Deonn Yang rises to the occasion and comes into her own in this heartfelt play about forgiveness and family. As much as we hold the concept of family in high regard in Singapore, family has also always been a complex affair. Amidst the comfort family brings, there is almost always the pressure of ensuring that we do the best we can for them, lest we … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: White, All White by The Necessary Stage
Gen Z play that speaks to the growing pains that anyone from any era goes through. From juggling studies with a social life, to the turbulent changes of adolescence and figuring out exactly what it all means, it is a truth universally acknowledged that the teen years are some of the toughest of anyone’s life. And even for Generation Z (dubbed ‘Zoomers’), who grew up … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Hard Mode by Checkpoint Theatre
A moving, necessary primer on emotional intelligence for both children and adults. The beauty of the arts often lies in how they are able to produce powerful emotional responses, representing and platforming a degree of authenticity onstage that allows for audiences to undergo catharsis. And in a country like Singapore, where emotional and mental health are just beginning to enter mainstream conversation, it seems more … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: The Feelings Farm by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
A spiritual connection to the lingering ghost in the music and the machine. There has always been something immensely timeless about the compositions of the late Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto, with avant garde works that capture listeners from their opening notes filled with emotion, to more sparse, esoteric pieces that evoke entire landscapes in the journey they take us through, connecting the individual to the … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: KAGAMI by Tin Drum and Ryuichi Sakamoto
The annual Singapore Fringe Festival, organised by The Necessary Stage (TNS) has become an institution for independent theatremakers both locally and internationally to present their work, providing a platform for them to stage provocative, cutting-edge performances that deal with pertinent discussions in society and about those on the margins. Now in its 21st edition, watch as Fringe 2025 tackles the theme of displacement, from people … Continue reading Preview: 2025 M1 Singapore Fringe Festival to tackle themes of displacement across seven local and international works
HONG KONG – The Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival, organised by the Tourism Commission, supported by the Hong Kong Geopark and curated by One Bite Design Studio will be held from 13th November, 2024 to 12th January, 2025. Following last year’s accolades, including the Singapore Good Design Award 2024 (Experience Design category) and the Golden Pin Design Award 2024 (Integration Design category), this year’s Festival … Continue reading Arts of Hong Kong: 3rd Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival Narrates the Past and Present of Sai Kung
After three five star shows in 2024, we expect great things from Pangdemonium’s recently announced 2025 Season, a thoughtfully curated lineup that explores the essence of our existence, the power of choice, and the pursuit of happiness. Each production delves into deep and meaningful themes, questioning how we navigate the lives we’ve been given. They invite audiences to consider whether we are at the mercy … Continue reading Preview: Pangdemonium’s 2025 Season
Each year, The Necessary Stage has been consistently curating and bringing together a plethora of local and international fringe performance work that becomes the Singapore Fringe Festival, calling to attention urgent issues affecting community and society. After a successful 2024 edition, the 2025 edition of the Singapore Fringe Festival will mark M1’s final year as its dedicated donor, after 20 years of support. The Necessary … Continue reading The Necessary Stage calls for urgent donor support to continue annual Singapore Fringe Festival in 2026 and beyond
“Like a Pixar film onstage.” That’s how writer Amanda Chong imagines any kind of Theatre For Young Audiences theatre should feel like, rather than talking down or infantilising it in any way, able to connect not just with children, but even with the adults accompanying them by speaking to some fundamental, universal, relatable truths. And in many ways, that is precisely what she’s achieved with … Continue reading The Feelings Farm: An Interview with Amanda Chong on connecting with children and managing emotions
In March 2023, Ryuichi Sakamoto, one of Japan’s greatest contemporary composers and pianists, passed on after a long battle with cancer. Known for his ambient, sparse compositions that were capable of evoking powerful reactions and emotions from his listeners, his fans mourned him, while also knowing they would never get to see him perform live again. Yet, one of those fans, who also happened to … Continue reading Staging Ryuichi Sakamoto: An Interview with Todd Eckert, founder of Tin Drum and co-creator of KAGAMI on technology and friendship in the arts
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