April is gearing up to be a busy and intriguing month for local theater, with no less than seven productions being mounted over the next four weeks, some of them big and glitzy and some of them indie and dark. Here are the ones we think you should check out.
Emily of Emerald Hill; Photo credit: Tuckys Photography
The Studios: Fifty (Apr 2-May 10)
This annual celebration of the eclectic, eccentric and experimental sides of theater returns with 50 plays, five of which will be staged as full-length productions, the rest being performed as dramatized readings. Full-length performances include Stella Kon’s Emily of Emerald Hill, Huzir Sulaiman’s The Weight of Silk on Skin and Tan Tarn How’s The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate ‘S’ Machine, directed by Zizi Azah Abdul Majid.
Public Enemy
Public Enemy (Apr 9-25)
Wild Rice’s latest production includes a hit list of local theater biggies. At its helm is well-known director Glen Goei and its cast includes veteran actors like Ivan Heng and Lim Kay Siu. This thought provoking play explores politics and freedom of expression. In it, the protagonist (played by Heng) finds out that his town’s water supply is contaminated, and his choice to go public with it turns everyone against him. Early bird ticket sales end today so act fast.
Normal
Normal (Apr 9-19)
Checkpoint Theatre’s latest outing is a production of Faith Ng’s Normal, about life in the “normal” secondary school stream (in Singapore, this is a course for students of perceived lower academic ability) through the eyes of two adolescent girls and their idealistic new teacher. The play explores the barriers and tensions in Singapore’s education system. The acclaimed Claire Wong directs.
Faulty Towers The Dining Experience
Faulty Towers The Dining Experience (Apr 9-12)
Based on the popular BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers that aired in the ’70s, this is unlike your regular theater-going experience. This two-hour immersive performance lets you wine and dine and be a part of the on-going show at the same time. Plus, with only a portion of it being scripted, there’s plenty of room for improv and knee-smacking laughter to take place. (Don’t get too excited, though, as original actor John Cleese will not be making an appearance.) Dinner tickets start from $219 (and lunch from $169) and includes a three-course meal.
Ragnarok
Ragnarok (Apr 15-18)
This dark new play tells the story of a group of people who are regulars of a gay and lesbian club that’s all about using verbal and sexual violence as a form of flirting. Written by young Australian writer Andrew Sutherland and directed by Singapore-based New Yorker director Aloe T Miller, it tells the story of Dan who dreams of dating party boy Alan, only to have his life spiral out of control when someone from his past returns to his life. There’s also going to be original music composed by local singer-songwriter Esther Low.
Hawa
Hawa (Apr 24-25)
Written by Johnny Jon Jon and directed by Faizal Abdullah, Hatch Theatrics’ fifth production stars Isabella Chiam, Saiful Amri and Al-Matin Yatim. Performed in Malay but with English surtitles, this play tells the story of Siti, a recent convert to Islam who has been tasked with making funeral arrangements for her close friend, which sends Siti on a journey of self-discovery.
Kumar Stands Up For Singapore
Kumar Stands Up For Singapore (Apr 22-26)
For something more light hearted, this Dream Academy production will see one of our favorite stand-up comedians take to the stage for seven shows. Directed by one-part of Dim Sim Dollies, Selena Tan, expect plenty of jokes based around Singapore’s journey from a swampy island to the bustling city that we are today.
