Becoming Sabrina: An Interview with Rising Pop Star Sabrina Carpenter

It’s hard to tell what 19-year old pop star Sabrina Carpenter is going to be like before we meet her. In researching her before the interview, we’ve seen what looks like a beautifully curated Instagram page, a series of professional music videos and the occasional clip from her acting career on YouTube of the former Disney Channel star. Who is the real Sabrina Carpenter under … Continue reading Becoming Sabrina: An Interview with Rising Pop Star Sabrina Carpenter

The Studios 2019: An Interview with Director Chen Yingxuan and Performer Oon Shu An of Mergers & Accusations

Eleanor Wong is sometimes better known for her position as a law professor at NUS’ Faculty of Law. But to most of the arts community, she is perhaps best known for her seminal Invitation to Treat trilogy of plays, narratively linked by their protagonist, Ellen Toh. Set in the 90s, Ellen is a lawyer who realises she is a lesbian. But coming out, both to society and … Continue reading The Studios 2019: An Interview with Director Chen Yingxuan and Performer Oon Shu An of Mergers & Accusations

Review: The Truth by Singapore Repertory Theatre

A fast-paced, sharp comedic take on the lies that build a marriage. According to playwright Oscar Wilde, “the truth is rarely pure and never simple.” Nowhere does this apply more than Florian Zeller’s contemporary farce The Truth, where the eponymous subject eludes our errant protagonist, finding himself at a greater loss the more he attempts to hide it. Presented by Singapore Repertory Theatre, in a new translation … Continue reading Review: The Truth by Singapore Repertory Theatre

The Studios 2019: Miss British by The Art of Strangers (Review)

Post-colonial blues from the personal stories of three minority actresses.  With a title like Miss British, it’s easy to assume that the second show of the Esplanade’s 2019 The Studios Season is all about British identity. It’s a misnomer, and in fact, deals primarily with the impact, trauma and legacy that British colonialism has left behind on minorities. Directed by Felipe Cervera, Miss British comes at a timely … Continue reading The Studios 2019: Miss British by The Art of Strangers (Review)

The Studios 2019: An Interview with Felipe Cervera, Director of Miss British

As the Esplanade’s 2019 seasons of The Studios roars into its second week, The Art of Strangers presents a brand new show – Miss British. Based off an original idea by Sharon Frese, who stars alongside Grace Kalaiselvi, Rebekah Sangeetha Dorai and Riduan Zalani, Miss British is a devised, multi-disciplinary work questioning the British identity, thinking about issues of both the monarchy and slave trade. What then are the prejudices and social hierarchies left behind … Continue reading The Studios 2019: An Interview with Felipe Cervera, Director of Miss British

Shanghai Nights: Liao Zhai Rocks! by The Theatre Practice (Review)

An overseas debut and source of Singaporean pride. SHANGHAI, CHINA – Presenting their original musical Liao Zhai Rocks! overseas for the very first time, it’s hard not to feel a sense of pride seeing The Theatre Practice’s name displayed across the massive theatre at Shanghai Culture Square. Written by Wu Xi, with soundtrack by Eric Ng and lyrics by Xiaohan, the musical feels only appropriate as debut, … Continue reading Shanghai Nights: Liao Zhai Rocks! by The Theatre Practice (Review)

I Can, We Can: An Interview with Singer-Songwriter Jesse Ruben

Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben is a beacon of hope. With two albums already under his belt, the 32-year old musician is enjoying strong success on the road as he promotes his latest EP Hope. On how he got started, Jesse explains: “I’ve always had a very special relationship with music, and I grew up listening to all sorts of genres – rock & roll, folk, … Continue reading I Can, We Can: An Interview with Singer-Songwriter Jesse Ruben

Sleep No More《不眠之夜》: An Interview with Punchdrunk Artistic Director Felix Barrett

SHANGHAI, CHINA – It’s been almost three years since Punchdrunk brought their blockbuster immersive theatre experience Sleep No More to Shanghai, and the success they’ve seen so far isn’t letting up anytime soon, as good as or even better than previous editions staged in New York and London. Based off Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth, Sleep No More takes the experience up a level by turning it into a film noir-like tale, … Continue reading Sleep No More《不眠之夜》: An Interview with Punchdrunk Artistic Director Felix Barrett

Singapore Repertory Theatre’s The Truth: An Interview with Cast Members Neo Swee Lin and Lim Yu-Beng

The Singapore Repertory Theatre opens their 2019 season this April with Florian Zeller’s The Truth, as translated by Christopher Hampton. A comedy revolving around sex, lies and best friends’ wives, The Truth follows Michael as he embarks on an affair, building a bigger and bigger lie as he attempts to cover it up…and just might lead to a truth that’s far from straightforward as someone else might have been doing … Continue reading Singapore Repertory Theatre’s The Truth: An Interview with Cast Members Neo Swee Lin and Lim Yu-Beng

Strange Tales From A Theatre Studio: An Interview with Kuo Jian Hong, Joanna Dong and Sugie Phua of The Theatre Practice’s Liao Zhai Rocks! Shanghai Tour

The life of a Singaporean theatre production is often limited to a single staging before being relegated to a film in the archives, or living on in the memory of audiences lucky enough to have caught it. A restaging is a rare event, and for a company to present their work overseas rarer still. For The Theatre Practice (TTP), Liao Zhai Rocks! is nothing short of a … Continue reading Strange Tales From A Theatre Studio: An Interview with Kuo Jian Hong, Joanna Dong and Sugie Phua of The Theatre Practice’s Liao Zhai Rocks! Shanghai Tour