Theatre Review: Snakes and Ladders! by Dwayne Lau (Flipside 2026)

Theatrical metaphor for how life never progresses in a straight line, but we keep rolling the dice and continue moving forward amidst the ups and downs. Back in June when Snakes & Ladders premiered as a 40-minute work-in-progress at the Esplanade Concourse, it felt like a charming autobiographical cabaret searching for a stronger narrative spine. Now expanded into a full-length production for the Esplanade’s Flipside … Continue reading Theatre Review: Snakes and Ladders! by Dwayne Lau (Flipside 2026)

Flipside 2026: An interview with Guy Waerenburgh on risk, absurdity and the thrill of unpredictability in ‘Der Lauf (The Way Things Go)’

Contemporary circus rarely sits still, but Der Lauf (The Way Things Go) thrives in a state of beautiful collapse. Created by Belgian juggler and performer Guy Waerenburgh, the internationally acclaimed production transforms juggling into something far stranger and more theatrical: part cabaret, part endurance test, part social experiment. Blindfolded performers navigate towering stacks of wine glasses, spinning plates, flying buckets and razor-sharp knives, while the … Continue reading Flipside 2026: An interview with Guy Waerenburgh on risk, absurdity and the thrill of unpredictability in ‘Der Lauf (The Way Things Go)’

Flipside 2026: Lachlan Binns on how ‘A Simple Space’ celebrates human connection, trust, and play

When A Simple Space first premiered in 2013, contemporary circus was undergoing a global shift. Traditional big-top spectacles and variety-style performances were still dominant, shaped in part by the influence of companies like Cirque du Soleil, with their elaborate staging, narrative framing, and theatrical spectacle. But for co-creator and performer Lachlan Binns, the goal was to go in the opposite direction. “We made the show … Continue reading Flipside 2026: Lachlan Binns on how ‘A Simple Space’ celebrates human connection, trust, and play

Flipside 2026: An Interview with Dwayne Lau on rolling with the punches with ‘Snakes and Ladders!’

For actor and musical theatre performer Dwayne Lau, his original work Snakes & Ladders! is a way of re-living, re-framing, and re-negotiating the unpredictable shape of a life that has unfolded very much like the board game at its centre. What began as a 40-minute showcase at the Esplanade Concourse has now grown into a full 90-minute theatrical experience a year later. But for Dwayne, … Continue reading Flipside 2026: An Interview with Dwayne Lau on rolling with the punches with ‘Snakes and Ladders!’

★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Base Entertainment Asia

From rap battles to nightmare squirrels and chocolate waterfalls, this Roald Dahl adaptation is is weird, whimsical, and delightfully emotional. There is something inherently magical about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Whether through Roald Dahl’s original novel, the beloved 1971 film, or the many adaptations that followed, the story has always lived in that strange space between fantasy and cautionary tale; whimsical on the surface, … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Base Entertainment Asia

NAC, UOL and PPHG forge three-year partnership to expand arts experiences in their commercial and hospitality spaces

The National Arts Council (NAC) yesterday signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UOL Group Limited (UOL), and its subsidiary Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG), collectively referred as the Group, to integrate the arts more deeply into Singapore’s commercial and hospitality spaces. The MOU was signed in conjunction with the International Society of Performing Arts (ISPA) 2026 Singapore Congress, held from 19 to 22 … Continue reading NAC, UOL and PPHG forge three-year partnership to expand arts experiences in their commercial and hospitality spaces

Becoming Willy Wonka: An Interview with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s Daniel Plimpton

Roald Dahl’s beloved tale of golden tickets and chocolate rivers is finally making its Southeast Asian debut, as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical opens at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, for a strictly limited season from 19th May 2026. Presented by Base Entertainment Asia in association with Broadway International Group and Broadway Asia, the production brings Willy Wonka’s fantastical chocolate factory to life … Continue reading Becoming Willy Wonka: An Interview with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s Daniel Plimpton

★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Myles – Soulmate In A Box by Singapore Repertory Theatre

Inch Chua blends immersive multimedia and song into a visually arresting experience about the dangerous allure of frictionless love. If an AI could love you perfectly, from anticipating your every need, to removing every friction, and never misunderstanding you, would you still want a real person? Presented by Singapore Repertory Theatre after its earlier work-in-progress showing at the Singapore International Festival of Arts in 2024, … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Myles – Soulmate In A Box by Singapore Repertory Theatre

★★★☆☆ Theatre Review: Master White Dragon 白龙王子  by Toy Factory

A distinctly Singaporean fable about about faith and modern spirituality that buries its strongest ideas beneath flat humour and an ending that feels rushed. Few recent local productions have started with a premise as immediately striking as Toy Factory’s Master White Dragon: an ah beng mistaken for the reincarnation of a temple deity, caught between street hustling, spiritual performance and a journalist intent on exposing … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Theatre Review: Master White Dragon 白龙王子  by Toy Factory

Art: UOB Painting of the Year set to elevate artistic excellence in its 45th edition with a festival and more

For decades, the UOB Painting of the Year competition has quietly shaped the careers of some of Southeast Asia’s most respected artists. Now, as it enters its 45th edition, the long-running art prize is stepping beyond the traditional competition format — and into the wider community. This year, UOB will launch its first-ever arts festival in Singapore, transforming what was once largely an industry-facing awards … Continue reading Art: UOB Painting of the Year set to elevate artistic excellence in its 45th edition with a festival and more