Tag: malaytheatre

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, 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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Arts, Interview, Preview, Singapore, Teater Ekamatra, Theatres

An Interview with Teater Ekamatra on ‘Yusof’, Singapore’s first president, and the man behind the name

During a 1961 National Day mass rally, a man by the name of Yusof Ishak stood before the nation and delivered a watershed speech that galvanised the nation towards unity and solidarity. It was a bold vision for a young country emerging from centuries of colonial rule and only beginning to imagine itself as independent, and four years on, that very gifted man would go … Continue reading An Interview with Teater Ekamatra on ‘Yusof’, Singapore’s first president, and the man behind the name

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Arts, Drama Centre Black Box, Malay Theatre, Review, Teater Ekamatra

★★★☆☆ Review: National Memory Project by Teater Ekamatra

The future of Singapore is bleak, in a city that is all too willing to archive its past. While across the world, developing and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in daily life is fast becoming the norm, it’s been especially worrying that local government entities have been leaping onto the AI trend and adopted it as the next big thing. From designing posters to interactive … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: National Memory Project by Teater Ekamatra

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