Raising A Theatre: An Interview with Charcoalblue theatre consultants Amanda Brecknell and James Nowell

When you stop to think about it, the physical space of the theatre is a magical space. As an audience member, each time we step into a theatre venue, we are greeted with a surprise – the scene of a war-torn nation, a grandiose mansion interior, or a fantasy realm rife with otherworldly creatures. The ability for a single theatre to hold a multitude of … Continue reading Raising A Theatre: An Interview with Charcoalblue theatre consultants Amanda Brecknell and James Nowell

Music Is: Baybeats 2022 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

After two years of the pandemic, the 2022 edition of the annual Baybeats festival is ready to welcome back the crowds with a wave of alternative music from Singapore and beyond. Returning from 28th to 30th October over a single weekend, Baybeats 2022 welcomes back the return of the festival’s beloved Powerhouse stage—renamed Powerhouse2. Set up at the brand new Singtel Waterfront Theatre, fans of … Continue reading Music Is: Baybeats 2022 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

★★★★★ Review: Recalling Mother – Her Lines, My Lines by Checkpoint Theatre

Reflections on aging and mortality in the latest version of this ‘living play’. Originating as a simple idea where Claire Wong and Noorlinah Mohamed simply wanted to share stories of their mothers, over the last 16 years, the two theatremakers have managed to perform their show Recalling Mother across multiple iterations and across multiple countries, each version seeing the play grow and evolve alongside them. … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Recalling Mother – Her Lines, My Lines by Checkpoint Theatre

More Accessibility Features at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay as it celebrates its 20th anniversary

Making sure that the arts is accessible to and embraced by diverse communities in Singapore, is always at the heart of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s work. This October, as the centre celebrates its 20th anniversary, it will roll out a series of new accessibility features to welcome patrons of all ages and abilities. Esplanade will pilot Relaxed Environment (RE) performances at Octoburst! 2022—a … Continue reading More Accessibility Features at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay as it celebrates its 20th anniversary

Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with Claire Wong and Noorlinah Mohamed on ‘Recalling Mother’

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’

★★★★☆ Review: Berak by Teater Ekamatra

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

Preview: da:ns Festival 2022 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

As the environment around us changes, so does the human body, expressing itself in response to the ever-changing landscape. Whether for better or worse, it is in these times that we turn our attention to the arts, as we find a way to process all this change through the word of the body. And within the realm of the arts, the medium of dance offers … Continue reading Preview: da:ns Festival 2022 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Preview: Moonfest 2022 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

September is coming, and we all know what that means – a full moon on the horizon, and the Esplanade’s annual Moonfest, held in conjunction with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Now in its 18th edition, this year’s Moonfest will be celebrated with an array of free performances of traditional Chinese arts, and ticketed workshops for families of all ages. Focused on preserving and showcasing traditional arts, … Continue reading Preview: Moonfest 2022 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

★★★★☆ Review: Transverse Orientation by Dimitris Papaioannou

In the anthropocene, we go where the light leads us. Dimitris Papaioannou choreographs like an artist – the scenes we bear witness to are all about the visuals, shifting between unconventional imagery and absurd situation, never easy to understand upon first look, but always striking, and capable of producing a visceral, emotional reaction. Every moment onstage is like witnessing a painting in motion, and rarely … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Transverse Orientation by Dimitris Papaioannou

★★★★☆ Review: Acting Mad by The Necessary Stage

A necessary production for a world in want of greater empathy. Actors have a reputation for being dramatic. It’s their profession after all, to perform and to present people and situations that are often exaggerated and emotionally-charged, to entertain and evoke catharsis in paying audiences. But we often forget that actors are far more than just blank slates, morphing and becoming whatever role they’ve been … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Acting Mad by The Necessary Stage