By Nabilah Said (1,670 words, 7-minute read) We are in a rehearsal for Seven Views of Redhill. Well, not me – I am just a hanger-on trying to fold myself into a corner of the Chesterfield-like sofa backed up against a wall in a room I am told is called the ‘Back of Chamber’, […]
Seven Views of “Seven Views of Redhill” Read More »
Content warning: References to sexual content, situations and violence The final line of Terre Thaemlitz’s Deproduction reads: “Admit it’s killing you, and leave.” It is a neat summary of the work—a deeply nihilistic critique of contemporary family values and neo-liberal queer politics. But, as this last piece of text scrolls off the screen, it also
The disturbing cruelty of Terre Thaemlitz’s “Deproduction” Read More »
By Patricia Tobin (670 words, 4-minute read) Content warning: References to sexual content or situations Deproduction by musician-producer Terre Thaemlitz was released on December 28, 2017 as a multimedia album consisting of audio, video and text. In TPAM 2019, it was staged as an “anti-live AV performance”, as Thaemlitz combined the album’s textual, audio
Disturbing behaviour: “Deproduction” by Terre Thaemlitz Read More »
In this video, LASALLE students Ernie Martha and Raesmi Nambiar speak to Raka Maitra, founder and artistic director of CHOWK, on the practice of contemporary dance in Singapore, her roots as a classical Odissi dancer in India and the challenges CHOWK faces as a dance company. This video can also be viewed on YouTube. Between
The working processes of artists: Raka Maitra from CHOWK Read More »
By Ke Weiliang (1,131 words, 6-minute read) Dear 艺族 STRANGER, After spending my Saturday afternoon with you at the Esplanade Theatre Studio, I struggled long and hard to make sense of the titular ‘knots’ that your inaugural play endeavoured to grapple with. Over the course of an hour, you gave me a glimpse into the
KNOTS: An open letter to 艺族 STRANGER Read More »
ArtsEquator’s Southeast Asia 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. In the weekly Southeast Asia Radar, we publish a round-up of content that have
ArtsEquator Lobang is a list of available open calls, job postings and other opportunities open to people from Singapore and Southeast Asia. “Lobang”, a Malay word for “hole”, is used in Singlish as a shorthand for an opportunity, valuable contact or a tip. [Last updated: 25 September 2019] Open Calls Hors Pistes Residency 2020
Open Call and Opportunities: Sep 2019 (Singapore/SEA) Read More »
We step into the dimly-lit theatre of The Lion & Unicorn, a soft, almost dream-like blue wash over the noticeable emptiness of the stage – save for a skeletal cardboard cut-out resembling a door frame, carefully set stage left. There was nothing, yet everything to expect. Researching about The Cardboard Kitchen Project had been a
Diasporic Dispatches: “The Cardboard Kitchen Project” by FK Co-Lab Read More »
By Syed Muhammad Hafiz (1,823 words, 7-minute read) Recently I was asked by a friend, “How come I don’t see any local Malay artists in the current show at National Gallery Singapore (NGS)?”. My immediate response was, of course, that it simply wasn’t true. I was thrown off-guard, but then I started asking myself what
Siapa Nama Kamu? – Questions to Answer a Friend Read More »
Duration: 20 min Podcast host Chan Sze-Wei and guest Melissa Quek discuss works they saw at the recent M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival, specifically at the platforms DiverCity, Off Stage and M1 Open Stage. These include H A S E R by Singapore dancer-choreographer Syimah Sabtu and Leftovers by Josh Martin from Canadian company, Company 605.
Podcast 65: M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival (Part 1) Read More »
ArtsEquator’s Southeast Asia 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. In the weekly Southeast Asia Radar, we publish a round-up of content that have
By Shahril Salleh (1,000 words, 6-minute read) New music is the epitome of unfamiliar territory. Even as someone who read music at university, often I find myself unprepared (and even dreading) to watch new music concerts. Part of my own anxieties comes from a need to know and be familiar with what is being performed.
