★★★★☆ Book Review: How the Man in Green Saved Pahang, and Possibly the World by Joshua Kam

Queering Malaysian folklore in a fantastical modern day romp. As the youngest, and first non-Singaporean winner of the annual Epigram Books Fiction Prize, Malaysian writer Joshua Kam has a lot of expectations placed upon his debut novel. But as it turns out, How The Man In Green Saved Pahang, And Possibly The World, meets those expectations as one of the most wildly original and entertaining regional works … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Book Review: How the Man in Green Saved Pahang, and Possibly the World by Joshua Kam

★★★☆☆ Book Review: The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human – Tales from Many Muslim Worlds

Writers from around the world come together to showcase the diversity of the lived Muslim experience.  Scoured from just about every corner of the world over a period of over four years, The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human is a richly diverse collection of short non-fiction that illustrates what it means to be a modern Muslim. With most stories lasting no longer than 10 pages, each … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Book Review: The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human – Tales from Many Muslim Worlds

★★★★☆ Book Review: Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha

A freak incident blows open old wounds and dark secrets in this novel about the destruction wreaked by fear and racism. Throughout American history, Asians have always taken the backseat when it comes to discussions of race, with the Black or Latinx community always the minorities featured at the forefront, and their issues prioritised due to their urgency. As the ‘model minority’, Asians still bear … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Book Review: Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha

★★★★☆ Book Review: Ace Agent Spycat and the Flying Sidekick by Darren Lim

Anthropomorphic felines star in this action-packed adventure. If you ever wondered what cats get up to when you’re not looking, then let your imagination run wild with Darren Lim’s new Ace Agent Spycat book series, where cats from an international spy organisation save the world, one mission at a time. In the first book of the series, Ace Agent Spycat and the Flying Sidekick, we’re introduced to our … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Book Review: Ace Agent Spycat and the Flying Sidekick by Darren Lim

M1 Peer Pleasure Festival 2020: Riley’s Rain (Review)

Short but entertaining performance for kids from Republic Polytechnic.  With the ever-present restrictions on social gatherings and dissuasion from staying out, it can be hard to stay engaged and stimulated during the COVID-19 period. And especially for kids, this can be especially daunting, and would probably get increasingly restless at home. So it’s always welcome when a new theatre production comes online, ready to keep … Continue reading M1 Peer Pleasure Festival 2020: Riley’s Rain (Review)

Review: Who’s There? by The Transit Ensemble

The difficulties of conversation about race are blown wide open in this exemplary digital theatre performance.  2020 has been one heck of a year so far. Not only have we faced (and continue to face) a global pandemic that has disrupted everything we know, but also experienced the power of social media movements, as we watched #BLM explode around the world, forcing us all to … Continue reading Review: Who’s There? by The Transit Ensemble

M1 Patch! 2020: Play with…Skins (Review)

Relaxing, empowering afternoon spent draping fabric with fashion designer Max Tan. Never referred to as the person but by his studio, fashion and costume designer Max Tan (of MAX.TAN) is perhaps one of theatre’s more reclusive figures. But with The Theatre Practice’s (TTP) Play With…Skins workshop, the designer sheds some light on his personal life and work process to promote the art of play. Playing as part … Continue reading M1 Patch! 2020: Play with…Skins (Review)

N.O.W. 2020: King by Jo Tan (Review)

Using drag as a form of female empowerment in this one woman show by Jo Tan. Under T:>works’ N.O.W. Festival of Women, diversity is the name of the game, with women of all backgrounds and personalities celebrated through its range of programmes. And with this year’s edition, that even includes the rarely seen concept of the drag king, as highlighted in Jo Tan’s one-woman show King.  … Continue reading N.O.W. 2020: King by Jo Tan (Review)

★★★☆☆ Book Review: Saturday’s Surprisingly Super-Duper Lesson by Jolene Tan and Isabella Tong

  Colourful tale about the joy of doodling with vibrant illustrations and a cute story.  The key to making a good children’s book often involves having both a good story and good illustrations. Bonus points if there’s a good life lesson thrown into the mix. In Jolene Tan and Isabella Tong’s Saturday’s Surprisingly Super-Duper Lesson (SSSDL), that comes in the form of a lesson on … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Book Review: Saturday’s Surprisingly Super-Duper Lesson by Jolene Tan and Isabella Tong

Review: Lost Cinema 20/20 by Brian Gothong Tan (The Studios Online)

The subconscious mind collides with filmmaking in a theatrical homage to classic cinema, and a wistful reflection on loss.  If the mind is a cinema, then our dreams are the feature films it screens when we fall asleep, crafted from a combination of our subconscious thoughts and lived experiences. What would it be like then, to be able to watch and feel a dream playing … Continue reading Review: Lost Cinema 20/20 by Brian Gothong Tan (The Studios Online)