By Nabilah Said (1,887 words, 7-minute read) Trigger/Content Warning: Discussions of sexual assault I watched two shows in the span of two weeks recently. Besides the fact that they were Singapore plays, they did not, from the outset, seem that much alike. One was This Is What Happens To Pretty Girls by Pangdemonium. The […]
Pretty Displaced: Staging Sexual Assault in the Age of #MeToo Read More »
Why do people choose to go into poor, dangerous, war-torn countries to work as humanitarian workers? Do they have boundless courage, hope and kindness? Do they have a death wish? Do they believe they can make a difference? Are they simply naïve? Do they suffer from a messiah complex? Or First World guilt? Did their
Go Big or Go Home: “Displaced Persons’ Welcome Dinner” Takes Flight Read More »
By Jocelyn Chng (1,138 words, five-minute read) My strongest memory from the first instalment of this three-year series by Toy Factory, A Dream Under the Southern Bough: The Beginning, was its dramatic cliffhanger of an ending. There, the protagonist, disgraced naval officer Chun Yu Fen, approaches a fantastical ant kingdom all set in brilliant gold;
“A Dream Under the Southern Bough: Reverie”: Down the Ant Hole Read More »
By Corrie Tan (1,700 words, eight-minute read) This review contains spoilers and/or plot points for The Bacchae, a 2,500-year-old ancient Greek tragedy; Beware of Pity, a 1939 German novel adapted for the stage by the Schaubühne Berlin and Complicité; as well as the final season of the fantasy television epic Game of Thrones, which concluded
Mad women, divine punishment, and “Dionysus” Read More »
Duration: 20 min Podcast host Chloe Chotrani (assisted by Chan Sze-Wei) uncovers the world of vogue culture and voguing in Asia from legendary mother, Koppi Mizrahi, who hails from Tokyo, Singaporean drag queen Vanda Miss Joaquim and Singaporean dancer Amin Alifin. The interview was done shortly after Singapore’s first vogue ball, Crystal Ball, was held
Podcast 59: The Truth About Voguing in Asia Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts about arts and culture in Southeast Asia, drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional
As I enter the auditorium of Kirari Fujimi, a public theatre located about one hour away from the centre of Tokyo, I find myself in the waters of somewhere in Asia. The audience members are greeted by the actors who wear headgear in the shape of aquatic animals. They approach the audience and start explaining
“Beautiful Water”: Intercultural Theatre Made in Threes Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts about arts and culture in Southeast Asia, drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional
By Naeem Kapadia (954 words, 4-minute read) There has been a slew of works responding to the bicentennial of Singapore’s founding by Sir Stamford Raffles, an event that the authorities have chosen to spend all year celebrating through a series of activities such as guided tours, exhibitions and immersive performances. Ayer Hitam: A Black History
Reframing Colonialism: “Civilised” by The Necessary Stage Read More »
The prestigious Paris Opera Ballet arrives on local shores this June as part of Esplanade’s da:ns series, bringing with them a trio of wide ranging works. These include the stories of romantic love told through balletic duets in Jerome Robbins’ In The Night (1970), the speed and precision of William Forsythe’s Blake Works I (2016),
By Akanksha Raja (1,155 words, 5-minute read) It’s a series of plastic white flower-fans lining the fence of 74 Jalan Kelabu Asap that lets me know that I’ve arrived at the site of Drama Box’s first work of 2019, Flowers, an experiential installation set in a quaint two-storey landed house in Chip Bee Gardens. I’m
Silent Rooms, Silent Memories: “Flowers” by Drama Box Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts about arts and culture in Southeast Asia, drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional
I always tell people this, right, if there was an international convention that invites the main people, directors from Singapore over, and that plane crashes, we’re screwed, right? We don’t have anything else. – Rei Poh, personal interview I’ve had this creeping concern for a several years now. Let’s call it our metaphorical iceberg in
Does Singapore Theatre Have a Directing Problem? Read More »
Duration: 29 min As emerging art-makers having recently graduated from B.A. programmes from three different institutions in Singapore, Ranice Tay, Chua Pei Yun and art naming 奇能 (née Adam Lau*) share their thoughts on the distinctions, overlaps, limitations and challenges between academic research and creative practice. Podcast hosted by Felipe Cervera. *Prior to April 2019,
Podcast 58: Research and Practice in Performance-Making Read More »
By Patricia Tobin (736 words, 3-minute read) Spoiler Alert: This review contains spoilers for The Mysterious Lai Teck, which will run from 17 to 19 May at the Singapore International Festival of Arts. “I am the shadow of Ho Chi Minh,” a voice states. It starts as a whisper, before being repeated later as a fast,
Confronting Truths in Ho Tzu Nyen’s “The Mysterious Lai Teck” Read More »
2019 marks the 10th edition of the M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival, a humble endeavour by Kuik Swee Boon, artistic director of T.H.E Dance Company, that has expanded to be an incredible force and champion for contemporary dance not just locally, but internationally. Reflecting on the Festival’s past nine editions, Kuik muses, “So many artists
