★★★★☆ Review: Parque Mayer dir. António-Pedro Vasconcelos

Art and politics collide in this moving tribute to the titular Portuguese amusement park. For most Singaporeans, Portuguese history and culture are likely to be little known subjects at the back of our minds. But with António-Pedro Vasconcelos’ Parque Mayer, one is left intrigued and compelled to find out more, thanks to the stirring performances and tale of revolution via art, as told through one … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Parque Mayer dir. António-Pedro Vasconcelos

★★★★☆ Review: Demon States by The Observatory (SIFA 2021)

Futurist cyberpunk hellscapes to accompany new songs from The Observatory. Presented as part of the 2021 Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA), Demon States is one of this edition’s most unique offerings yet. Produced by The Observatory, the immersive mixed reality experience acts as a preview for the local band’s upcoming album with Koichi Shimizu, and combines their music with set design by Irfan Kasban, … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Demon States by The Observatory (SIFA 2021)

★★★★☆ Review: A Thousand Ways by 600 Highwaymen (SIFA 2021)

Learning to connect again in three parts. After a year of the pandemic, watching dramatic readings on Zoom and pre-recorded archival footage, audience members are hungry for one thing – engagement. And one of the most effective ways of doing that is turning the tables and transforming the audience into the artist. In a way, that’s what 600 Highwaymen have done in A Thousand Ways, … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: A Thousand Ways by 600 Highwaymen (SIFA 2021)

Review: Pán 盤 by T.H.E. Dance Company

Using dance to present the converging of cultures and our shared beliefs. Pan, or ‘盤’ is a word that appears across various Asian cultures and vocabularies, from Mandarin to Korean, Japanese to Vietnamese. While its Mandarin character takes inspiration from the Chinese creation myth of the giant ‘Pangu’, the romanized ‘pán’ also holds a variety of meanings, from a serving bowl, to the crouched intensity of … Continue reading Review: Pán 盤 by T.H.E. Dance Company

Changi Chapel Museum gets a revamp with new artefacts and an enhanced experience

Initially slated to re-open last year, the Changi Chapel and Museum (CCM) has finally completed its renovations and is now open to the public again after closing in 2018 for major redevelopments. Shedding light on the personal stories of prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians interned in Changi prison camp during the Japanese Occupation, the museum will showcase 114 artefacts across eight galleries delving into … Continue reading Changi Chapel Museum gets a revamp with new artefacts and an enhanced experience

SIFA On Demand streaming extends till 20th June 2021

With the pandemic still happening, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) has always had a backup plan in case things went awry for live performances. That comes in the form of SIFA On Demand – a video streaming service that allows everyone to experience SIFA from the comfort and safety of their homes after the festival ends. With the number of audience members reduced … Continue reading SIFA On Demand streaming extends till 20th June 2021

★★★★☆ Review: The Year of No Return by The Necessary Stage (SIFA 2021)

The climate is changing for the worse – so when will we change for the better? The Year of No Return is possibly one of The Necessary Stage’s (TNS) most ambitious productions yet. Bringing together an international cast, the play tackles the expansive topic of climate change and our efforts to stop it, all while dealing with the new restrictions placed on them by the … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: The Year of No Return by The Necessary Stage (SIFA 2021)

★★★★☆ Review: The Journey by Scott Silven (SIFA 2021)

Magical storytelling that bringing us closer online. I’m a cynic at heart, and have always known that stage magic is a matter of sleight of hand, misdirection and trickery to pull off an act. And when magic is performed via a digital medium, one cannot help but suspect its ‘authenticity’ even more, given how easy it is to manipulate videos and video feeds. But there’s … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: The Journey by Scott Silven (SIFA 2021)

★★★☆☆ Review: As Far As Isolation Goes by Tania El Khoury and Basel Zaara (SIFA 2021)

An encounter with a refugee opens our eyes to the human pain behind the conflict. Moving to a new home can be hard. But it’s especially hard for refugees from war-torn nations finding themselves in a strange new land, reeling from the trauma of the past, adapting to their new life, and resisting strangers’ dirty looks and the creeping fear of feeling completely, absolutely alone. … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: As Far As Isolation Goes by Tania El Khoury and Basel Zaara (SIFA 2021)

Going Green: The Future of Wine – An Interview with VIVANT wine advisor Matt Ayre

Just because we can’t gather in large groups anymore, doesn’t mean we can’t find a way to enjoy ourselves together, apart. Even when it comes to something like wine tasting, given enough innovation and out of the box thinking, it’s completely possible to replicate the experience online. Which is why for anyone, anywhere in the world looking to expand their knowledge in the field, the … Continue reading Going Green: The Future of Wine – An Interview with VIVANT wine advisor Matt Ayre