Arts, Esplanade Theatre, Review, Singapore, Singapore Arts, Theatre., Theatre, Theatres

Review: NINAGAWA Macbeth by The Ninagawa Company (presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay)

It’s hard to believe that a single play can hold the power to leave such an impression on an audience member that it can even be considered life-changing. But this is in no way an exaggeration of how the unique experience of watching a play by the late Yukio Ninagawa. The thunderous applause and standing ovation a Ninagawa play receives is completely warranted. NINAGAWA Macbeth was … Continue reading Review: NINAGAWA Macbeth by The Ninagawa Company (presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay)

bakchormeeboyNovember 26, 2017Leave a comment

Arts, Film, Interview, SGIFF 2017, Singapore

Artist Spotlight: Vivian Qu, Director of SGIFF 2017 Opening Film Angels Wear White

Vivian Qu has plenty of producing credits to her name and is a star in the Chinese independent film community, having produced arthouse films such as Knitting (2008), Night Train (2007) and Black Coal, Thin Ice (2014). But besides producing, the Chinese filmmaker also has a firm hand on creating her own works, having scripted and directed her critically acclaimed debut Trap Street in 2013 and with it, becoming the first Chinese female filmmaker to … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Vivian Qu, Director of SGIFF 2017 Opening Film Angels Wear White

bakchormeeboyNovember 25, 2017November 25, 2017Leave a comment

Arts, Fashion, Interview, Preview, Singapore

The Godfather Speaks II: Daniel Boey on the 2017 Singapore Fashion Awards

The SFAs first started in 2001, and was a biennial event before taking a hiatus in the mid-2000s. After its revival in 2016, it is now set to become an annual event in the fashion calendar. Said Boey: “Fashion designers used to be akin to rock stars in the 90s, each of them having huge followings and droves of fans. But the scene has changed … Continue reading The Godfather Speaks II: Daniel Boey on the 2017 Singapore Fashion Awards

bakchormeeboyNovember 24, 2017Leave a comment

Arts, Dance with Me, Esplanade Annexe Studio, Review, Reviews, Singapore, Singapore Arts, Theatre., Theatres

Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Koodiyattam – Nangiarkoothu by Kapila Venu (Review)

Beyond new contemporary works, the Esplanade’s annual Kalaa Utsavam also regularly features traditional arts in its lineup, and 2017 is no different. This year, we had the rare privilege of watching master koodiyattam practitioner Kapila Venu perform the ancient, UNESCO-recgonized art form. A little background information for the unfamiliar: koodiyattam is a 2,000 year old theatrical tradition originating from Kerala, India. Often performed in temples, … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Koodiyattam – Nangiarkoothu by Kapila Venu (Review)

bakchormeeboyNovember 23, 2017November 23, 2017Leave a comment

Arts, Film, Preview, SGIFF 2017, Singapore

SGIFF 2017: Spooks and Thrills at Midnight Mayhem

Now in its 28th edition, the Singapore International Film Festival returns to bring the best international and regional cinema to our shores for 11 days. Today, we’re highlighting an all new section introduced this year specially for the night owls – Midnight Mayhem, a selection of four thrilling horror films to be played at – you guessed it – midnight on each Friday and Saturday of the … Continue reading SGIFF 2017: Spooks and Thrills at Midnight Mayhem

bakchormeeboyNovember 23, 2017November 23, 2017Leave a comment

Arts, Dance with Me, Esplanade Theatre, Music, Review, Singapore, Singapore Arts, Theatre., Theatre, Theatres

Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana by Apsaras Arts

Indian culture and mythology spans centuries, giving birth to hundreds of tales about various gods and goddesses, royals and monsters. So it stands to reason that the 2017 Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts would open with an adaptation of one of the most famous tales of all – the Ramayana. Focusing on the life and adventures of the monkey god Hanuman (played by Hari … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana by Apsaras Arts

bakchormeeboyNovember 23, 20172 Comments

Arts, Drama Centre, Interview, Kids, Music, musical, Preview, Singapore, Singapore Arts, Theatre., Theatre, Theatre Companies, Theatres, Wild Rice

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with W!ld Rice’s Ivan Heng, Glen Goei and Pam Oei

W!ld Rice’s annual Christmas pantomime opens in less than a week, and we couldn’t be more excited to catch it. Since its inception, W!ld Rice’s pantos have gone above and beyond simply being a show for children to enjoy with their families, to becoming all-encompassing theatrical extravaganzas filled with a whole barrel of laughs and plenty of love to go around. This year, they’ll be … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: An Interview with W!ld Rice’s Ivan Heng, Glen Goei and Pam Oei

bakchormeeboyNovember 20, 2017November 20, 2017Leave a comment

Arts, Music, musical, Review, Singapore, Singapore Arts, Theatre., Students, Theatre

Review: Overtime by Myle Yan Tay and Nathaniel Mah

Earlier this month we were pleasantly surprised by a highly competent production of Jean Tay’s Boom by a group of students from Yale-NUS. We thought this was the kind of thing that comes by only every so often, but evidently we were wrong, having proverbial lightning strike twice with Myle Yan Tay and Nathaniel Mah’s new musical tackling office life: Overtime. Overtime is the rare … Continue reading Review: Overtime by Myle Yan Tay and Nathaniel Mah

bakchormeeboyNovember 20, 2017Leave a comment

Arts, Comedy, Esplanade Recital Studio, Review, Singapore, Theatre, Theatre Companies, Theatres

Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Sharul Weds Sharul by Sharul Channa

Sharul Channa is a riot. Or at the very least, she could probably start one easily if she tried, with almost no topic too taboo to tackle. Now, Sharul is happily married (to fellow comedian Rishi Budhrani), but as a strong, independent woman, has her hangups about the deeply misogynistic nature of some Indian traditions. So naturally, in her newest ‘comedic monologue’ (‘so it sounds … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Sharul Weds Sharul by Sharul Channa

bakchormeeboyNovember 20, 2017November 20, 20171 Comment

Arts, Dance with Me, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Experimental, Music, Review, Singapore, Singapore Arts, Theatre., Theatre, Theatres

Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Khwaab-Sa – Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by The Company Theatre (Review)

Khwaab-Sa opens with a spotlight on lithe, petite dancer Ronita Mookerji as the iconic spirit Puck. In the background, a musician clad in a unicorn mask assaults our ears with loud electronic music, as Mookerji writhes and vibrates. Grinning madly, she laughs silently before impishly back-flipping across the stage, a moon projection making her lunacy obvious. This is Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as you’ve never seen … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Khwaab-Sa – Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by The Company Theatre (Review)