Preview: Dvorak’s Rusalka by New Opera Singapore

“Tell him, silvery moon, that I am embracing him. For at least momentarily let him recall of dreaming of me.” – Rusalka Composed by Antonín Dvořák with its first performance in the Prague National Theatre (1901), Rusalka has become a beloved Czech opera and one of Dvořák’s best works. Rusalka tells the story of how the water nymph Rusalka turns to a witch to help … Continue reading Preview: Dvorak’s Rusalka by New Opera Singapore

Esplanade’s The Studios 2023: An Interview with director Tan Shou Chen and playwright Joel Tan on ‘Mosaic’

Built in 1979, the iconic Toa Payoh Dragon Playground and its brethren have long been a part of millennials’ memories growing up, eventually becoming key landmarks and cultural symbols in Singapore. Unfortunately, due to safety concerns, many of the other dragons have since been demolished, leaving the Toa Payoh Dragon Playground one of the few still standing, even amidst en bloc redevelopment of the flats … Continue reading Esplanade’s The Studios 2023: An Interview with director Tan Shou Chen and playwright Joel Tan on ‘Mosaic’

Koh Wan Ching appointed Head of Acting at ITI

Singaporean actor and director Koh Wan Ching has been appointed Head of Acting at Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI), beginning on 1 July 2023. This appointment signals the first succession of leadership since the school – formerly known as the Theatre Training and Research Programme (TTRP) – was co-founded by Kuo Pau Kun and T. Sasitharan in 2000. To this day, ITI offers the only Professional … Continue reading Koh Wan Ching appointed Head of Acting at ITI

An Interview with John Tung, Festival Director of The Substation’s ‘Re-Connect/Centre/Converge: The Arts Festival’

The Substation may have faced a tumultuous few years, with the venue itself losing its space, but with last year’s successful return of their beloved SeptFest, the organisation looks to be coming back stronger than ever, with a new direction and new branding, with the announcement of independent curator and exhibition-maker John Tung as their brand new Festival Director. Taking place in September 2023, John … Continue reading An Interview with John Tung, Festival Director of The Substation’s ‘Re-Connect/Centre/Converge: The Arts Festival’

★★★★★ Review: Three Years In The Life and Death of Land by The Necessary Stage

Fever dream portrayal of a family in the pursuit of happiness and finding a place in the world. All around us, the cost of living is ever-increasing. For the modern Singaporean person, purchasing and owning any kind of property feels like a far-flung dream, with many resigning themselves to the fact that we’ll likely still be staying with our parents for some time yet. Such … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Three Years In The Life and Death of Land by The Necessary Stage

★★★★★ Review: King by T:>Works

Modern take on Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde problematises society’s obsession with gender and performativity. In the novel Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, author Robert Louis Stevenson uses the core narrative of a kind man hiding a sinister alter ego to pass commentary on the stress of conforming to strict moral codes and social norms in Victorian-era London. In suppressing our true … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: King by T:>Works

Review: MILIEU 2023 by Frontier Danceland

Swansong for Frontier Danceland takes a critical look at its history, and ends on a note of joy. As the artistic director and co-founder of Frontier Danceland, Low Mei Yoke has seen the contemporary dance company through every single one of its ups and downs for over 30 years now. From its humble beginnings as a group of hobbyist dancers to becoming one of Singapore’s … Continue reading Review: MILIEU 2023 by Frontier Danceland

An Interview with director Daniel Jenkins and the cast of ‘2:22 – A Ghost Story’ by Singapore Repertory Theatre

Fear often gets the better of us, and our imaginations begin to run wild. But what if there’s more evidence than just your thoughts that seems to point to something supernatural happening? In 2:22 – A Ghost Story, that is precisely the conundrum at hand, as a young couple who have just moved into their dream home begin to experience strange occurrences at precisely 2:22am … Continue reading An Interview with director Daniel Jenkins and the cast of ‘2:22 – A Ghost Story’ by Singapore Repertory Theatre

★★★★★ Review: Four Horse Road 四马路 (2023) by The Theatre Practice

Short, sharp vignettes from Waterloo Street’s history leave a lasting impact and a desire to go back. Restagings of theatre productions in Singapore are hard to come by, even more so for complicated works that require extensive logistics and planning. So when The Theatre Practice’s (Practice) previous staging of Four Horse Road was cut short due to the circuit breaker in 2020, it seemed like … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Four Horse Road 四马路 (2023) by The Theatre Practice

★★★★★ Review: Psychobitch by Wild Rice

He gives me ashes for beauty.  This is a love story. Or at least a story about love.  Written by Amanda Chong and directed by Pam Oei, Psychobitch is a dramatic monologue centering on hotshot broadcast journalist Anya Samuel. Played by Sindhura Kalidas, Anya is introduced to us with an odd premise – she’s been accused by her fiancé, tech bro Galven Low, of being … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Psychobitch by Wild Rice