For events in Penang this week, go to the Penang Free Sheet. Pesta Playlet, at KongsiKL, 3–4 May This non-profit and artist-run festival offers two days of workshops, forums, performances, found object exhibition and more. For the second day, events begin at 10am. Of note, the 6pm forum Malaysiana: On Creation, Criticism and The Performative
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (29 Apr – 5 May 2019) Read More »
By Akanksha Raja (2144 words, nine-minute read) The naked body on stage (even if only imagined) has a potent social power: taboos surrounding the body can shock and offend some Singaporeans. But when did this start? How has public response to incidences of nudity on the Singapore stage changed, and how have changing policies on
Unravelling the History of Nudity in Singapore Theatre Read More »
Duration: 45 min In this interview with Crispian Chan, Bernie Ng and Kuang Jingkai, three photographers of theatre and dance, we get to know more about a profession that’s sometimes taken for granted but is an essential aspect of the packaging of a performance. Learn more about the artistry behind their practice as Cripsi, Bernie
Podcast 57: The Secret World of Performance Photographers Read More »
Seamlessly blending the digital image, live dance and a richly evocative music score, ST/LL is startlingly beautiful treat for the eyes and the ears. This production celebrates the performance collaboration of composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and visual and multimedia artist Shiro Takatani. (Sakamoto’s concert Fragments, with visuals by Takatani, is already sold out.) Here are four reasons to catch ST/LL at the
The Beauty of Time and Image: “ST/LL” at SIFA 2019 Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Solo, Bandung, and Jakarta from 22-28 April 2019 One way to spread values in life is through the media of films. The film students of the Indonesian Art Institute in Surakarta are screening 3 of their final project films that were created with the intention to spread local
Weekly Picks: Indonesia (22 – 28 April 2019) Read More »
For events in Penang this week, go to the Penang Free Sheet. Kandang, at klpac, 25–28 Apr This award-winning Malay language theatre adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm returns to the stage. This production is directed by Omar Ali, who also co-adapted the play. Performed in Malay with English surtitles. Tickets are RM60 (RM50 TAS and RM40
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (22-28 Apr 2019) Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional news websites, blogs and media platforms, and
By Aparna Nambiar (1440 words, six-minute read) “How has colonialism affected you?” This question flashes upon the giant screens that span the studio walls of The Esplanade Theatre Studio. Miss British, directed by Felipe Cervera and devised by The Art of Strangers staged between April 4th and 7th 2019, offers this answer: colonial attitudes make us both
“Miss British”: Embodying the Post-Colonial Complaint Read More »
By Jocelyn Chng (930 words, four-minute read) LEAP is an annual platform from contemporary dance company Frontier Danceland, showcasing the young trainee dancers of the M1-Frontier Danceland PULSE Programme. The PULSE Programme is now in its ninth year, and since 2014 has been supported and co-presented by M1. It takes in aspiring dancers between the
Frontier Danceland’s “LEAP 2019”: Showcasing the Scholars of PULSE 2018/19 Read More »
For events in Penang this week, go to the Penang Free Sheet. WHEN WE WERE, at Lot’ng Arts Space, 18–21 Apr Fresh from Theatresauce’s second season of Emerging Directors Lab, When We Were presents a quadruple bill of short plays exploring conversations — silent and aloud — with our memories. Plays include Whatever That is by Huzir
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (15-21 Apr 2019) Read More »
Plunge: Esplanade’s The Studios 2019 by Arts Republic & Centre 42, 21 April 5pm, library@esplanade If you’ve caught any shows from Esplanade’s The Studios 2019 season and can’t wait to talk about them, come join us at this special edition of Plunge! Co-hosted by reviewers from Arts Republic and Centre 42’s Citizens’ Reviews programme, this
Weekly Picks: Singapore (15 – 21 April 2019) Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional news websites, blogs and media platforms, and
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Yogyakarta, Bali and Jakarta from 8-14 April 2019 This Monday and Tuesday, Teater Gandrik in Yogyakarta presents a satire of what the country might look like in the year 2049 if Indonesia were unsuccessful in eradicating corruption. Created by Agus Noor and Susilo Nugroho, directed by Djaduk Ferianto,
Weekly Picks: Indonesia (8 – 14 April 2019) Read More »
Sustainability, remaining fresh and engaging is challenging in the present day, content-saturated global world. Lin Hwai-min and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan are among a handful of contemporary dance companies that have achieved this over 45 years of performing an ever-changing, diverse and provocative repertoire. With multiple accolades and awarded doctorates to his name,
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan: Between East and West, Heaven and Earth Read More »
