Preview: Rumah Hantu by akulah BIMBO SAKTI + An Interview with Noor Effendy Ibrahim and Adib Kosnan

Playing as part of the Malay Heritage Centre’s Malay Cultural Festival 2019, akulah BIMBO SAKTI is set to present the premiere of Adib Kosnan’s Rumah Hantu this November. Written by Adib in response to Noor Effendy Ibrahim’s first play Kerusi Buaian, Cermin, dan Jam (1991), Rumah Hantu (ghost house) takes place in an old and decrepit house, where two individuals find themselves trapped (Farez Najid and Suhaili Safari). Their lives are … Continue reading Preview: Rumah Hantu by akulah BIMBO SAKTI + An Interview with Noor Effendy Ibrahim and Adib Kosnan

Review: A Clockwork Orange by Teater Ekamatra

Teater Ekamatra drags audiences into a dangerous dystopia where nothing and nobody can be trusted. Across the history of dystopian fiction, there is perhaps none quite as visceral and teetering on the edge of existential dread and horror as the society depicted in Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange. But even more terrifying than that perhaps is the realisation that such a dystopia is becoming more and more … Continue reading Review: A Clockwork Orange by Teater Ekamatra

Teater Ekamatra’s A Clockwork Orange: An Interview with the Cast and Creatives

British author Anthony Burgess’ seminal novel A Clockwork Orange has seen countless adaptations over the years, from stage plays to its best known iteration – a 1971 film version directed by Stanley Kubrick. But of all these adaptations, one we’ve yet to see is a version created in a Singaporean context. Enter Teater Ekamatra’s newest production – a Malay language adaptation of A Clockwork Orange, set to premiere this September, … Continue reading Teater Ekamatra’s A Clockwork Orange: An Interview with the Cast and Creatives

Preview: A Clockwork Orange by Teater Ekamatra

  In a city filled with often-broken promises, I am your good narrator, brother. Now, help yourself. As I warble, and you peet. A dash of blood and a little keroncong. Alas there will be no hollow after our hearts grow stale of crying. Gathering some of the best talents in local theatre today, Teater Ekamatra is set to stun with a brand new, Malay … Continue reading Preview: A Clockwork Orange by Teater Ekamatra

Review: Fatih – The Prince and the Drum by NADI Singapura (Pesta Raya 2019)

An epic, joyous production elevating the art of drumming to new heights.  There are some productions that can only be described as nothing more than pure joy to watch. Fatih – The Prince and the Drum, happens to be one such production, as it cleverly uses a mix of Malay percussion, song, martial arts and staging to make a familiar tale of a fallen prince seeking … Continue reading Review: Fatih – The Prince and the Drum by NADI Singapura (Pesta Raya 2019)

Review: The Seen and Unseen (Sekala Niskala) by Kamila Andini (Pesta Raya 2019)

Clear direction and precise choreography make this highly spiritual work a success. Transitioning from one medium to another can be a daunting task, with the biggest question being “what does the new form add that the old one did not?” But for Indonesian director Kamila Andini, the answer to that is clear, with the stage adaptation of her 2017 film The Seen and Unseen. Born out … Continue reading Review: The Seen and Unseen (Sekala Niskala) by Kamila Andini (Pesta Raya 2019)

Preview: Fatih – The Prince and the Drum by NADI Singapura (Pesta Raya 2019)

As the annual Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of the Arts returns this weekend, expect the Esplanade to come awash in a flurry of activity as the space is enlivened by a carefully curated variety of performing arts from the Malay Archipelago, from famous regional singers and bands, to children’s theatre, to dance and theatre. Headlining the festival is the first large-scale commission of a … Continue reading Preview: Fatih – The Prince and the Drum by NADI Singapura (Pesta Raya 2019)

Preview: The Seen & Unseen by Kamila Andini (Pesta Raya 2019)

This weekend, the Esplanade’s annual Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of the Arts returns to present a finely curated selection of performing arts from the Malay Archipelago, ranging from well-known regional singers, children’s plays, and of course, theatre and dance. Of these, they will be premiering Indonesian artist Kamila Andini’s The Seen and Unseen, a theatrical/dance performance inspired by her film of the same name, as performed … Continue reading Preview: The Seen & Unseen by Kamila Andini (Pesta Raya 2019)

Preview: Pesta Raya 2019 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

The Esplanade’s Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of the Arts is back this June to once again highlight the varied arts and culture from across the wide expanse of the the nusantara (Malay Archipelago). Held together by the same rooted beliefs and culture, this year’s festival celebrates that diversity and richness from across its heritage, history and people. Once again coinciding with the celebration of Hari … Continue reading Preview: Pesta Raya 2019 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Preview: Chonteng by Teater Ekamatra

Presented as part of their Artist Residency Programme, this April, Teater Ekamatra presents Rizman Putra’s Chonteng. Translating to ‘doodle’ in English, the installation takes the form of drawings exploring ideas of line and mark making based loosely on the method of automatic drawing, documenting the stream of iconography and creatures from the consciousness of the artist. First explored in previous exhibitions Labyrinth of Things I and II, which were … Continue reading Preview: Chonteng by Teater Ekamatra