Category: Theatre in SingaporePage 1 of 2
Nothing quite compares to the experience of watching a play unfold at the theatre. From the masterful stage production to the riveting live performances of the actors, the magic of theatre must be seen to be felt.
If you’re fan of the arts and culture scene in Singapore, we’ve got a treat for you. We’ve compiled our best reviews and most insightful interviews with stage actors, directors and playwrights. Enjoy the read!
“Society puts a huge pressure on us to be attached to someone, to want children and to reach other societal milestones. Ann is wondering: ‘Do I really want that? And on what terms do I want that? Is it possible to find what you want, and what does it require of our partners?’”
We take a look at the weeks and months of rehearsals that went into bringing Faith Ng’s latest play on adulthood, parenthood, and what it means to be happy in contemporary Singapore, live on stage.
“I hope audiences who watch ‘The Fourth Trimester’ will have more empathy and compassion for others. Stop putting pressure on and asking people when they’re going to have kids. It’s such a sensitive question…”
“And to everyone who’s watching this play, I hope you come to realise that it’s okay if your life is turning out differently from what you thought it would be. If you want to remain unmarried until the age of 35, so be it. Don’t want kids? That doesn’t make you any less normal. Go write your own story.”
“I think it’s important to tell this story because often, once children come into the picture, especially in a city as stressful as Singapore, everything becomes about them and whether you, as parents, have enough to provide for them. If we neglect that relationship, then problems may arise and eat into how we feel about parenthood.”
“What convinced me to take up this role were the many cultural touchpoints that I very much identify with. Faith talks about our struggles with work-life balance, societal and self-imposed pressures, and the gender roles that we conform to or rail against.”
“With stories like ‘The Fourth Trimester’ painting a very realistic picture of parenthood, I hope more people understand that dads need help and support too. And if you’re a dad who may not be doing that much right now, I hope this play reminds you that parenting is a team effort!”
“When the audience watches ‘The Fourth Trimester’, I hope they understand that at the end of the day, it’s not about embodying or being an ‘ideal’. We shouldn’t be so dogged by the idea of perfection that we lose what it means to be in the present.”
“So it always comes back to the same question of ‘Are you happy?’ And what does it even mean to be happy? Does it even matter? Because it’s really hard to be happy in Singapore. There are so many expectations and it’s all very heartbreaking.”
In Part 1 of ‘People of the Arts: Stories from Singapore to Germany’, Weish talks about finding her voice through theatre in these dire times.
Attention, culture seekers! Check out our review of “Eat Duck”, the debut play by Zenda Tan that’s presented by Checkpoint Theatre.
“I hope people who watch the play go home feeling a sense of comfort. Comfort that you can move on after someone’s death, that there can be reconciliation with a sibling even if the relationship is tense right now, that your angry child can grow up full of compassion.”
“I’ve been different all my life. As an artist, I’ve had these weird ideas in my head for so long, and when you’re new, people will question why you do things a certain way. But you have to stay true to your craft and to yourself.”
“Still Life” draws from events in my personal life. I’m from the baby boomer generation, and we have a slightly more complicated childhood than, let’s say, the Millennials. I was actually adopted as a baby by my mother who was still single at the time.
Attention, theatre geeks! Here’s our review of the Checkpoint Theatre play written and performed by Pooja Nansi and Jessica Bellamy.
What makes a good girl? And why is hip-hop a great storytelling medium? On Episode 1 of our YouTube series “Upcoming”, Pooja and Jessica offer insights into their brand new play by Checkpoint Theatre.
We review this brilliant play – written by Lucas Ho and directed by Huzir Sulaiman – that poignantly touches upon reservist life in the Singapore army.
The 33-year-old Associate Artist at Checkpoint Theatre talks about “FRAGO”, an upcoming play that touches upon the more poignant aspects of reservist life in the Singapore army.
Think this play is just about a sock puppet? Well, think again. Check out our review of the dark and sinister comedy that delves into the concept of faith and loss.
We review “Normal”, a brutally honest and soul-stirring play that explores the world of students through the struggles faced by two Normal Academic misfits in an all-girls school.
