★★★☆☆ Review: Scenes From The Climate Era by David Finnigan and Ellison Tan

Myriad views of the climate disaster and the desperation and depression that emerges in its rise. How does one frame a play about climate change and still add to the already burgeoning conversation? Adapted for a Singaporean production, Australian playwright David Finnigan’s Scenes From The Climate Era is keenly aware of the weighty and convoluted nature of the climate crisis, and how difficult it can … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Scenes From The Climate Era by David Finnigan and Ellison Tan

The Studios 2025: An Interview with Jaha Koo on ‘Haribo Kimchi’ and the process of creation

The surprising flavour of seaweed soup. The sharp sound of a knife slicing cucumber. The hiss and sizzle of mushrooms on a scorching fire. In Haribo Kimchi, South Korean theatremaker and composer Jaha Koo invites us into a pojangmacha, or a typical neon-lit street food tents from Korea. Get ready to meet a snail, a gummy bear, and an eel as they guide us through … Continue reading The Studios 2025: An Interview with Jaha Koo on ‘Haribo Kimchi’ and the process of creation

The Studios 2025: An Interview with playwright David Finnigan on ‘Scenes From The Climate Era’

A couple debates whether to bring a child into a world on fire. Scientists race to build a coral reef in a lab. Somewhere in Antarctica, a team attempts to hold back a melting glacier with a seawall. And in the dark, the last frog of its species calls out—hoping, futilely, for a mate. In Scenes from the Climate Era, Australian playwright David Finnigan zooms … Continue reading The Studios 2025: An Interview with playwright David Finnigan on ‘Scenes From The Climate Era’

Preview: Esplanade’s The Studios 2025 – Sustenance

Two years ago, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s annual theatre season, The Studios, embarked on a three-year curatorial arc revolving around the theme of LAND. In 2023, they covered Landings, exploring the natural world we live in and the way we interact with it, while in 2024, they covered Fault Lines, focusing on disruptions and movements that shift the trajectory of our lives. Now … Continue reading Preview: Esplanade’s The Studios 2025 – Sustenance

★★★☆☆ Review: By Design by CAKE

Triptych of new work exploring the intersections of performativity and design. CAKE is a company that has always been known for their willingness to find new collaborators, often leading to visually stunning experimental work. That’s a trend that continues in By Design, CAKE’s latest project, which puts graphic design artists front and centre. With By Design, CAKE presents the work of Vanessa Ban, Zach Lieberman … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: By Design by CAKE

The Esplanade’s Pesta Raya Goes Online

  Much like the recently concluded The Studios Online season, with the restrictions placed on live performances, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay has made the move to shift their annual Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts completely online. A total of nine productions, comprising three new works and six archival recordings from previous editions of Pesta Raya editions, can be enjoyed completely free-of-charge … Continue reading The Esplanade’s Pesta Raya Goes Online

The Studios 2020: An Interview with Playwright Lucas Ho (The Heart Comes To Mind)

Originally meant to have rounded off this year’s edition of Esplanade’s The Studios 2020, Checkpoint Theatre has faced multiple issues with staging and even recording Lucas Ho’s new play due to the circuit breaker measures in place. But now, they’re armed with an audio version of the production, set to be presented as part of The Esplanade’s The Studios Online season in June, and excited … Continue reading The Studios 2020: An Interview with Playwright Lucas Ho (The Heart Comes To Mind)

The Esplanade Takes The Studios Online and More With Lineup of Digital Content

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay continues to roll out more online content to keep audiences engaged with the arts, even when stuck at home. Beyond archival content, this year’s cancelled season of The Studios continues to live on, with two of the scheduled works now being presented as part of The Studios Online. These new releases add to the range of online arts offerings … Continue reading The Esplanade Takes The Studios Online and More With Lineup of Digital Content

The Studios 2020: An Interview with Toy Pianist Margaret Leng Tan (Dragon Ladies Don’t Weep) [CANCELLED]

Playing a toy piano could easily come off as a gimmick, but for Margaret Leng Tan, the experimental artist has somehow managed to carve it into an entire career. Now, get ready to hear the story behind one of Singapore’s most renowned avant garde musicians, as Margaret presents Dragon Ladies Don’t Weep this March. Co-commissioned by the Esplanade and Arts Centre Melbourne, The Studios 2020 was originally … Continue reading The Studios 2020: An Interview with Toy Pianist Margaret Leng Tan (Dragon Ladies Don’t Weep) [CANCELLED]

Preview: The Esplanade presents The Studios 2020 – Lost & Found

Life is a lost & found box. At least, that’s how the Esplanade sees it come 2020, with their latest season of The Studios come March and April. Dealing with the experience of loss and all the complicated emotions that come with it, a loss often results in an empty void we then have to fill, therefore goading and motivating us into finding something to … Continue reading Preview: The Esplanade presents The Studios 2020 – Lost & Found