SGIFF 2018: Cities of Last Things dir. Ho Wai Ding + Kingdom dir. Tan Wei Keong (Review)

A heart wrenching film about the absurdity of life and an animated short about finding one’s place in the world opens the 29th SGIFF Last Wednesday, the 29th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) kicked off with animated short Kingdom by local filmmaker Tan Wei Keong, and Ho Wai Ding’s feature length film Cities of Last Things, which first premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival … Continue reading SGIFF 2018: Cities of Last Things dir. Ho Wai Ding + Kingdom dir. Tan Wei Keong (Review)

Review: Sink or Swim dir. Gilles Lellouche (French Film Festival 2018)

Synchronized swimming drama moves with its tale of friendship and camraderie. Gilles Lellouche’s Sink or Swim opens with a familiar quote, along the lines of a “square peg never being able to fit into a round hole.” Even from its poster alone, one might be tempted to laugh out loud at the almost comical sight of eight confused men in swimwear, some hairy, some rotund, some … Continue reading Review: Sink or Swim dir. Gilles Lellouche (French Film Festival 2018)

Review: Marie & The Nutcracker by ANDSOFORTH

Intelligent toys, a mouse king and sexy candy make this version of The Nutcracker a fun Christmas romp. From the outside, one would never that there was an entire world of wonders hidden away at Andsoforth’s space on the top floor of a nondescript building. But as Andsoforth has proven time and time again, magic can happen if you just believe (and have the skills to put it … Continue reading Review: Marie & The Nutcracker by ANDSOFORTH

Review: Bitten – Return To Our Roots by Thong Pei Qin and Dr Nidya Shanthini Manokara

Blood ties run deep as this production gets bitten by the history bug. Dengue fever may seem like an unexpected and morbid inspiration to create an entire show around, but for Bitten: Return to Our Roots creators Thong Pei Qin and Dr Nidya Shanthini Manokara, it’s an affliction that doubled as a metaphor and the beginnings of an ongoing exploration into their past, present and future. Inspired … Continue reading Review: Bitten – Return To Our Roots by Thong Pei Qin and Dr Nidya Shanthini Manokara

Kalaa Utsavam 2018: Bali by Adishakti Theatre (Review)

Adishakti Theatre delivers both monkey business and human emotion in equal amounts in this surprisingly powerful fringe show. The Hindi epic The Ramayana is an account of the heroic deeds performed by the hero Rama, often considered a ‘champion of dharma’, or righteous deeds. But as we all know, morality exists in shades of grey, and when put to close examination, one comes to realise … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2018: Bali by Adishakti Theatre (Review)

Review: Charlie by Bhumi Collective

A brief encounter with a true innocent. In the wake of politically-charged, tumultuous events such as the rise of Brexit and POTUS Trump, the world as we know it has changed irrevocably, a much more terrifying place to wake up in each morning. How does one stand to live everyday like this? In Bhumi Collective’s Charlie, actress Victoria Chen has imagined a hypothetical situation in which a … Continue reading Review: Charlie by Bhumi Collective

Review: A $ingapore Carol by W!ld Rice

The Dickensian holiday classic gets a Singaporean twist There are few shows more quintessential to Christmas than Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, having received countless adaptations and stagings each holiday season. And here in sunny Singapore, while it may not be the most familiar tale to most, all that might just change with W!ld Rice’s Singaporean twist on the classic – A $ingapore Carol. Written … Continue reading Review: A $ingapore Carol by W!ld Rice

Christmas Wonderland 2018: An Interview with Magician Rob Lake

This year, Christmas Wonderland returns to Gardens by the Bay, with a Christmas celebration reminiscent of the many yuletide fairs and markets in Europe, complete with light installations, holly jolly food, and plenty of live performances. While last year’s lineup featured an Ethiopian circus, this year’s edition will be going for something a little more magical – literally, with America’s Got Talent alumni and magician … Continue reading Christmas Wonderland 2018: An Interview with Magician Rob Lake

Preview: Tine Thing Helseth – Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Acclaimed Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth makes her Singapore debut next January as she presents one of the best-loved of 20th century trumpet showpieces: Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Conducted by former Chief Conductor to the Basque National Orchestra Jun Märkl, Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto is best known as a vigorous display of Armenian lyricism and flavour. Other songs in the lineup include the … Continue reading Preview: Tine Thing Helseth – Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Museum Musings: Miaja Gallery presents Nandita Mukand’s Mind(less) Wilderness

In collaboration with Ikkan Art Gallery, the Miaja Gallery is set to present Singapore based-artist Nandita Mukand’s solo exhibition Mind(less) Wilderness next January. Curated by Tanya Michele Amador, the multi-disciplinary exhibition coincides with during Singapore Art Week 2019 (SAW), and runs from 17th January to 1st March 2019 at Miaja Gallery’s new art space around River Valley. Mind(less) Wilderness deals with resources as diverse as neuroplasticity, quantum physics, contemporary … Continue reading Museum Musings: Miaja Gallery presents Nandita Mukand’s Mind(less) Wilderness