★★★☆☆ Review: Dream School by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Oversimplification of problems in arts education makes this less of a forum than it is another angry shout into the void against the system. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Li Xie) 5 Script (Devised by Li Xie and Cast) 5 Performance 7 Lighting Design (David Li) 7 Total 24/40 (60%) Final Score: ★★★☆☆ Presented as part of Emergency Stairs and NAFA’s Industry Project 2022, … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Dream School by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Preview: Offending The Audience and Dream School by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Curated and produced by Emergency Stairs Artistic Director Liu Xiaoyi, in association with Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, this November, watch as two productions question the very nature of the various artistic disciplines we practise, learn, and teach, as Singapore prepares itself to welcome the newly founded University of the Arts in 2024. Directed by Ang Gey Pin, with performers from NAFA Diploma in Theatre … Continue reading Preview: Offending The Audience and Dream School by Emergency Stairs and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Preview: Extremities by Intercultural Theatre Institute

It’s been a long time coming, but the time has finally come for the latest batch of Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI) students to graduate. For students Caroline Chin, Hau Guei Sze (a.k.a. Zizi), Lakshmana KP and Pooja Mohanraj, this will come in the form of their final production of the year, Extremities.  Playing at the Esplanade Theatre Studio, Extremities is written by Emmy-award winner William Mastrosimone and is inspired … Continue reading Preview: Extremities by Intercultural Theatre Institute

Review: Master Race by Myle Yan Tay

A simple yet strong premise that sets the foundation for a better play in future One of the most pertinent events to have surrounded the issue of race is perhaps none other than Rachel Dolezal, the Caucasian woman who lived a life pretending to be black, drawing flak for the lie, yet was an outspoken vocalist for civil rights. It’s an issue that shows that … Continue reading Review: Master Race by Myle Yan Tay

Preview: Intercultural Theatre Institute Final Year Individual Projects

Following productions in March and June, the latest batch of students from the Intercultural Theatre Institute are fast approaching their graduation date. In September, each of the four students will be presenting brand new, original works conceived by them, as part of their Final Year Individual Project showcase. Considered a critical and integral aspect of ITI’s actor training programme, the FYIP is a project students have … Continue reading Preview: Intercultural Theatre Institute Final Year Individual Projects

Review: The Cyclist by Intercultural Theatre Institute

A surreal cast of quirky characters and a final emotional gut punch in one of ITI’s most light-hearted shows. For many people, growing up can feel like an odyssey, with countless perils to face in adolescence as one becomes increasingly exposed to the cold, cruel world around them. In the case of Vijay Tendulkar’s The Cyclist, growing up becomes a literal journey, as we follow a protagonist choosing … Continue reading Review: The Cyclist by Intercultural Theatre Institute

Preview: The Cyclist by Intercultural Theatre Institute

Following a thought provoking first public production in March, the latest batch of Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI) graduating students return to the Drama Centre Black Box to present their second show of the year: Vijay Tendulkar’s The Cyclist. Translated into English by Balwant Bhaneja, The Cyclist tells of the adventure of life from the perspective of a nameless cyclist as she sets off on a solo journey. But this is … Continue reading Preview: The Cyclist by Intercultural Theatre Institute

Review: Hana by NUS Theatre Studies Theatre Lab

In taking on the mantle of the entire future of theatre from one’s predecessors, it is understandable that one would feel trepidation and anxiety at living up to the precedents set by them, or want to establish a new standard and stake one’s claim in the history of theatre. NUS’ latest batch of Theatre Studies students attempts to tackle just that issue in a project … Continue reading Review: Hana by NUS Theatre Studies Theatre Lab

Review: When We Dead Awaken by Intercultural Theatre Institute

You’ve never seen Ibsen quite like this in ITI alumnus Sankar Venkateswaran’s stripped down, physical-focused interpretation. When We Dead Awaken is often considered one of Henrik Ibsen’s most unusual plays. Set in a spa town amidst snowy mountains and mysterious women, Ibsen’s final play was also his most oneiric, along with being his darkest, in dealing with themes of unhappy marriages, artistic death and actual mortality. … Continue reading Review: When We Dead Awaken by Intercultural Theatre Institute

Preview: When We Dead Awaken by Intercultural Theatre Institute

Henrik Ibsen is perhaps one of the greatest playwrights. But amongst his many celebrated plays, there still remain a couple that are so rarely staged, dwarfed by the success of his better known works such as A Doll’s House or An Enemy of the People. In the first show of 2018 from the Intercultural Theatre Institute’s (ITI) latest graduating batch, the students will be presenting Ibsen’s final written … Continue reading Preview: When We Dead Awaken by Intercultural Theatre Institute