★☆☆☆☆ 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

Preview: The LKY Musical (2022) by Aiwei and Singapore Repertory Theatre

In its original run in 2015, Singapore Repertory Theatre’s (SRT) then-all new musical The LKY Musical premiered in the same year our late founding father passed, acting as a moving tribute and testament to the work and nation-building Lee Kuan Yew contributed in taking Singapore from third world to first, playing to over 50,000 audience members in its original run. This September, ‘the most successful … Continue reading Preview: The LKY Musical (2022) by Aiwei and Singapore Repertory Theatre

By The Book: 2022 Singapore Literature Prize awards 8 first time winners

After two years of restrictions and social distancing, the Singapore Literature Prize (SLP) awards ceremony made its return in-person for the first time since 2018 at Victoria Theatre. Suratman Markasan and Wang Gungwu have made history as the oldest winners of SLP, while eight of the 12 recipients are first-time winners with a mix of seasoned and emerging writers. Tamil writer ரமா சுரேஷ் (Rama Suresh) … Continue reading By The Book: 2022 Singapore Literature Prize awards 8 first time winners

Local heritage in a new light: An Interview with Singapore Night Festival 2022 Festival Director David Chew

After the quietude brought by the pandemic for the last two years, the annual Singapore Night Festival 2022 (SNF 2022) is back in full for its 13th edition, highlighting the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct with a curated selection of six projection mapping installations, 15 Night Lights installations, five performance locations with over 30 performances, five experiential programmes and a Festival Village.  Amidst the celebrations, it … Continue reading Local heritage in a new light: An Interview with Singapore Night Festival 2022 Festival Director David Chew

Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with Teater Ekamatra’s Mohd Fared Jainal and Zulfadli Rashid on ‘Berak’

When Chong Tze Chien’s Poop was first staged back in 2010, the new play was a tour de force that firmly cemented The Finger Players (TFP) as a company to watch, with a heartbreaking story about love and loss, told through evocative music, effective lighting, and of course, whimsical puppetry. 12 years on and several restagings later, the contemporary classic is getting a brand new … Continue reading Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with Teater Ekamatra’s Mohd Fared Jainal and Zulfadli Rashid on ‘Berak’

Film Fanatic: Live action films sweeps majority of awards at 8th National Youth Film Awards

The 8th National Youth Film Awards (NYFA) has announced its winners in a physical awards ceremony held at *SCAPE The Ground Theatre. This year, live action films emerged as top favourites, winning big across both the Student and Open Youth categories. Notable films include “Dirty Laundry” by Kyaw Shoon Le Yee, “A Man Trembles” by Judith Tong, and “Sweat” by Elizabeth Xu. Young actors below 13 … Continue reading Film Fanatic: Live action films sweeps majority of awards at 8th National Youth Film Awards

Preview: See You, Anniversary《纪念日,再见》by Nine Years Theatre

After glowing five star reviews for original works Electrify My World and Between You and Me, Nine Years Theatre is back for their final show of 2022, with See You, Anniversary playing at the Drama Centre Black Box this September. Told through the duo-lens of narrator and character, See You, Anniversary is a humorous and heart-breaking tale of two entangled souls that will resonate with … Continue reading Preview: See You, Anniversary《纪念日,再见》by Nine Years Theatre

Preview: Singapore Night Festival 2022

Whether you’re a history buff looking to discover hidden stories about the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct, or a festival connoisseur seeking innovative new experiences that spark conversations, the Singapore Night Festival (SNF) has something for everyone. From 19 to 27 August 2022, SNF returns with the theme Rebirth for its 13th edition. This year’s festival will zoom in on the BBB precinct’s heritage and stories … Continue reading Preview: Singapore Night Festival 2022

Preview: In New Light – A Season of Commissions by Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is reaching a grand milestone of 20 years this October. While the full line-up of celebratory events is still to be revealed, one of the biggest reveals to happen is the long-awaited opening of the brand new Singtel Waterfront Theatre. First announced in 2018 and beginning works in 2019, the Singtel Waterfront Theatre is intended as a way to … Continue reading Preview: In New Light – A Season of Commissions by Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay

Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with ‘Acting Mad’ playwright/director Haresh Sharma

Originally staged at The Necessary Stage’s (TNS) Black Box space in 2019 as part of their Orange Production programme, Haresh Sharma’s verbatim play Acting Mad makes a return this August, in a new staging at the Esplanade Theatre Studio, as part of this year’s The Studios programme. Written and directed by Haresh Sharma, Acting Mad was crafted from interviews with 20 actors who have experienced … Continue reading Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with ‘Acting Mad’ playwright/director Haresh Sharma