The Studios 2018: I Am Trying To Say Something True (Review)

‘My name is Risa, which means laughter.’ These are the words that start us off on an intense journey of self-reflection into the mind of 28 year old Risa (Ellison Tan) as she speaks to Dr Robert, her $280/hour psychiatrist about her life. Penned by rising star Michelle Tan, who was nominated for a Life! Theatre Award for Best Script in 2017, I Am Trying To … Continue reading The Studios 2018: I Am Trying To Say Something True (Review)

The Studios 2018: An Interview with T. Sasitharan (I am trying to say something true)

In the third week of the Esplanade’s latest season of The Studios, actress Ellison Tan Yuyang will be performing Michelle Tan’s new work I am trying to say something true. The show revolves around the concept of loss, but does not directly address it, instead considering the distance and spaces between people and places, time and everything between what we know and what we feel. We spoke … Continue reading The Studios 2018: An Interview with T. Sasitharan (I am trying to say something true)

The Studios 2018: In The Silence of Your Heart (Review)

Kaylene Tan encapsulates the art of living in the in between in an innovative, sensory experience.  The term ‘between living and dying’ can be interpreted in a great many ways. You could  literally be on the brink of death, fully paralysed and barely breathing, yet still completely alive. Perhaps you’re already dead and gone, but your spirit and memories linger on in the space and … Continue reading The Studios 2018: In The Silence of Your Heart (Review)

The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time: An Interview with Joshua Jenkins

In the National Theatre’s stellar touring production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, actor Joshua Jenkins leads the cast as fifteen year old Christopher Boone. A graduate from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Joshua’s role as “a mathematician with some behavioural difficulties” is both physically and emotionally demanding, and an unusual one amongst theatre protagonists in that his character … Continue reading The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time: An Interview with Joshua Jenkins

The Studios 2018: An Interview with Kaylene Tan (In The Silence of Your Heart)

For the second show of Esplanade’s 2018 season of the Studios, spell#7 co-founder and co-artistic director Kaylene Tan returns to Singapore to direct an all new production titled In the Silence of Your Heart. Like Kaylene’s previous works, In The Silence of Your Heart offers an alternative theatre experience, as she subverts and plays with the idea of a monologue. Utilising in-ear audio recordings, audiences become privy … Continue reading The Studios 2018: An Interview with Kaylene Tan (In The Silence of Your Heart)

Ugly In The Morning: 3 Or More If You Can Afford It

It’s a quarter past 11 on a Saturday night and we’re seated on a couch, watching the beautiful chaos that is Ugly In The Morning unfold before us in a small studio at Upper Thomson – drummer Joseph Saleem is running in and out with his ear clasped to the phone, offering us some durian on his way out, and we hear guitarist Noel Ong slightly … Continue reading Ugly In The Morning: 3 Or More If You Can Afford It

Review: National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time by The National Theatre

Style reigns supreme in this technically brilliant adaptation of Mark Haddon’s breakthrough novel. In National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time, three pieces of chalk are used in every single performance, with two spares on standby. Adrian Sutton’s opening music is counts out a 2-3-5-7 rhythm based off prime number sequences. 115 props are used in the show. Each actor playing Christopher has … Continue reading Review: National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time by The National Theatre

The Studios 2018: A Good Death (Review)

The hard truths of Faith Ng’s latest play handles mortality firmly and frankly, while still ending on an emotional sting.  As much as we all know that death will come for us one day, it remains an immensely difficult and taboo topic to talk about. Imagine going through that everyday, as a palliative care doctor delicately navigating both the emotional and practical aspects that a … Continue reading The Studios 2018: A Good Death (Review)

The Studios 2018: An Interview with Faith Ng (A Good Death)

The Esplanade’s 2018 season of The Studios begins this week and this time around, present a series of works centering around the theme ‘Between Living and Dying’ , questioning how best to make the most of our limited time on earth. Starting off the season, we have playwright Faith Ng with her latest play A Good Death, marking her first new work since last year’s Whale Fall.  Directed … Continue reading The Studios 2018: An Interview with Faith Ng (A Good Death)

The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night Time: An Interview With SRT Managing Director Charlotte Nors

The Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) is no stranger to bringing in some of the absolute best works from all around the world, ranging from superstars such as Ian McKellan in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s King Lear, to Peter Brook’s stunning The Suit. This year, together with the Esplanade, they’re bringing in one of the most critically and commercially acclaimed works of modern theatre – National Theatre’s The Curious Adaptation of … Continue reading The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night Time: An Interview With SRT Managing Director Charlotte Nors