming kampong spirit is all about, … Continue reading Preview: A Voyage to Nanyang V – Balik Kampong by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra

Nine Years Theatre’s Lear Is Dead 李尔亡: An Interview with Nelson Chia and Timothy Wan

There is more than a passing similarity to Shakespeare’s King Lear and a certain recently deceased leader from our very own country. Besides being former heads of a nation and possessing three children, Lear, when translated to Mandarin, also happens to begin with the Chinese character 李, or ‘Lee’. Appropriately enough then, for their very first Shakespeare adaptation, local Mandarin theatre company Nine Years Theatre … Continue reading Nine Years Theatre’s Lear Is Dead 李尔亡: An Interview with Nelson Chia and Timothy Wan