★★★★☆ Review: Kepaten Obor – Igniting A Withered Torch (Pesta Raya 2022)

Carrying on her grandmother’s torch. There’s a long-held belief that in growing up, there are certain elements of our personality that will always remain the same. For Suhaili Safari, it seems that she was always destined to be an artist, so rooted in her that it’s practically passed down through her bloodline. In Kepaten Obor, Suhaili not only gets to tell a deeply personal and … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Kepaten Obor – Igniting A Withered Torch (Pesta Raya 2022)

★★★★☆ Review: Ceremonial Enactments by MAX.TAN, Nadi Singapura and Bhaskar’s Arts Academy (SIFA 2022)

Drawing power from tradition and ceremony to herald the start of SIFA 2022. Because of their historical and cultural significance, a ritual is often a powerful, sacred act of performance. At times celebratory, and at others a form of salvation, rituals form the heart of the 2022 Singapore International Festival of Arts, and are explicitly given the spotlight in Ceremonial Enactments, drawing strength from movement, … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Ceremonial Enactments by MAX.TAN, Nadi Singapura and Bhaskar’s Arts Academy (SIFA 2022)

★★★★☆ Review: MEPAAN by Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Tuyang Initiative (SIFA 2022)

A concert of culture inspired by the Borneo rainforest. In the native language of Kayan, spoken by the indigenous Kayan people of Borneo, ‘mepaan’ translates to ‘always’, and makes for an appropriate title for the opening show of this year’s Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA). Performed by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Tuyang Initiative (from Sarawak), MEPAAN‘ is a musical journey into Southeast Asian … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: MEPAAN by Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Tuyang Initiative (SIFA 2022)

★★★☆☆ Review: Two Pigeons Eating Leftovers at Holland Village Sushi Tei by A Mirage

A Mirage makes debut with dreamy, off-kilter take on human relationships and connectivity. We live in the in-between period betwixt the socially distanced world of the pandemic, and the soon-to-come freedom of borders fully re-opening. It’s a strange place to find ourselves in, where time seems to stand still each day, uncertainty abound as we reminisce on pre-COVID years and remain cautiously optimistic about the … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Two Pigeons Eating Leftovers at Holland Village Sushi Tei by A Mirage

★★★★☆ Review: I and You by Gateway Arts

Discovering the basic human need for each other.  Pronouns are an important, but often overlooked part of the English language. For one – they’re an indicator of identity, not just in terms of gender with he/she/they, but even the simple act of saying “I” establishes a sense of self. Saying “you” establishes acknowledgement of existence of another. And most of all, “we” allows for the … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: I and You by Gateway Arts

★★★★☆ Review: Holly Herndon – PROTO (SIFA 2022)

Hear the sounds of the future, as machine learning meets music. In this age of speculative and sci-fi films and television series showcasing apocalyptic views of a robot futures, fantastical space and transcendent possibility, Holly Herndon’s album PROTO would feel right at home. An American experimental musician based in Berlin, Holly Herndon played in Singapore as part of the 2022 Singapore International Festival of Arts … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Holly Herndon – PROTO (SIFA 2022)

★★★★☆ Review: C-O-N-T-A-C-T by Singapore Repertory Theatre

Getting back in touch with yourself, and those around you. Solitude has become one of the biggest buzzwords to arise out of the pandemic. From self-imposed isolations, to lockdowns that limit socialising to online channels, loneliness has given us more time than ever to spend time with our selves. But perhaps one thing that few of us have really paid attention to is the quality … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: C-O-N-T-A-C-T by Singapore Repertory Theatre

★★★★☆: Molière’s Tartuffe – The Imposter by Wild Rice

New adaptation of Molière’s classic is a politically-charged, cautionary tale. Considering how much they preach about being holier than thou, the good name of Christianity has been increasingly run into the ground thanks to more than a few bad apples. Not only do we have the recent example of evangelists forcing passengers trapped 30,000 feet in the air to listen to songs of worship; we … Continue reading ★★★★☆: Molière’s Tartuffe – The Imposter by Wild Rice

★★★★☆ Review: Quasimodo – A Musical Story by Sing’theatre

Passionate cast breathes life into Victor Hugo’s classic. Receiving dozens of adaptations since it was first written in 1831, French novelist Victor Hugo’s Notre-Dame de Paris (better known as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame) has endured the test of time, and emerged as one of the most recognizable stories surrounding the iconic cathedral and its place in literary canon. Nothing could have prepared the world for … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Quasimodo – A Musical Story by Sing’theatre

★★★☆☆ Review: Gallery of Secrets – The Lost Lily by The Theatre Practice and National Gallery Singapore

Fiendishly convoluted mystery makes this a real treasure for puzzle diehards. Following their first venture into digital theatre with The Bride Always Knocks Twice – Killer Secrets in 2021, The Theatre Practice (Practice) has furthered their exploration with new hybrid mystery meets treasure hunt Gallery of Secrets: The Lost Lily. Co-produced with National Gallery Singapore, Gallery of Secrets is helmed by the same creative team … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Gallery of Secrets – The Lost Lily by The Theatre Practice and National Gallery Singapore