★★★★★ Theatre Review: Le Père (The Father) 父亲 by Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre

by D.Y. Mandarin adaptation of acclaimed Florian Zeller play finds heartbreaking new resonance; spotlighting the Asian sensibilities of a family at war with Alzheimer’s disease.  In theatre, there are few plays that break the trust between audience and performer in its storytelling; And with an unassuming title such as ‘The Father’, the audience is lured into a false sense of familiarity. But, when the naturalistic, … Continue reading ★★★★★ Theatre Review: Le Père (The Father) 父亲 by Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre

★★★★☆ Dance Review: Diary VII ・ The Story Of…… by Mui Cheuk-yin

Mui Cheuk-yin transforms a chance encounter with a stray cat into a profound reflection on migration, memory and the circular nature of time. Diary entries often feel like streams of consciousness, a flow of thought. So for a dance piece to take inspiration from one, that results in a performance where there is no dramatic overture, no attempt to overwhelm. Instead, the theatre fills with … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Dance Review: Diary VII ・ The Story Of…… by Mui Cheuk-yin

Huayi 2026: An Interview with Hong Kong dance icon Mui Cheuk-yin ‘Diary VII ・ The Story Of……’

For more than four decades, Mui Cheuk-yin has shaped the language of contemporary dance in Hong Kong through works that are deeply personal yet quietly expansive. Her long-running Diary series, begun in 1986, traces a life in motion: recording memories, migrations, encounters, and the passing of time through the body. With Diary VII・The Story Of……, which makes its Singapore premiere this February as part of … Continue reading Huayi 2026: An Interview with Hong Kong dance icon Mui Cheuk-yin ‘Diary VII ・ The Story Of……’

Huayi 2026: An Interview with King Shih-chieh, star of Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre’s ‘Le Père (The Father)’, and director David Jiang

Quick-witted and sharp-tongued, André is used to commanding every room he enters. But as small ruptures begin to surfac;a missing watch, rearranged furniture, unfamiliar faces at the dinner table, the boundary between memory and reality starts to dissolve. Le Père (The Father) draws audiences into the disintegrating inner life of an ageing man confronting Alzheimer’s, unfolding with unsettling intimacy and emotional precision. Presented as part … Continue reading Huayi 2026: An Interview with King Shih-chieh, star of Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre’s ‘Le Père (The Father)’, and director David Jiang

Huayi 2026: An Interview with ‘The Sun’ director Tora Hsu and writer Chen Yi-En

Set in a post-apocalyptic future marked by division and survival, The Sun is a contemporary reimagining of Japanese playwright Tomohiro Maekawa’s celebrated science fiction fable. Directed by award-winning Taiwanese theatre-maker Tora Hsu, with script adaptation by Chen Yi-en, this new staging reframes the work through a distinctly Taiwanese lens, responding to the fractures, anxieties and ideological tensions of the present moment. Premiering internationally at Huayi … Continue reading Huayi 2026: An Interview with ‘The Sun’ director Tora Hsu and writer Chen Yi-En

Huayi 2026: An Interview with director Roy Szeto and playwright He Jiping as they bring epic period drama ‘Deling and Cixi’ to the stage

Set against the twilight of the Qing dynasty, Deling and Cixi brings together two formidable women at a moment when an empire and a worldview stands on the brink of collapse. Written by celebrated playwright He Jiping and directed by Roy Szeto, the play looks beyond familiar historical narratives to uncover an intimate, humane encounter between Empress Dowager Cixi and the Western-educated aristocrat Deling. Through … Continue reading Huayi 2026: An Interview with director Roy Szeto and playwright He Jiping as they bring epic period drama ‘Deling and Cixi’ to the stage

Preview: Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2026 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

The Esplanade’s annual Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts returns from 27 February to 8 March 2026 with an expansive, story-rich programme inspired by Chinese dialects, dynasties and regional folklore. This 24th edition promises audiences a vibrant mix of theatre, dance, music and family-friendly works featuring celebrated artists from Singapore, the region and beyond. As the festival team notes, audiences can expect “legends told through … Continue reading Preview: Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2026 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

★★★☆☆ Review: Pickle Party by The Theatre Practice

Part educational workshop, part reflection on the past and future of food in Singapore, the latest work by Ang Xiao Ting raises poignant questions but may still need time to ferment. Theatremaker Ang Xiao Ting has always been interested in matters of conservation in consumption, themes which eventually came to manifest in her original creations under The Theatre Practice (Practice), such as her work on … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Pickle Party by The Theatre Practice

The Studios 2025: An Interview with The Theatre Practice on ‘Pickle Party’ and sustainable theatre

How much of a pickle are we in when it comes to sustainability and climate change? It all feels like a bit of a crisis, but in the meantime, the solution just might be…pickling? This September, the Esplanade’s The Studios 2025 rounds off with Pickle Party by The Theatre Practice (Practice), which places the audience at a pickling workshop within a performance. Originally staged as … Continue reading The Studios 2025: An Interview with The Theatre Practice on ‘Pickle Party’ and sustainable theatre

★★★★★ Review: FOOD by Geoff Sobelle

Geoff Sobelle serves up food for thought, elevating the act and art of consumption. Geoff Sobelle is nothing short of a master of theatrical magic and clownery. And considering how skeptical today’s audiences are, and how easy it is to see through most performers’ sleight of hand, that’s high praise for an increasingly rare talent in entertainment. But more than just parlour tricks, Sobelle’s work … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: FOOD by Geoff Sobelle