Anticipated Theatre Works of 2014

By Adeeb Fazah

2013 saw the likes of Broadway musical Next To Normal and classic hit The Importance of Being Earnest take on a local spin. This year, the Singapore theatre scene promises to be even better, with an exciting mix of local and foreign lineups. Adeeb Fazah tells you what to look out for.

Musicals

PHOTO: BASE ENTERTAINMENT ASIA

Peter Pan

Following the classic tale of the boy who never grows up, this revival of the 1954 musical stars Tony Award nominee Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan, a role traditionally played by female actresses. A former Olympic gymnast, Rigby’s big break in theatre came after she first starred in this three-time Tony Award nominated production.

Expect the unexpected as fairy dust and special effects take you on an adventure beyond your wildest imaginations. Peter Pan runs from 19 Mar to 6 Apr.

PHOTO: BASE ENTERTAINMENT ASIA

Grease

Grease is the word of the day come 25 Apr as Danny, Sandy and the rest of the gang electrify the Singapore stage once again in this touring production of the highly acclaimed musical.

Since its Broadway premiere in 1972, Grease has entranced audiences around the world with its repertoire of songs, from the upbeat Summer Nights and Greased Lightning to the mellow Hopelessly Devoted to You and Sandy.

This production, brought to Singapore by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, makes a stop here following its sell-out tour in Australia. It ends its run on 11 May, so be sure to book your tickets early.

Classics

PHOTO: TOY FACTORY PRODUCTIONS

Romeo and Juliet

Local theatre company Toy Factory Productions is slated to reintepret Shakespeare’s most told romance story, Romeo and Juliet, this Valentine’s season.

Only this time, it is expected to adopt a fresh concept to the tragedy, with composer Elaine Chan working a musical score into the retelling of this well-loved classic.

Staged at the Drama Centre, Romeo will be played by Benjamin Kheng of The Sam Willows, and Juliet will be played by Ethel Yap. Expect local reinventions to the beloved tale of love and tragedy. Romeo and Juliet runs from 13 to 23 February.

PHOTO: SINGAPORE REPERTORY THEATRE

Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice is the sixth instalment of Singapore Repertory Theatre’s (SRT) annual Shakespeare in the Park.

SRT’s Othello drew in more than 30,000 audience members last year and an equally overwhelming crowd is expected this year, so book your tickets early. Cast details have yet to be announced. The Merchant of Venice will be staged under the stars at Fort Canning Hill between 30 Apr and 25 May.

Festival Plays

PHOTO: HUAYI FESTIVAL SINGAPORE 2014

A Dream Like A Dream

The Huayi — Chinese Festival of Arts — is back for another exciting season of local and foreign works that will raise the bar of the local Chinese arts scene. A Dream Like A Dream will be flown in from Taiwan to bedazzle Singapore audiences in this epic masterpiece directed by the visionary Stan Lai.

The structure of the play is intriguing – stories within stories and dreams within dreams. Audiences will be seated in a “lotus pond”, surrounded by a seamless stage providing a larger and more flexible performance area.

The eight-hour long play comes with intervals and a dinner break. Frills aside, the cast features 29 seasoned performers from China and Taiwan who will take on more than 100 characters dressed in over 400 costumes by Oscar-winning designer Tim Yip. A Dream Like a Dream runs for a limited period from 6 to 9 Feb.

PHOTO: STAGE TWO PRODUCTIONS

Rising Son

Rising Son is one of three new plays under the Made in Singapore series, managed by Stage Two, a professional theatre division of SRT.

Written by Cultural Medallion recipient Dick Lee, Rising Son tells the coming-of-age story of 18-year-old Sunny during the Japanese invasion in the 1940s.

He enlists as an ambulance orderly and has to protect his younger sister when confronted with the atrocities of war. They meet a Japanese army lawyer and soon an unusual relationship develops.

The first of Dick Lee’s trilogy, this is an account of his father’s experience during World War II. Rising Son stars Tan Shou Chen, Song Hui Xuan and Caleb Goh and will be staged at DBS Arts Centre from 27 Mar to 12 Apr.

Local Works

PHOTO: YELLOW CHAIR PRODUCTIONS

Those Who Can’t, Teach

Fans of local writer Haresh Sharma can look forward to his latest production Those Who Can’t, Teach. The play will be staged at the Drama Centre Black Box by community theatre group Yellow Chair Productions, which provides a platform for amateur actors.

It has produced other works of Sharma, including Lanterns Never Go Out and the highly acclaimed Off Centre. Mohamad Shaifulbahri returns to the theatre scene as artistic director for Those Who Can’t, Teach, after producing the local adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest last December.

This play will be especially meaningful for Shaifulbahri as he was previously a teacher. Those Who Can’t, Teach will run from 3 to 6 Apr.

PHOTO: TOY FACTORY PRODUCTIONS

Ah Boys To Men

After two box-office hits, Jack Neo is bringing his Ah Boys to Resorts World Theatre in Ah Boys to Men: The Musical. Most of the original cast will be reprising their roles with the exception of lead actor Joshua Tan, who has been replaced in the lead role of Ken Chow by Benjamin Kheng of The Sam Willows.

Producer Jack Neo will be joined by theatre veteran Goh Boon Teck of Toy Factory Productions as well as director Beatrice Chia-Richmond, who directed Michael Chiang’s High Class last year. Neo promises more laughs with the casting of comedienne Patricia Mok as Noah Yap’s girlfriend in the musical.

One cannot help but compare this to Michael Chiang’s Army Daze. Will this production match-up? Ah Boys to Men: The Musical opens on Apr 18.