Preview: Projek Suitcase 2018 by Teater Ekamatra

Ending off their 30th anniversary celebrations, Teater Ekamatra completes their season with a brand new edition of Projek Suitcase this December! Created by the company in 2003, Projek Suitcase adopted a poor theatre format involving one actor and one suitcase in a performance space, showcasing the effectiveness of a play even in spite of minimal setup, and the power of storytelling from the actor alone. Now, … Continue reading Preview: Projek Suitcase 2018 by Teater Ekamatra

Review: Cerita Cinta by akulah bimbo SAKTI

The inheritance of violence and despair is on show in a powerful, unusual love story from one of Singapore’s most exciting theatre makers.  If one has never known love, how does one then display it? That is the issue at the core of Noor Effendy Ibrahim’s 1995 play Cerita Cinta, where contrary to its innocent title (literally ‘Love Story’), love manifests itself in perverse, violent ways that leaves … Continue reading Review: Cerita Cinta by akulah bimbo SAKTI

Review: Bulan Madu – A Double Bill by Teater Ekamatra

Two plays that discuss issues of identity, trauma, and loss.  A state of pure bliss and peace is what comes to mind when thinking of the word ‘honeymoon’. Yet as wonderful as it is, a honeymoon is also defined by its temporal nature, the calm before the storm of marital strife and uncertainty in the years to come. The title of Teater Ekamatra’s Bulan Madu then … Continue reading Review: Bulan Madu – A Double Bill by Teater Ekamatra

Teater Ekamatra’s Bulan Madu: An Interview with Actors Adib Kosnan and Munah Bagharib

This week, as part of Malay CultureFest 2018, Teater Ekamatra will be presenting a double bill of Malay plays by playwright Alfian Sa’at, both of which received rave reviews when they played across Singapore and Malaysia. Taking on the combined title Bulan Madu (literally ‘honeymoon’), both Anak Bulan di Kampong Wa’ Hassan and Madu Dua explore quintessential issues of the Malay and Muslim identity, be it in issues of space … Continue reading Teater Ekamatra’s Bulan Madu: An Interview with Actors Adib Kosnan and Munah Bagharib

Preview: Bulan Madu – A Double Bill by Teater Ekamatra

Teater Ekamatra celebrates their 30th anniversary this year, and the number of productions they’re putting up just doesn’t seem to stop. This October, as part of Malay CultureFest 2018, they’ll be putting up a double bill of two of playwright Alfian Sa’at’s Malay plays, both of which have received rave reviews when they played across Singapore and Malaysia. Taking a word from the titles of … Continue reading Preview: Bulan Madu – A Double Bill by Teater Ekamatra

Centre 42’s The Vault: Sau(dara) by Bhumi Collective

In 1985, Malaysian playwright Leow Puay Tin wrote the phenomenal 3 Children. Three years later, the production was jointly put to stage by Krishen Jit and Ong Keng Sen, after an earlier production at Kuala Lumpur’s Five Arts Centre, and represented one of the first major cross-Causeway productions in the English language, with a four member cast that starred Lim Kay Tong, Lok Meng Chue, … Continue reading Centre 42’s The Vault: Sau(dara) by Bhumi Collective

Review: Tiger of Malaya by Teater Ekamatra

Interrogating history through a filmic lens. There’s a saying that history is written by the victors, leaving plenty of warped accounts and representations scattered throughout media. Singapore, of course, isn’t exempt from this, with films by foreigners throughout history appropriating both the country and its people to better bring out their own agenda. Given the benefit of hindsight then, if we were to have a chance … Continue reading Review: Tiger of Malaya by Teater Ekamatra

Re-appropriating Film History: An Interview with The Cast and Creatives of Teater Ekamatra’s Tiger of Malaya

This week will see the premiere of Teater Ekamatra’s latest production – Tiger of Malaya. A brand new play written by Alfian Sa’at and Shawn Chua, Tiger of Malaya takes inspiration from the 1943 Japanese film ‘The Tiger of Malaya’, following a group of actors in the present day who attempt to be more accurate in their re-enaction of the film, comically ‘correcting’ history with their portrayal. We … Continue reading Re-appropriating Film History: An Interview with The Cast and Creatives of Teater Ekamatra’s Tiger of Malaya

Preview: Tiger of Malaya by Teater Ekamatra

After a mad July spent taking charge of the 2018 Singapore Theatre Festival as festival co- artistic director, playwright Alfian Sa’at returns to the Singapore theatre scene proper with a brand new play this September. Presented by Teater Ekamatra as part of their 30th Anniversary season, Tiger of Malaya takes inspiration from the 1943 Japanese film ‘The Tiger of Malaya’. Based off the life of Tani Yutaka, … Continue reading Preview: Tiger of Malaya by Teater Ekamatra

Pesta Raya 2018: Tarakucha! by Sean Ghazi and Ida Mariana (Review)

The Esplanade’s annual Pesta Raya festivities are always a joy to attend and witness. With a whole host of well-curated activities celebrating Malay culture, this year’s festival even feels like a massive party, as fireworks went off nearby at the National Day preview, and a mini pasar malam was in full swing at the Esplanade itself. As part of Pesta Raya 2018, Malaysian singer Sean … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2018: Tarakucha! by Sean Ghazi and Ida Mariana (Review)