SIFA 2018: An Enemy of the People by Schaubühne Berlin (Review)

A contemporary version of Ibsen’s play effectively brings out its newfound urgency and relevance in our crazy, messed up modern world. Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People was initially considered one of his minor works in his lifetime. But in recent years, the play has seen an increasing number of stagings and new interpretations, and come to represent a disturbingly prescient rallying cry for the uncertain, messy … Continue reading SIFA 2018: An Enemy of the People by Schaubühne Berlin (Review)

Voilah! 2018: Roots by Bellepoque (Review)

The Belle Epoque was the pinnacle of arts in Europe, literally the ‘Golden Age’. With a name like that, Bellepoque of course, strives for excellence in their productions, and to showcase just what is it that made the era such a fascinating and innovative time. In Roots, the team quite literally takes its audience back in time, presenting a series of pieces and works from famous composers … Continue reading Voilah! 2018: Roots by Bellepoque (Review)

The Studios 2018: Leda and the Rage (Review)

Feathers fly hard and fast in this affecting swansong of agency over one’s own body, and the long road to recovery.  When one has been through a sexual assault, she is not merely a victim, but a survivor. But even when the deed has been done, deep scars are left behind, often leaving survivors lost, confused and unable to come to terms with the immense, … Continue reading The Studios 2018: Leda and the Rage (Review)

SIFA 2018: Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan’s 1984 (Review)

  SIFA 2018 opens on a chilling note with this dystopian modern classic.  Considered by many to be George Orwell’s magnum opus, 1984 has become the go to model for a dystopian world, a culmination of everything we should avoid becoming at all costs. Yet this is a warning the world seems to have forgotten to heed, as the chilling reality of a society plagued by surveillance … Continue reading SIFA 2018: Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan’s 1984 (Review)

SIFA 2018: Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan’s 1984 (Preview)

George Orwell’s literary masterpice 1984 remains one of the most iconic depictions of a dystopian society. Despite being written in 1949, the book’s narrative has been shockingly prophetic, raising the idea of a society increasingly under surveillance and cults of personality. Although there’ve been several staged adaptation produced over the years, there’s none you’ll experience quite like the version by award-winning theatremakers Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan. The … Continue reading SIFA 2018: Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan’s 1984 (Preview)

Voilah 2018: An Interview with Bellepoque Director Sabrina Zuber (Roots)

Bellepoque is a company that strongly believes in the importance of knowing one’s roots, in order to continue to flourish. More specifically, like their name, they’re committed fully to the Belle Epoque era between 1871 and 1914, where the arts and music flourished in Europe, particularly in Paris. Using the music from that era, the company seeks to create new work, re-defining the styles and … Continue reading Voilah 2018: An Interview with Bellepoque Director Sabrina Zuber (Roots)

The Studios 2018: An Interview with Edith Podesta (Leda and the Rage)

The Esplanade’s 2018 season of The Studios has been a wild ride, and ends off with Life! Theatre Award winning theatremaker Edith Podesta’s latest play Leda and the Rage. Inspired by the Greek myth of Leda raped by the god Zeus in the form of a swan, Leda and the Rage will see Edith explore the concept of trauma through one woman’s journey of recovery. Performed by both Edith … Continue reading The Studios 2018: An Interview with Edith Podesta (Leda and the Rage)

The Studios 2018: How Did The Cat Get So Fat? (Review)

It’s been 11 years since How Did The Cat Get So Fat? was last staged and its message of a hollow pledge still rings true. Besides literally referring to corpulent felines, a fat cat can of course, also refer to corrupt businessmen and politicians abusing their wealth or power. And in Zizi Azah’s play How Did The Cat Get So Fat?, it is these members of the upper class … Continue reading The Studios 2018: How Did The Cat Get So Fat? (Review)

The Studios 2018: An Interview with Siti Khalijah (How Did The Cat Get So Fat?)

First performed in 2006 to critical acclaim, Zizi Azah’s monodrama How Did The Cat Get So Fat? makes a return this April as part of the Esplanade’s 2018 season of The Studios. In this version, the play will be helmed by The Finger Players Artistic Director Tan Beng Tian, who has injected the performance with her signature blend of puppetry. Siti Khalijah Zainal will once again be … Continue reading The Studios 2018: An Interview with Siti Khalijah (How Did The Cat Get So Fat?)

No Such Thing As Magic: Ugly In The Morning Launches 3rd Album – 3 Or More If You Can Afford It

In this day and age, local bands are a dime a dozen, and far too many come and go in the blink of an eye. It’s a rarity to even release one album, let alone two, which is precisely why funk-rock band Ugly In The Morning’s third release is absolutely significant in the history of Singapore music. 3 Or More If You Can Afford It was officially launched … Continue reading No Such Thing As Magic: Ugly In The Morning Launches 3rd Album – 3 Or More If You Can Afford It