★★★★★ Review: Dim Sum Dollies – Still Steam by Dream Academy

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

★★★★☆ Review: Acting Mad by The Necessary Stage

A necessary production for a world in want of greater empathy. Actors have a reputation for being dramatic. It’s their profession after all, to perform and to present people and situations that are often exaggerated and emotionally-charged, to entertain and evoke catharsis in paying audiences. But we often forget that actors are far more than just blank slates, morphing and becoming whatever role they’ve been … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Acting Mad by The Necessary Stage

★★★★☆ Review: Animal Farm by Wild Rice

New ending to Orwell’s classic further blurs the line between man and beast. For centuries, humans have evolved from prehistoric creatures to the hyper-intelligent dominant species on Earth today. But in a world filled with constant war and animosity, one can’t help but think if somewhere inside our modern minds, there still lies a hint of that original animal instinct, and whether we truly can … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Animal Farm by Wild Rice

★☆☆☆☆ Review: Cathay Hotel – The Curse of the Missing Red Shoe by Vertical Submarine

Ambitious attempt to create an immersive Cathay multiverse sends mixed messaging. In the ‘good old days’, there used to exist the Cathay Hotel, which existed as both a hotel and a cinema. As a gathering space, it offered a sense of community when members of the public would come together to watch a film, the golden age of Singapore’s cinema scene where we’d see local … Continue reading ★☆☆☆☆ Review: Cathay Hotel – The Curse of the Missing Red Shoe by Vertical Submarine

★★★☆☆ Review: The Nest by Rainshadow Studios

It’s morality versus materialism in this debut production by Singapore’s first eco-theatre company. Raising a child is hard – not only does it incur tremendous financial strain, but children are also incredibly vulnerable and susceptible to the elements, where one wrong move could result in infant death. With so much stress incurred, it’s no wonder that a child’s birth also has immense effects on a … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: The Nest by Rainshadow Studios

Review: Fat Kids Are Harder to Kidnap 2022 by How Drama

More mayhem and madness as How Drama returns with a new edition of their signature show. In a year that’s been characterised with the chaos of a ‘post-COVID world’, with borders opening up and a new normal that feels like we’re going back to the old normal, there’s only one thing to do – make sense of it by making light of it all. And … Continue reading Review: Fat Kids Are Harder to Kidnap 2022 by How Drama

★★★★☆ Review: Dancers’ Locker 2022 by Frontier Danceland

New edition of Dancers’ Locker explores nature, culture, and features innovative use of space. In the wake of the pandemic, local dance company Frontier Danceland has come through with a slew of new skillsets, from performing onscreen to further developing their technique and poise. Now, returning to fully-live performances, they’ve taken their experiences from the pandemic and transmuted it into new works for Dancers’ Locker … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Dancers’ Locker 2022 by Frontier Danceland

★★★★☆ Review: Tissue Aunty The Musical by Caricapture Theatre

Heartfelt and sincere new work shows the potential of Singaporean musicals. You’ve seen them at MRT exits, you’ve had them approach you while having a meal at the local coffee shop. With the tissue aunty being so ubiquitous in Singapore, she’s something of a national icon, and high time she became the centre of focus in a show. Written, composed, and directed by the late … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Tissue Aunty The Musical by Caricapture Theatre

★★☆☆☆ Review: In Pieces by 7/8 Musical Collective

Puzzling song cycle features catchy numbers but little emotional staying power. It’s no surprise that love is and always has been a central theme across musicals, with characters expressing the nature of love at first sight and chance encounters, or the tragedy of breakups and unrequited pining through song. All of this is captured in Joey Contreras’ 2020 musical In Pieces, which follows eight individuals … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: In Pieces by 7/8 Musical Collective

★★★☆☆ Review: The Fourth Trimester by Checkpoint Theatre

Brutally honest depiction of millennial parenthood reveals the cracks in the system. The fourth trimester refers to the 12-week period immediately after a mother gives birth, an additional three months of physical and emotional labour as both parent and child adjust to their new lives. But while just about every mother goes through this, very little of it has been shown onstage and onscreen, and … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: The Fourth Trimester by Checkpoint Theatre