Shaza Ishak appointed Artistic Director of Teater Ekamatra

Teater Ekamatra, one of the longest running ethnic minority theatre companies, has appointed Managing Director, Shaza Ishak, as their new Artistic Director. She succeeds Mohd Fared Jainal, who will step down after a decade in this position. With this new appointment, effective 1 April 2023, Shaza will relinquish her role as Ekamatra’s Managing Director.  “It is with the utmost pleasure that I welcome Shaza as Ekamatra’s new Artistic … Continue reading Shaza Ishak appointed Artistic Director of Teater Ekamatra

★★★★★ Review: Kemas by Teater Kami

The horror of isolation is brought to life, in a terrifying play about the loneliness of existence. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Moli Mohter) 9 Script (Moli Mohter) 9 Performance (Dalifah Shahril, Rusydina Afiqah, Mahyonis Mahfudz, Suhaila M Sanif) 9 Costume Design (Moli Mohter) 8 Lighting Design (Emanorwatty Saleh) 8 Sound Design (Tini Aliman) 10 Total 53/60 (88%) Final Score: ★★★★★ There’s a popular … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Kemas by Teater Kami

Teater KAMi’s Kemas: An Interview with writer/director Moli Mohter

Life can often get a little messy – that’s why every once in a while, we might need to perform an act of ‘kemas’, or ‘tidy’ in Malay. That’s what theatremaker Moli Mohter did in 2018, as a sudden thought gripped her – “what if I died, and somebody came by to clean my house, what would they find?” “I was staying by myself at … Continue reading Teater KAMi’s Kemas: An Interview with writer/director Moli Mohter

Preview: Kemas by Teater KAMi

This February, Teater KAMi presents new play Kemas. Translating to ‘tidy’ or ‘neat’ in Malay, Kemas explores the myriad meanings of kemas through the stories of three women: Salma, Arah and Juminah.  Written and directed by  Moli Mohter , as inspired  by  her  experience  and  interactions  with neighbours of her estate, Kemas takes place in a housing estate. Salma is the new neighbour, who lives with a husband that’s … Continue reading Preview: Kemas by Teater KAMi

★★★★☆ Review: Kepaten Obor – Igniting A Withered Torch (Pesta Raya 2022)

Carrying on her grandmother’s torch. There’s a long-held belief that in growing up, there are certain elements of our personality that will always remain the same. For Suhaili Safari, it seems that she was always destined to be an artist, so rooted in her that it’s practically passed down through her bloodline. In Kepaten Obor, Suhaili not only gets to tell a deeply personal and … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Kepaten Obor – Igniting A Withered Torch (Pesta Raya 2022)

Preview: Pesta Raya 2022 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

After spending most of the last two years relegated to online platforms, Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts returns this May for a 2022, physical edition at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Now in its 21st edition, the festival celebrates Malay artists across mediums, from music to theatre to dance, with a particular focus on icons who have shaped the local arts and … Continue reading Preview: Pesta Raya 2022 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Help Teater Ekamatra raise $10k with their AMBOI! fundraising challenge and unlock a Zoom mini theatre festival!

Initially set for a fantastic season, with stagings of plays such as a Malay version of Chong Tze Chien’s Poop!, like much of the industry, Teater Ekamatra was hit hard by the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions on entertainment venues, seeing a near complete cancellation of all their shows for 2020. Now, more than ever, they need your help to get through these tough times, as they … Continue reading Help Teater Ekamatra raise $10k with their AMBOI! fundraising challenge and unlock a Zoom mini theatre festival!

Preview: Berak by Teater Ekamatra + An Interview with the Creatives [CANCELLED]

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Berak has been cancelled.  Originally written by Chong Tze Chien and presented as Poop by The Finger Players, this March, Teater Ekamatra adapts the play into Malay, presenting it as a brand new production at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre at W!ld Rice. Berak chronicles the aftermath of a suicide: A grandmother bargains with divine powers to release her … Continue reading Preview: Berak by Teater Ekamatra + An Interview with the Creatives [CANCELLED]

Review: Rumah Dayak by Rupa co.lab

★★★★☆ (Performance attended 23/11/19, Matinee) Nessa Anwar’s sophomore full length play proves her mastery over capturing natural conversation and social realism. Presented by new theatre collective Rupa co.lab in their theatrical debut, Rumah Dayak follows a night-hour safehouse for troubled youths in the Malay community. Ironically however, the safehouse itself is facing imminent danger, as they face mounting pressures from the authorities, rising costs of operations, and … Continue reading Review: Rumah Dayak by Rupa co.lab

Rumah Dayak: An Interview with New Theatre Collective Rupa co.lab

The Singapore theatre scene is buzzing, with new collectives emerging year after year without fail. This time around, three founding members of Malay playwright collective Main Tulis Group (Hazwan Norly, Nabilah Said and Nessa Anwar) have come together to form Rupa co.lab, whose name is derived from the Sanskrit word प (rūpa), which means “form, shape”, and aims to reshape contemporary conversations through the lens … Continue reading Rumah Dayak: An Interview with New Theatre Collective Rupa co.lab