If you missed the sold-out hits from last year’s Singapore Theatre Festival (STF), here’s your second chance to catch them—at a brand new, highly anticipated theatre space. Local theatre company Wild Rice’s new independent theatre at the Funan lifestyle complex has been the talk of the town for months; starting July, they’ll be giving the public an exclusive sneak peek inside, ahead of the official opening in September.
Cleverly titled ‘Housewarming Season’, the six weeks of shows are bringing the best of STF 2018 back by popular demand. In the gleaming new Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre, catch Alfian Sa’at’s one-woman-show An Actress Prepares (Jul 10-14), starring the ever-lovable Siti Khalijah Zainal in a thought-provoking love letter to the power of theatre. Then it’s fastest fingers first for the inimitable Pam Oei’s one-woman cabaret Faghag (Jul 24-28)—a singing, dancing autobiographical extravaganza that’s as hilarious as it is poignant about Singapore’s LGBTQ community. Last year, all seven shows—one even coinciding with Pink Dot 2018—sold out in a matter of days.
Faghag at STF 2018
And closing the season is Thomas Lim’s heart-wrenching look at caretakers Supervision (Aug 8-18), where an overly suspicious Janice Koh installs a CCTV to keep an eye on her ageing father Teck and new helper Yanti. You’ll want to bring tissues.
In addition, Wild Rice is taking the opportunity to shine the spotlight on the next generation of theatre-makers. Opening the season is an original new show Anything Can Happen/Something Must Happen (Jul 4-7), starring the fifth cohort of the company’s youth division Young and Wild—under the guidance of seasoned programme director Edith Podesta. The show will be performed in the theatre complex’s black-box studio as its christening show.
Tickets are already available here and early bird sales end Mar 27.
Housewarming Season runs Jul 4-Aug 18 at Wild Rice @ Funan, Level 4, Funan, 107 North Bridge Road. More information here.