Conversations in a small room: “Dialogues And Reflections” Read More »
In this video, LASALLE students Heng Wei Ting and Syarifuddin Bin Sahari speak to dancers Rachel Lee and Marcus Tan, also known as ScRach MarcS, on the intricacies of street dance in Singapore, including its acceptance as an art form, and how Singapore’s cultural make-up affects the scene. This video can also be viewed on
The working processes of artists: ScRach MarcS Read More »
By Nabilah Said (1,119 words, 6-minute read) There is a Malay proverb: “sedangkan lidah lagi tergigit”, that roughly translates as “even the tongue can get bitten”. It applies to groups of people, such as a husband and wife, or siblings, who, despite their close relationship, can fight or have a misunderstanding. Perhaps that is the
Love me tender: “Eat Duck” by Checkpoint Theatre Read More »
ArtsEquator’s Southeast Asia 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. In the weekly Southeast Asia Radar, we publish a round-up of content that have
By Shahril Salleh (1,200 words, 6-minute read) Choral music festivals are gaining traction in Singapore. In my opinion, this is a good thing for both the choral music scene as well as the arts ecosystem. From a place-making perspective, not only do festivals create attention and vibrancy at the arts and civics districts, we also
Full Hungarian splendour: Treble Voices Festival 2019 Read More »
Duration: 37 min In this latest podcast, ArtsEquator editor Nabilah Said and theatre reviewer Naeem Kapadia discuss the productions We Were So Hopeful Then (written by Ellison Tan and directed by Alvin Tan) and Acting Mad (with texts by Haresh Sharma, Harris Albar and Maryam Noorhimli and directed by Haresh Sharma), presented as part of
Podcast 64: The Orange Production 2019 Read More »
By Nabilah Said (820 words, 5-minute read) In the pre-show for Forked, playwright and performer Jo Tan is warming up, prepping her body. We see her assume the plank position, a fractured toe from rehearsals armoured in a padded thermoplastic boot. Just like Tan, this play has been reinforced. When it was performed in January
Instructions for reheating: “Forked” by The Finger Players Read More »
ArtsEquator’s Southeast Asia 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. In the weekly Southeast Asia Radar, we publish a round-up of content that have
Weekly Southeast Asia Radar: Burmese hip hop, and queer Vietnamese singer Tuimi Read More »
Content warning: References to violent or disturbing behaviour In late January 1981, the body of a young girl was discovered in a brown PVC bag about a metre high by a young man in Toa Payoh. She had died from asphyxiation; a later autopsy showed signs of sexually assault. Slightly more than a week later,
“Medium Rare”, “God or Dog” and the makings of a Singaporean monster Read More »
Duration: 30 min In this latest episode of our Fresh Blood podcast, Nabilah Said speaks to Singaporean theatremaker Rei Poh on the new collective Attempts, which focuses on creating theatrical experiences based on the principles of participatory theatre and gameplay. The new collective will be presenting its second work, Dating Sim (Beta), on 30-31 August
Podcast 63: Rei Poh and Attempts Read More »
In this video, LASALLE students Cherie Tan Yan Zhen and Lee Jia Jing speak to opera performer Chen Yu Zhi from Nam Hwa Opera, a Singapore-based Teochew opera troupe founded in 1963. They discuss what makes traditional and contemporary Teochew opera different, how Nam Hwa Opera is wooing younger audiences, and the role Chen’s father
The working processes of artists: Nam Hwa Opera Read More »
By Nabilah Said (747 words, 5-minute read) Content warning: References to self-harm and sexual assault Someone cried. Someone squeezed my hand. Someone felt seen. Someone drank tea. — The Necessary Stage’s latest offering, Acting Mad, pulls no punches. It treats mental health in an almost matter of fact way, like a doctor might gently,
Crashing realities: “Acting Mad” by The Necessary Stage Read More »
ArtsEquator’s Southeast Asia 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
ArtsEquator Lobang is a list of available open calls, job postings and other opportunities open to people from Singapore and Southeast Asia. “Lobang”, a Malay word for “hole”, is used in Singlish as a shorthand for an opportunity, valuable contact or a tip. [Last updated 5 September 2019] Open Calls Serambi Karya Bellamy:
Open Call and Opportunities: Aug 2019 (Singapore/SEA) Read More »
When I signed up for The Class Room, a participatory theatre piece created and facilitated by veteran theatre practitioners Li Xie, Kok Heng Leun and Jean Ng, I was expecting a thought-provoking experience, with meaningful exchanges with people from different walks of life about issues of poverty. I had seen a recording of The Lesson
An exercise of privilege: “The Class Room” at M1 Peer Pleasure 2019 Read More »
“All music, any organization of sounds is then a tool for the creation or consolidation of a community, of a totality.” – Jacques Attali “Gua jahat ada hajat boy” – Akeem Jahat Tuning In The title of this article references a song by the Indonesian band Project Pop, Dangdut Is The
What is the music of my country? Race, harmony and diversity in Singapore Read More »
ArtsEquator’s Southeast Asia 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
Weekly Southeast Asia Radar: Skateboarding in Myanmar; ARTJOG Read More »
By Akanksha Raja (1,500 words, 6-minute read) It’s a party … It’s unbridled and free and outrageous. It demands a full-body, full-mind engagement. That’s how New York-based director Ed Sylvanus Iskandar describes Caught, Singapore Repertory Theatre’s latest production, a socially immersive experience at Miaja Gallery taking place from 10 September onwards. It’s an unusual and
Uncovering the Enigma of Lin Bo: “Caught” by SRT Read More »
By Nabilah Said (1,100 words, 6-minute read) “The best seats are on the sides.” A friend’s advice guided my decision when I went to review First Fleet by Nine Years Theatre. Mindful of spoilers, she had not said why, but the reason became obvious as soon as I stepped into the auditorium of the cavernous
Looking away for clarity: “First Fleet” by Nine Years Theatre Read More »
