An Interview with SMU Arts Fest 2024 Festival Directors and producers on student development and the power of collaboration

While most students in Singapore are better known as hardcore bookworms constantly preparing for exams to hit their elusive 4.0 GPA, students at Singapore Management University (SMU) are able to do all that and more. Being management students specifically, there’s that careful balance of work and play, the latter of which takes centrestage at this year’s SMU Arts Fest, aptly dealing with the theme of, … Continue reading An Interview with SMU Arts Fest 2024 Festival Directors and producers on student development and the power of collaboration

Miss Saigon: An Interview with Singaporean stars Louisa Vilinne and Shannon Cheong

In the ongoing run of blockbuster musical Miss Saigon over at Marina Bay Sands’ Sands Theatre, there’s something very special about the cast that’s to be celebrated – the presence of not one but two Singaporean cast members who take to the stage and show that there is indeed a future for Singaporean performers, if you dream big and work hard for it. In that … Continue reading Miss Saigon: An Interview with Singaporean stars Louisa Vilinne and Shannon Cheong

Film Fanatic: An Interview with director-writer Gavin Yap on teenage fear in ‘Geng Kubur’

It is a truth universally acknowledged that there are several rites of passage teens go through in their life, including going on foolhardy adventures to look back on and laugh. But what if something terrible happens on one of those days? Enter Geng Kubur, or Dead Boys Club, a new Malaysian teen horror flick coming to Netflix this August, written and directed by Malaysian filmmaker … Continue reading Film Fanatic: An Interview with director-writer Gavin Yap on teenage fear in ‘Geng Kubur’

Esplanade’s The Studios 2024: An Interview with director/playwright Wichaya Artamat and producer Sasapin Siriwanij on ‘This Song Father Used To Sing (Three Days In May)’

Fathers in Asian society have always had certain stereotypes associated with them – a sense of the austere, reserved and detached from openly expressing love for their children, and perhaps, even as a microcosm of the greater paternalistic, patriarchal governance style adopted by those in power. In many ways, a father is often an anchor within a family that determines their relations and dynamics, resulting … Continue reading Esplanade’s The Studios 2024: An Interview with director/playwright Wichaya Artamat and producer Sasapin Siriwanij on ‘This Song Father Used To Sing (Three Days In May)’

An Interview with Shannen Tan and Miriam Cheong on McDonald’s, pain and friendship in ‘Lotus Root Support Group’ (2024)

Back in 2022, fellow theatremakers Shannen Tan and Miriam Cheong found solace and friendship in each other over their shared pain – the fact that both of them suffered from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a common yet often misunderstood endocrine disorder affecting up to 21% of women worldwide. Aiming to find a way to both educate others about the condition, while also sharing their own … Continue reading An Interview with Shannen Tan and Miriam Cheong on McDonald’s, pain and friendship in ‘Lotus Root Support Group’ (2024)

Esplanade’s The Studios 2024: An Interview with artist Sim Chi Yin on ‘One Day We’ll Understand’ (有那么一天​)

For artist Sim Chi Yin, history has always formed an integral part of her work and practice. Be it presented in the form of photography or film or even book-making, Sim’s work often takes her into the recent past, excavating and researching into academia and accounts to unearth previously hidden narratives. Through her artistic interventions, she paints a more complete picture of what has come … Continue reading Esplanade’s The Studios 2024: An Interview with artist Sim Chi Yin on ‘One Day We’ll Understand’ (有那么一天​)

Disgraced: An Interview with director Daniel Jenkins, and cast members Ghafir Akbar and Shrey Bhargava

In 2016, Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) presented a sold-out run of Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Disgraced, gripping audiences with its provocative subject matter, dealing with race relations in a post 9/11 America. Eight years on, SRT is bringing it back for a second run this August, with a brand new cast and creative team, and perhaps, more relevant than ever before. Leading the team … Continue reading Disgraced: An Interview with director Daniel Jenkins, and cast members Ghafir Akbar and Shrey Bhargava

Film Fanatic: An Interview with producer-writer Michelle Chang on finding ‘Wonderland’

When Michelle Chang makes a promise, she’s the kind of person who makes sure she keeps to it, no matter how tough the going gets. So when the film and television veteran was blown away by an idea pitched by Mocha Chai Laboratories founder Chai Yee Wei, her promise of getting it made into a film was one she fulfilled, using all the means at … Continue reading Film Fanatic: An Interview with producer-writer Michelle Chang on finding ‘Wonderland’

An Interview with Dr Leonard Tan on SSO’s National Day Concert, conducting and classical music

There is no better opportunity to show off what our national orchestra is capable of than on National Day, as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) returns with their annual Temasek Foundation x SSO National Day Concert on 11th August. Taking on the theme of Legacy & Future, the concert will feature a diverse program of local works, both from our own musical forefathers and contemporary … Continue reading An Interview with Dr Leonard Tan on SSO’s National Day Concert, conducting and classical music

Review: Bohong & Janji by Teater Kami

Teater Kami’s new Black Box Series opens the door to a wealth of new possibilities and what-ifs. While special effects and huge production elements can be fun, oftentimes, the magic of theatre instead comes from the art of a good, sincere performance. In Teater Kami’s new Black Box series, the Malay theatre company goes back to basics and focuses on showcasing Malay actors in brand … Continue reading Review: Bohong & Janji by Teater Kami