Tag: malay

Arts, festival, Malay Theatre, Review, Singapore, Theatre

★★★★★ Theatre Review: Randai Macbeth by ASWARA

Shakespeare meets the Nusantara in a bold, visceral Macbeth reborn through randai. It’s no small feat to make a 400-year-old play feel fresh, but Randai Macbeth achieves exactly that, and then some. Presented by Malaysia’s ASWARA and directed by Dr Norzizi Zulkifli, this bold adaptation reimagines Macbeth through the cultural lens of the Nusantara, transforming Shakespeare’s tale of ambition and moral decay into something visceral, … Continue reading ★★★★★ Theatre Review: Randai Macbeth by ASWARA

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Arts, festival, Malay Theatre, Review, Singapore, Theatre

★★★★★ Theatre Review: PUNO – Sewing Memories by Papermoon Puppet Theatre

A universally affecting, timeless tale of love and loss by masters of the puppetry form. PUNO: Sewing Memories is, in many ways, a ghost story. Or perhaps more precisely, it is the story of a ghost, though not in the way we might expect. From the very outset of the show, which played as part of the Esplanade’s 2026 Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of … Continue reading ★★★★★ Theatre Review: PUNO – Sewing Memories by Papermoon Puppet Theatre

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Arts, festival, Malay Theatre, Review, Singapore, Theatre

★★★☆☆ Theatre Review: La Luna by Teater Ekamatra

A lively but unfocused stage adaptation of La Luna struggles to balance satire and substance, losing the impact and weight of its source material. Adapting a film for the stage is never about simple reproduction. Theatre demands transformation, with a rethinking of form, rhythm, and storytelling. But that transformation must still serve the story. The most successful adaptations do not replicate but reinterpret with purpose. … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Theatre Review: La Luna by Teater Ekamatra

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Arts, festival, Interview, Malay Theatre, Preview, Singapore, Theatre

Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with Maria Tri Sulistyani, founder of Papermoon Puppet Theatre, and playwright/director of ‘PUNO – Sewing Memories’

Twelve years ago, the story that would become PUNO: Sewing Memories began with a promise. Back in 2013, Papermoon Puppet Theatre was planning a collaboration with a close friend from the Philippines: puppetry artist Don Salubayba. “It was kind of like, wow, it’s amazing that we have so much in common, let’s do something together,” recalls director and playwright Maria Tri Sulistyani, also a co-founder … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with Maria Tri Sulistyani, founder of Papermoon Puppet Theatre, and playwright/director of ‘PUNO – Sewing Memories’

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Arts, festival, Interview, Malay Theatre, Preview, Singapore, Theatre

Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with Dr. Norzizi Zulkifli on adapting Macbeth for Randai and traditional arts in Malaysia

When Dr Norzizi speaks about randai, she does not describe it as an artefact or a genre. She describes the art form as something breathing, precarious, but alive. “Without ASWARA,” she says plainly of the National Academy of Arts, Cultural and Heritage of Malaysia, “randai is a dying traditional art form. It exists, but it is also not there. If you come to Kuala Lumpur … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with Dr. Norzizi Zulkifli on adapting Macbeth for Randai and traditional arts in Malaysia

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Arts, festival, Interview, Malay Theatre, Preview, Singapore, Theatre

Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with ‘La Luna’ director Mohd Fared Jainal, playwright Ridhwan Saidi, and star Munah Bagharib

In an age where the world often feels divided and overexposed to outrage, the most compelling theatre sometimes comes from stories that remind us what it means to live, work, and confront challenges together. This year’s La Luna, making its stage debut during Pesta Raya at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, does exactly that: it’s a feel-good comedy that also asks audiences to look … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with ‘La Luna’ director Mohd Fared Jainal, playwright Ridhwan Saidi, and star Munah Bagharib

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Arts, festival, Malay Theatre, Preview, Singapore, Theatre

Preview: Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts 2026 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

As Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts marks its 25th edition in 2026, the beloved festival returns not just as a celebration, but as a living archive of the Nusantara’s cultural imagination. Taking place from 16 to 19 April at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, this milestone edition reflects how far the festival has come, from a platform for artistic expression to a … Continue reading Preview: Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts 2026 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

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Arts, Review, The Necessary Stage, Theatre

★★★☆☆ Theatre Review: Celup by Sofie Buligis

One girl’s whimsical quest to reconnect with her Malay roots leaves more pressing, problematic issues unanswered. Celup, Sofie Buligis’ interactive one-woman show, is a playful, ambitious, and at times perplexing exploration of identity, belonging, and what it means to be Malay in contemporary Singapore. From the moment the audience enters, they are greeted by kueh kueh on a table, a P. Ramlee playlist, and Sofie … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Theatre Review: Celup by Sofie Buligis

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Arts, Interview, Preview, The Necessary Stage, Theatre

Singapore Fringe Festival 2026: An Interview with Sofie Buligis on being and representing ‘Celup’

“You very celup sia.” The moment her partner said it, Sofie Buligis laughed, but she also felt something click into place. “I was like, yeah, I am,” she remembers. “My friends and family have called me that, and actually it’s quite a snappy name for a show.” That idea became Celup (literally, ‘to dip’, and loosely translates to a desire to be more ‘mixed’) her … Continue reading Singapore Fringe Festival 2026: An Interview with Sofie Buligis on being and representing ‘Celup’

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Arts, Review, Singapore, Teater Ekamatra, Theatre, Theatres

★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Yusof – Portrait of a President by Teater Ekamatra

A dignified and contemplative play honouring Singapore’s first president with quiet grace. Playing as part of the Esplanade’s 60 Connections – At Home and Afar SG60 celebrations, the decision to restage Yusof: Portrait of a President marks an invitation to look deeper into the life story of our first president, alongside his enduring ideas and belief that dignity, unity, and justice should form the foundations … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Yusof – Portrait of a President by Teater Ekamatra

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