Nine Years Theatre’s Dear Elena: An Interview with Nelson Chia, Mia Chee and Timothy Wan

Near the start of 2019, local theatre company Nine Years Theatre (NYT) announced their new season, starting with FAUST/US in February, original play First Fleet in July, before rounding off with a restaging of SIFA 2017’s Art Studio in October. But midway through, due to unforeseen circumstances, Art Studio was unable to proceed as planned, and the team had to find an alternative production to round off their year. Enter Dear Elena … Continue reading Nine Years Theatre’s Dear Elena: An Interview with Nelson Chia, Mia Chee and Timothy Wan

Preview: Dear Elena (青春禁忌游戏) by Nine Years Theatre

Nine Years Theatre returns this October for their third and final production of the year. Following the premiere of brand new play First Fleet in July, the company returns to their roots with Dear Elena, with artistic director Nelson Chia adapting a Russian play into Mandarin. Originally written by Russian playwright Lyudmila Razumovskaya, Dear Elena Sergeevna, the original play, was first staged at the beginning of … Continue reading Preview: Dear Elena (青春禁忌游戏) by Nine Years Theatre

Review: Caught by Singapore Repertory Theatre

It is not the truth, but the semblance of the truth that truly matters in SRT’s first immersive production. Presented by the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT), Caught plays as part of the Miaja Gallery’s Dissonance exhibition, inviting recently released Chinese fugitive and dissident artist Lin Bo to speak at the gallery itself. Caught is directed and conceptualised by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, with text by Christopher Chen, performed by Lin … Continue reading Review: Caught by Singapore Repertory Theatre

Review: KNOTS《结》by STRANGER

New Chinese theatre collective still has some knotty issues to untangle.  In spirituality, it is believed that if one does not let go of the metaphorical ‘knots in one’s heart’, then their mind will remain tormented by these unresolved issues, burdened and suffering on. It is one such knot that takes centrestage in KNOTS, playing as part of the Singapore Chinese Language Theatre Alliance’s New Works … Continue reading Review: KNOTS《结》by STRANGER

Review: Sound of Dragon Ensemble (Ding Yi Chinese Chamber Music Festival 2019)

Western composition meets Eastern arrangement. Hailing all the way from Canada, the Sound of Dragon Ensemble comprises some of Vancouver’s very best musicians with a spectacular repertoire of works at their fingertips. As the opening act of Ding Yi Music Company’s 4th edition of the annual Chinese Chamber Music Festival, the ensemble was led by Taiwanese conductor Chen Chih-Sheng, and stand out from the crowd … Continue reading Review: Sound of Dragon Ensemble (Ding Yi Chinese Chamber Music Festival 2019)

Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》“Teochew Opera Classics Excerpts” by Nam Hwa Opera

Nam Hwa Opera’s quarterly FREE outreach series Nam Hwa Blazes is back this September for a very special edition. Playing at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre on Friday, 27th September 2019, the upcoming edition of Nam Hwa Blazes will be presented by veteran Teochew opera actors, who will perform 3 opera performances surrounding the bitterness, hardships and happiness in love. In Reunion at the tower《楼台会》, legendary lovers Liang Shanbo and Zhu … Continue reading Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》“Teochew Opera Classics Excerpts” by Nam Hwa Opera

Preview: DY-Logue《鼎有艺思》by Ding Yi Music Company

Taking place this October at Stamford Arts Centre, Ding Yi Music Company is introducing a brand new experimental music series with DY-Logue 《鼎有艺思》. Playing on both the company name and the word ‘dialogue’, DY-Logue is a platform that will provide Ding Yi musicians an avenue to freely express their music artistry and musicianship. With this upcoming first edition, the concert features interplay between the two contrasting ethnic … Continue reading Preview: DY-Logue《鼎有艺思》by Ding Yi Music Company

SRT’s Caught: An Interview with Director Ed Sylvanus Iskandar

There’s something undeniably joyous about the way Ed Sylvanus Iskandar carries himself. Perhaps it’s a pre-requisite for an immersive theatre director to be have a little spring in their step, a little hope in their heart and almost always excited each night with the unpredictability of what one will experience at a show, where every performance will undoubtedly be different. “I like comparing the theatre … Continue reading SRT’s Caught: An Interview with Director Ed Sylvanus Iskandar

Preview: New Works Festival 2019 by Singapore Chinese Language Theatre Alliance

In 2016, six of Singapore’s leading Chinese language theatre companies united and formed the Singapore Chinese Language Theatre Alliance. Aiming to surface and address concerns and issues pertaining to the development of Chinese language theatre scene in Singapore, the six members of the alliance are Drama Box, Nine Years Theatre, Paper Monkey Theatre, The Finger Players, The Theatre Practice and Toy Factory Productions. Three years on, they’re … Continue reading Preview: New Works Festival 2019 by Singapore Chinese Language Theatre Alliance

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

Nam Hwa Opera’s quarterly FREE outreach series Nam Hwa Blazes is back this September for a very special edition. Taking place at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre this Saturday, they’ll be presenting “Drums, Tunes, Children and Rhyme”,  with 4 music pieces by Nam Hwa Opera’s Teochew Music Ensemble, along with 6 songs by Nam Hwa’s Pharyngeal Singing student, all taught by renowned Chinese musician Wu Kun,. This edition of Nam … Continue reading Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》(September 2019) by Nam Hwa Opera