SIFA 2024: An Interview with composer Safuan Johari and choreographer Eddie Elliott on collaboration and culture in ‘Suara / Oro Rua’

If we put our ears to the Earth and listened, what would we hear? In Suara / Oro Rua, Singapore’s Safuan Johari and New Zealand’s Eddie Elliott come together in an unexpected cross-country collaboration to imagine the sound of fossilised voices emerging from the deep, and what we leave behind year after year, as the dance performance premieres this May as part of the 2024 … Continue reading SIFA 2024: An Interview with composer Safuan Johari and choreographer Eddie Elliott on collaboration and culture in ‘Suara / Oro Rua’

SIFA 2024: An Interview with Lithuanian artists Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė & Lina Lapelytė on beach opera ‘Sun & Sea’

One of the most exciting and outrageous pavilions at the 2019 Venice Biennale came from a rather surprising source – Lithuania, which till then had only occasionally caught the public eye when it came to the art world. When visitors stepped into the Lithuanian pavilion, they entered an entirely different world, one that was dappled in sunlight, a room full of sand and actual people … Continue reading SIFA 2024: An Interview with Lithuanian artists Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė & Lina Lapelytė on beach opera ‘Sun & Sea’

SIFA 2024: An Interview with Trajal Harrell, creator and choreographer of speculative dance ‘The Romeo’

Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou? The answer might surprise you, with Trajal Harrell’s dance work The Romeo, which takes inspiration from Shakespeare’s young lover and star of tragedy Romeo and Juliet, from which is crafted a dance for people of all origins, genders, and generations, of all temperaments and moods, dance when they face their tragedies and only dance. Making its Singapore premiere this May … Continue reading SIFA 2024: An Interview with Trajal Harrell, creator and choreographer of speculative dance ‘The Romeo’

SIFA 2024: An Interview with Alex Serrano, co-creator of AI-driven dance performance ‘Una Isla’

The arts have always grown in tandem with technology, be it developments in set-building and engineering that allow for new stunts and stage movements, or in terms of audio and the ability to bring sound and voice to new heights. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) touted as the next big thing, it was only a matter of time before it too was incorporated into theatrical productions. … Continue reading SIFA 2024: An Interview with Alex Serrano, co-creator of AI-driven dance performance ‘Una Isla’

SIFA 2024: An Interview with puppeteer Viktor Lukawski on playing Captain Ahab and puppetry in Plexus Polaire’s ‘Moby Dick’

Herman Melville’s Moby Dick has long been considered an epic of literature – a massive tome of a book that chronicles the odyssey of the Pequod, as they’re led by their obsessive Captain Ahab seeking revenge on the sperm whale that bit his leg off – the titular Moby Dick. Often considered one of the Great American Novels, the novel has been countlessly referenced across … Continue reading SIFA 2024: An Interview with puppeteer Viktor Lukawski on playing Captain Ahab and puppetry in Plexus Polaire’s ‘Moby Dick’

An Interview with French Ambassador to Singapore Minh-di Tang on the place of culture and the 2024 vOilah! France Singapore Festival

Singapore and France have always enjoyed strong bilateral ties, all the way back to 1965, when France became one of the first 13 countries which recognised our independence. Even today, the two countries continue to enjoy plenty of exchange and agreement – most recently, DPM Lawrence Wong even visited France to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking of how best to build even stronger … Continue reading An Interview with French Ambassador to Singapore Minh-di Tang on the place of culture and the 2024 vOilah! France Singapore Festival

★★★★★ Review: Secondary The Musical by Checkpoint Theatre

Searing critique of Singapore education system identifies the cracks in and those who slip through it. The topic of education has always been a hot one in Singapore. Despite being hailed as having one of the world’s best, the education system has almost always been a trial by fire for any student going through it, rewarding those who excel with the promise of praise and … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Secondary The Musical by Checkpoint Theatre

Preview: vOilah! France Singapore Festival 2024

Singapore and France have always kept close relations with each other, and what better way to celebrate that sacred bond that with a festival? This April, the annual vOilah! France Singapore Festival returns once again to immerse visitors in the vibrant tapestry of French culture in Singapore, with a line-up of programmes that spans audiovisual arts, performing arts, visual arts, lifestyle, sports, science, gastronomy and … Continue reading Preview: vOilah! France Singapore Festival 2024

Preview: A Tapestry of Sacred Music 2024 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Now in its 15th edition, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s A Tapestry of Sacred Music returns once more to bless audiences with religious music, showcasing the spirituality of sound to bring peace to our hearts in this conflict-ridden reality we live in. As always, the festival aims to help audiences better appreciate the beauty of others through art, with these songs and dances performed … Continue reading Preview: A Tapestry of Sacred Music 2024 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Artists and technologists collaborate for the first edition of the Performing Arts x Tech Lab with new experiences for audiences

This April, the Performing Arts x Tech Lab (Lab) will launch an Industry Sharing at the Esplanade Annexe Studio till 13 April 2024 for the public, potential partners and adopters to experience new possibilities in performance creation. This marks the completion of the nine-month long incubation, organised by the National Arts Council (NAC) in partnership with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (Esplanade).  The Industry … Continue reading Artists and technologists collaborate for the first edition of the Performing Arts x Tech Lab with new experiences for audiences