Faith and beliefs collide in a tale about adoption in the Malay-Muslim community. What does family mean? Is it the people we are related by blood to, or is is simply a matter of choice as to who we bond with? The traditional idea of a family is called into question with Rupa co.lab’s latest show, Rindu di Bulan (明月千里寄相思), as they examine the issue … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Rindu di Bulan (明月千里寄相思) by Rupa co.lab
Sound and fury, signifying nothing. In the digital age, where social media can activate an angry mob at a moment’s notice, any information that could spark a flame is enough to turn into a raging wildfire. Tackling this phenomenon is Bound Theatre’s Screen. Shot., where a modern Rashomon-esque plot unfolds, and unveils what happens when rumours spread and dramatises how what you see online, may … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: Screen. Shot. by Bound Theatre
Sometimes escapism is the answer. In the busy urban lives we lead, it can often be hard to find breathing space, keeping us stressed and unable to function well. Perhaps the solution to all that is to leave it all behind. Written and performed by Neo Hai Bin, Wei Collective’s Being explores the concept of escapism as a means of regulating stress, through a surreal … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Being 息在 by 微 Wei Collective
Tragicomic physical theatre presents the refugee crisis in a whole new light. Mention the refugee crisis, and comedy probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, in PSYCHEdelight’s Borderline, director and facilitator Sophie Besse uses it to incredible effect, as she leads a group of refugees and professional actors to share their experiences with heart, humour and physical comedy. Streaming as part of … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Borderline by PSYCHEdelight
Capturing the beauty and pain of love gone bad. If the pandemic is anything to go by, nothing good should be taken for granted, and it’s likely, never lasts forever. In psychoanalysis, the term ‘imago’ refers to an unconscious idealized mental image of someone, which influences a person’s behaviour. Using this definition as a starting point, UK dancers Travis Clausen-Knight and James Pett attempt to … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: IMAGO by Travis Clausen-Knight and James Pett
Banding together against the monopoly. If you’ve ever step foot into Bangkok, you’ll be well aware that there’s a convenience store on every corner, perfect for grabbing a cool drink when the temperature peaks. But for the segment of society that can’t even afford it, that’s simply not an option for them – who is the store really convenient for? Streaming as part of the … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: OK Land by Circle Theatre
Who will help the helpers? The term ‘essential workers’ has become something of a buzzword over the course of the pandemic. Not only was there initial furore over who should be considered ‘essential’ or not, but as the pandemic reached its peak, stories of burnout, quitting en masse, and the paltry efforts at celebrating them (clapping at our windows) swarmed our social media feeds. How … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: The Essential Playlist by The Second Breakfast Company
Mind the gap – you might find a surprising connection. In Wong Kar-Wai’s 1994 film Chungking Express, Takeshi Kaneshiro considers his character’s relationship with Brigitte Lin, where at the highest point, they were a mere 0.01cm apart. With how tight-knit our city structure is, this could also apply to our everyday interactions, where 0.01cm represents the tiny distance between ourselves and others, the space and … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: 0.01 by Goh Shou Yi, Rei Poh & Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
From their very first production, Rupa co.lab has always delivered on arresting scripts about the intricacies of Malay culture, homing in on familial bonds of unusual household structures, and winning Best Original Script at our Bakchormeeboy Awards in 2019 for Nessa Anwar’s Rumah Dayak and 2021 for Hazwan Norly’s Pandan. Now, a third member of Rupa co.lab will be making his debut with the company, … Continue reading M1 Singapore Fringe 2022: An Interview with Adib Kosnan and Raimi Safari on adoption in ‘Rindu di Bulan’
In this Internet age, cybersecurity is no longer limited to keeping your devices and accounts protected by a well-devised password. With fake news on the rise, angry mobs arising from social media, and a single comment can spark a wildfire, even a simple look at someone’s Instagram stories without response can label you a degenerate of society. How do we survive the sheer madness of … Continue reading M1 Singapore Fringe 2022: An Interview with Bound Theatre on the age of the Internet in ‘Screen. Shot.’
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