Theatre review: Teater Kami's period authentic adaptation Salina is trapped in time
Ariati Tyeb Papar plays the titular character in Teater Kami's staging of Salina as part of Esplanade's Pesta Raya - Malay Festival of Arts 2025.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ESPLANADE -- THEATRES ON THE BAY
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Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Straits Times
Show Picks: Concerts by Pat Metheny and Ernie Zakri, Fudge party
(Clockwise from top left) American jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheny, home-grown singer-songwriter Dita Jacob and Malaysian singer Ernie Zakri. PHOTOS: PAT METHENY/FACEBOOK, GROOVETOP, SAH ENTERTAINMENT Esplanade Presents – Mosaic Music Series – Pat Metheny Dream Box/MoonDial Tour American jazz guitarist Pat Metheny will be back in Singapore. This time for a show that is part of his global tour in support of his last two albums, Dream Box (2023) and MoonDial (2024). The 20-time Grammy winner will play songs off the two albums, as well as cuts from his extensive and genre-stretching discography. MoonDial, which comprises songs written while he was on a tour for Dream Box, features him playing solo with a custom-built nylon-string baritone guitar. He will perform originals, as well as covers such as US jazz great Chick Corea's You're Everything and The Beatles' Here, There And Everywhere. Metheny last performed in Singapore at the same venue in March 2020, right before live concerts were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Where: Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Drive MRT: Esplanade When: May 30, 8pm Admission: From $65 via Sistic (go to or call 6348-5555) Aura: Ernie Zakri – Live In Concert Singapore Malaysian singer Ernie Zakri will stage her first solo concert in Singapore. PHOTO: SAH ENTERTAINMENT Malaysian singing powerhouse Ernie Zakri's upcoming show will be her first solo concert in Singapore. The 32-year-old first made her name after she won prominent Malaysian singing competition Bintang RTM in 2009. She has since racked up hits such as Aku Cinta (2017), a duet with her husband and fellow singer Syamel; Gundah (2019); and Masing Masing (2023), a duet with Indonesian singer Ade Govinda. The singer has won multiple awards throughout her career, the latest being the Best Vocal prize at the 39th Anugerah Juara Lagu awards in February. Where: The Theatre at Mediacorp, 1 Stars Avenue MRT: one-north When: May 31, 8pm Admission: $78 via Sistic Fudge Home-grown singer-songwriter Dita Jacob is one of the acts performing at Fudge, a party celebrating Indian and South Asian music. PHOTO: GROOVETOP Billed as a multisensory celebration of Indian and South Asian music, Fudge is a multi-genre party that brings together some stellar talents from the home-grown music scene. The music ranges from classical ragas and hip-hop to house music and electronica, and the line-up feature s live musicians and DJs. They include singer-songwriter Dita Jacob, guitar virtuoso Isuru Wijesoma and veteran percussionist DrummerNoor, as well as DJs Ramesh, Tashasan and NashD. There will also be henna artists as well as dosa tacos from Maha Co, the Mexican-Indian eatery co-founded by Singapore rapper Yung Raja. Where: Ida's Bar, 02-21 Gillman Barracks, 9 Lock Road MRT: Labrador Park When: May 31, 6pm Admission: From $40, go to Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Vogue Singapore
19-05-2025
- Vogue Singapore
Grace Roberts on growing up in Singapore and playing Christine Daaé in the ‘The Phantom of the Opera'
When The Phantom of the Opera arrived on our shores earlier this month, it was a homecoming for Grace Roberts. While the musical theatre performer is British, her family moved to Singapore when she was six weeks old, and she spent the first 18 years of her life growing up in the city. It was also here that she first started doing theatre. 'I started out doing choir when I was younger, and started to do plays and musicals when I was old enough to audition at school. I also took part in school concerts at the Victoria Concert Hall and the Esplanade when I was in junior and senior school. I honestly thought those amazing buildings were something else, and it was an incredible introduction to theatre,' she thinks back fondly. Grace Roberts plays Christine and Ben Forster plays the Phantom for the Singapore run of the musical. Courtesy of Base Entertainment Asia As she returns to Singapore this time, it is in one of the most beloved and iconic roles in musical theatre: Christine Daaé, the beautiful soprano that becomes the obsession of the mysterious musical genius that haunts the Paris Opera House. In the midst of the sheer grandeur of the musical—the swelling score, the magnificent costumes and the unbelievably spectacular sets—Christine is the show's tender heart, and it is a role that Roberts is absolutely magnetic in. From her quiet bravery to her deep compassion, Roberts brings a depth to Christine that turns an already technically brilliant performance into one that feels like a revelation. Here, she opens up on discovering her love for theatre, stepping into the role of Christine and what it has been like to perform in the place where she grew up. Grace Roberts as Christine Daaé. Courtesy of Base Entertainment Asia When did your love for theatre begin? Is there a particular production that inspired your decision to go into musical theatre? I've loved theatre since I was a little girl. My grandmother introduced me to films like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , Carousel , and Oklahoma! when I went to visit and we'd play everything on loop. I also vividly remember watching a taped version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on VCR and being totally enthralled when I was about five. So I was introduced to music and theatre through film pretty early, but I'd say the major turning point was seeing Wicked when I was around 11. I was just taken aback by the sheer scale of it all, and I knew I wanted to be involved with something as magical as that. What is it like to perform back here in the place where you grew up? I can't really describe how special it is. I've always wanted to perform in Marina Bay Sands, and being able to stand on that stage is quite incredible. It's also amazing to have my parents able to see me perform in such an iconic Singapore landmark. It's really a combination of things that makes this so incredibly special. 