THIRTY… DIRTY… FLIRTY… From being stripped bare, to being a superhero, one ruling Queen has done it all. That Queen happens to be Kumar, Singapore’s number 1 drag queen and queen of comedy, as Kumar celebrates THIRTY fabulous years in show business – i.e. XXX (which is indeed the Roman numerals for 30!) So with a name like Kumar XXX, expect there to be some raunchy, X-rated … Continue reading Preview: Kumar XXX by Dream Academy
In its heyday, the Chestnuts series was one of Singapore’s most popular and beloved parody shows. Known as Singapore’s ‘first and longest running parody shows’, since their humble beginnings in 1996, the team have grown and evolved over the years from strength to strength, going from Christmas sketch shows at the now-defunct Jubilee Hall, to a massive SG50 special edition in 2015 at the Drama … Continue reading Sibeh Strange: An Interview with Jonathan Lim and Judy Ngo on the long-anticipated return of their signature Chestnuts parody show
In the West, Christmas is all about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. But here in Singapore, we’ve been missing those chestnuts for a long time now. No, not gao lak, but beloved parody sketch show Chestnuts, who last put up a show a whole seven years ago. This November, the team are back with a whole new production, with Chestnuts – Sibeh Strange in … Continue reading Preview: Chestnuts – Sibeh Strange in the Multiverse
Confronting the toxic relationship between state and artist. In the past, Alfian Sa’at was known as Singapore’s enfant terrible, one of only a few who dared to bring up hard truths and criticism of society, often directed at the authorities. But as time went by, with the proliferation of social media giving almost everyone a voice, and years of raging against the machine, Alfian’s work … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: The Death of Singapore Theatre as Scripted By the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore by Alfian Sa’at
Letting go and moving on, one object at a time. According to Japanese decluttering consultant Marie Kondo, the key question one must first ask before deciding to keep or toss a physical object is “Does it spark joy?” But often, that is a query that leads to even further doubts – how do we know if it sparks joy or not? That is the question … Continue reading Review: Declutter Me! by Grace Kalaiselvi
No holds barred production in an all-out performance from these Singapore icons. Ever since they first performed at the Esplanade in 2002, Dream Academy’s Dim Sum Dollies have established themselves as three of Singapore’s most recognizable icons in the local theatre scene. Not only have they dazzled countless audience members over the years with big sets and glitzy costumes, but also daring to address pertinent … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Dim Sum Dollies – Still Steam by Dream Academy
There was a time when arts venue The Substation had a massive Malayan Banyan Tree growing along the walls of Timbre. Considered an iconic part of The Substation, the tree had been there even before the founding of the venue in 1990, and became the site for countless events, gigs and performances, representing the ongoing connection between art and nature. But come 2015, the Banyan … Continue reading uproot | rootless: An Interview with The Substation Artistic Director Ezzam Rahman, and artists of SeptFest 2022
With the short run most productions have and few restagings, the longevity of any theatre show or concept in Singapore is never guaranteed. Which is why for local company Dream Academy, the continued success of their signature characters and IPs is a net positive all around. Amidst these, cabaret trio the Dim Sum Dollies remain a perennial favourite, having first making their claim to fame … Continue reading Full Steam Ahead: An Interview with Dim Sum Dollies Pam Oei and Jo Tan, and Music Director Elaine Chan
This August, Singapore’s favourite comedy and cabaret trio are back to celebrate 20 years of Dim Sum Dollies. Comprising Selena Tan (Crazy Rich Asians, Shotgun Wedding, Chang & Eng), Pam Oei (Faghag, Tartuffe, Hotel) and Jo Tan (Tiong Bahru Social Club, King, Tartuffe), the three leading ladies will once again take to the Capitol Theatre stage, and charge full steam ahead with a brand new show, Still Steam. Slated to … Continue reading Preview: Dim Sum Dollies – Still Steam by Dream Academy
The concept of he for she gets a visceral, movement-based portrayal by -wright Assembly. In a decidedly deviant conceptualisation from the usual plethora of female-led work this International Women’s Day, -wright Assembly breaks the mould to present a new interdisciplinary, movement-based performance choreographed by Ismail Jemaah, primarily featuring male performers, as it explores the concept of male responsibility in the ongoing fight for gender equality. … Continue reading Review: Kotor by -wright Assembly
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