Arts of Hong Kong: An Interview with Hong Kong Arts Festival Executive Director Flora Yu

HONG KONG – For a little over a decade, Flora Yu has been working for the Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF), starting out as a Development Director in late 2011, before filling the shoes of Tisa Ho, the festival’s former Executive Director of 16 years, in 2022. This year’s festival is bigger than ever, with 45 international and local productions produced as part of the … Continue reading Arts of Hong Kong: An Interview with Hong Kong Arts Festival Executive Director Flora Yu

Huayi 2024: An Interview with choreographer Chou Shu-yi on Taiwan-Singapore collaboration ‘Dance a Dance from My Body’

For a co-production that’s been engineered by two of the biggest arts centres in their respective cities, the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts Weiwuying, choreographer Chou Shu-yi has been given plenty of free rein to explore a rather unique collaborative style of work for his upcoming production Dance a Dance from My Body, which makes its premiere … Continue reading Huayi 2024: An Interview with choreographer Chou Shu-yi on Taiwan-Singapore collaboration ‘Dance a Dance from My Body’

Huayi 2024: An Interview with Shaman Tearoom on sound healing in their work ‘Microcosm – a sonic tea ceremony’

Amidst the noisy Chinese New Year celebrations, it becomes more important than ever to find some time to relax and take stock of life and all that’s going on. Sometimes, it’s akin to tuning an instrument, and finding the right note, something that Malaysian multidisciplinary duo Aiwei Foo and Kent Lee are happy to help out with in their Shaman Tearoom project. Performing their show … Continue reading Huayi 2024: An Interview with Shaman Tearoom on sound healing in their work ‘Microcosm – a sonic tea ceremony’

Huayi 2024: An Interview with director Mathias Woo on epic Hong Kong detective play ’13·67′

Hong Kong is a city that never sleeps, characterised by sweeping change, a personality that’s constantly shifting, and in essence, never sitting still as it transforms with each successive generation. If it’s one thing Hong Kong is also known for, is its penchant for cop dramas, and bringing both those ideas together is theatremaker Mathias Ho, co-artistic director of experimental theatre company Zuni Icosahedron, in … Continue reading Huayi 2024: An Interview with director Mathias Woo on epic Hong Kong detective play ’13·67′

Huayi 2024: An Interview with director Nelson Chia and actress Sharon Au on Nine Years Theatre’s ‘Everything For You’

In 2022, Nine Years Theatre (NYT) presented original production Between Me And You at the Esplanade Theatre, as part of that year’s annual Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts. The project was probably one of NYT’s most ambitious productions to date, with a massive cast on a huge stage, a deeply emotional and sprawling script that required audiences to invest in an entire family’s backstory, … Continue reading Huayi 2024: An Interview with director Nelson Chia and actress Sharon Au on Nine Years Theatre’s ‘Everything For You’

Film Fanatic: An Interview with director Jack Neo and the cast of ‘Money No Enough 3’

Generations of Singaporeans have grown up with the films of Jack Neo, be they the I Not Stupid series of films dealing with the education system, or the more recent Ah Boys To Men series capturing the National Service experience. But one of Neo’s biggest and most relevant film franchises to date remains the Money No Enough series, dealing with one of the most important … Continue reading Film Fanatic: An Interview with director Jack Neo and the cast of ‘Money No Enough 3’

T.H.E Dance Company opens London’s Coronet Theatre Spring Season with triple bill ‘Rethinking Co-Existence’

Come February, Singapore contemporary dance company The Human Expression (T.H.E) is headed to London to perform a triple bill of work to open The Coronet Theatre’s Spring Season. It’s an honour that’s well-deserved – after all, the last time they were in the UK capital in 2022, they performed their production Phenoumenon to sold-out audiences and rave reviews, and look set to impress once again. … Continue reading T.H.E Dance Company opens London’s Coronet Theatre Spring Season with triple bill ‘Rethinking Co-Existence’

Art What!: An Interview with ART SG Co-Founder Magnus Renfrew and Fair Director Shuyin Yang

Introduced as a new anchor event of the annual Singapore Art Week (SAW) in 2023, international art fair ART SG had big shoes they had to fill and high expectations. But last year, they seemed to struck gold with their approach towards curating and setting up an art fair, not only making strong sales, but also incorporating a well-thought out list of partners and engaging … Continue reading Art What!: An Interview with ART SG Co-Founder Magnus Renfrew and Fair Director Shuyin Yang

Singapore Chamber Music Festival 2024: An Interview with Resound Collective Chairman Mervin Beng

Making a triumphant return this January is the Singapore Chamber Music Festival (SCMF). Organised by Resound Collective, the biennial festival is back after nearly 20 years, and brings together music lovers, students and top chamber musicians connect, share and celebrate the joy of chamber music. In this particular edition, attendees and participants can not only look forward to top international musicians from USA, UK and … Continue reading Singapore Chamber Music Festival 2024: An Interview with Resound Collective Chairman Mervin Beng

M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024: An Interview with playwright Raimi Safari and director Mohd Fared Jainal of ‘Oo-Woo’

Few Singaporeans would be unfamiliar with the cry of the Asian koel bird, with its signature ‘oo-woo’ call heard across the island in the early morning light. But in The Necessary Stage’s new play, set to premiere during the 2024 M1 Singapore Fringe Festival, that bird holds far more emotional significance than most of us might realise, as it leads to a tale of family … Continue reading M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024: An Interview with playwright Raimi Safari and director Mohd Fared Jainal of ‘Oo-Woo’