'Masquerade' in The Phantom of the Opera . Courtesy of Base Entertainment Asia What was your introduction to The Phantom of the Opera? I've known the music for years . I was introduced to the music when I was much younger, but I didn't see the show until it came to Singapore in 2013. I watched Claire Lyon as Christine and Brad Little as the Phantom, and I was just mesmerised by the production value and the incredible music. As soon as the chandelier rose, I just knew it was something I had to do one day. What about Christine's character were you most drawn to? I love how compassionate she is, but I also appreciate how brave the character is. Although she's a woman living in the Victorian era, she's incredibly headstrong and resilient. I like to think that she's seriously ahead of her time and is somewhat constricted by the period she's living in. What is the most challenging part about playing Christine? I'd say the sheer amount of stage time. I'm quite lucky that Christine is in my wheelhouse vocally, so I don't find the singing too challenging. However, Christine just doesn't really leave the stage, especially in act two. Having enough stamina and fitness to keep up with the role is something I had to find quite early on in my journey. Grace Roberts as Christine in 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again'. Courtesy of Base Entertainment Asia What has it been like to perform alongside Ben Forster as the Phantom and Matt Leisy as Raoul? It's wonderful, I absolutely adore them both! They bring such life and uniqueness to the roles, and it's truly a pleasure to work alongside them every night. We're having the time of our lives up there. Do you have a favourite scene or song to perform in the show? I love doing the graveyard scene—that's 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again' through to 'Wandering Child'. I find that it's incredibly layered, and it's the culmination of everything Christine has learned in the show so far. It gives her some resolution and direction to take her through the rest of the show. Do you have a dream role you would like to play in the future? I'd absolutely love to play Glinda from Wicked . It's the only other role on my theatre bucket list, aside from Christine. The Phantom of the Opera runs until 22 June 2025.
Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Straits Times
Sifa 2025 Week One: What audiences say
The Sea And Its Neighbourhood, Bedok Town Square, May 16, 7.30pm Deborah Gan, 44, teacher: 'What I really enjoyed was the collaboration between the different artists. Between the musicians of different backgrounds, there were jazz singers, classical singers and traditional folk instrumentalists, coupled with an orchestra. This performance was very special as we seldom see so many people collaborating within one performance.' Jacqueline Sassoon, 47, translator: 'I enjoyed the different aspects of the show coming together with the intermittent smells of chicken satay and Hokkien mee wafting over from the hawker centre. It was very refreshing to watch.' Tan Hui Xin, 22, student: 'I've watched performances before, but this is the first time I saw something as grand as this in the heartland. I would think that something like this would be in the Esplanade or a more grand venue. Seeing this performance right here, where we live, is hear tening.' More on this Topic Dance review: Singapore Ballet's athletic Pact Of Water brings dancers close to heartland audience Animal Farm, The Finger Players, May 16, 4pm Chloe Lamasan, 15, student: 'The sounds caught me by surprise. They were perfect. It felt like actual animals, despite being made by the human actors.' More on this Topic Theatre review: Astonishing puppets, flat storytelling in The Finger Players' take on Animal Farm Told By My Mother, Victoria Theatre, May 17, 4pm Siying Lee, 25, tourist: 'I cried a lot during the show. I didn't understand 100 per cent of it , and I also didn't do background research. But I think just being open-minded for the show allowed it to communicate with me in a really abstract way. I related to the performance. It is told from a mother's perspective about the unfairness happening, and it is really to what is happening in reality.' Jessica Lim, 17, student: 'I really liked the intense eye contact the dancers had with one another and with the audience, and also the fact that all the sounds were made live. It felt very powerful. I will recommend this show to others, and I feel like the main point was to spread awareness about the mother looking for her missing son.' Voon Keyang, 38, architect: 'I enjoyed the simplicity of the show, that everything is through very close relationships . It started off with silence, then suddenly, the music comes up, where that one particular performer started to tell the whole story. From there, it laid the whole pace. Although I have never been to Lebanon, I think it is very touching. I can feel the sadness and some point of relief when they dance and sing.' Irfan Kasban, 37, performing arts professional: 'I liked how the show is economical yet very effective and impactful. It was a very simple story, yet it didn't need bells and whistles to be effective in garnering a response from me .' More on this Topic Dance review: Ali Chahrour's Told By My Mother a compelling tale of family loss and grief Umbilical, Sota Studio Theatre, May 17, 8pm Phan Yi En, 15, student: 'The whole experience was very immersive because, at certain points, performers would walk into the crowd. I didn't expect that. When they came to stand at the same level as us, we were better able to judge what they were doing , and the intentions behind that.' Francesca Lim Meng Feng, 15, student: 'The first Sifa performance I attended was Animal Farm, and this is my second. In Umbilical, the sound effects were very mesmerising as they mirrored the changes that were seen throughout the performance, and what the performers were doing onstage.' Ryan Lee, 28, designer: 'I really liked the set design and thought it contributed greatly to the atmosphere onstage. Rizman Putra, Zul Mahmod and thesupersystem are living legends, and that's why I came to watch this performance. It was very interesting to try and unpack the piece and what was going on, and it was something deeply cynical for sure.' More on this Topic Theatre review: Pain is what binds all species in dark, butoh-inspired Umbilical Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
