UNRESERVED Recommends: Your July 2018 Entertainment Diary
DANCE
EAST POINT WEST International Dance Showcase
When: 11 July 2018
Where: Damansara Performing Arts Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Under the flag of the Damansara International Arts Festival, the Damansara Performing Arts Centre brings you a tantalising international dance showcase. Connecting people from all backgrounds and nationalities through dance, Unity Space brings a medley of distinct dances that will entrance you. Expect intriguing and thoughtful pieces from international choreographers such as Vangelis Legakis from Hong Kong, Xie Xin from China, Judith Sanchez Ruiz from the United States, and Edivaldo Ernesto from Mozambique.
Photo: BAKI
Darkness Poomba
When: 13 to 15 July 2018
Where: Damansara Performing Arts Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Straight out of South Korea, contemporary male dance group Modern Table brings you Darkness Poomba. If you have never heard of pansori, the Korean art of musical storytelling, then you should give it a listen before going to see the performance. The art of pansori is an acquired taste; some may find it not to their liking but most will be stirred and inspired after watching it. Modern Table’s seven dancers combine contemporary dance with the old art form in this powerful and emotional dance about anger, grief and sorrow.
THE ARTS
Dialects: Cultural Ties That Bind
When: Until 15 July 2018
Where: Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur
Be drawn into artistic sentimentalism for Malaysia as a whole with Petronas Art Gallery’s collection of paintings and photographs rarely seen by the public. The exhibition showcases the rich cultural diversity that is unique to Malaysia and features work from artists such as Magdalene Tai, Yeo Suh Chan, Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Loo Hooi Nam, and Raphael Scott Ahbeng, to name a few. Experience Chang Fee Ming’s entrancing watercolours which are vivid in colour and full of depth – you won’t believe it’s a watercolour.
Photo: Chulayarnnon Siriphol, Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts
Geopolitical Grounds
When: Until 28 July 2018
Where: Ota Fine Arts Singapore
Traverse a medley of artworks in this group exhibition that features five artists from around Asia. Jong YuGyong from Japan/South Korea, Koh Chaik Hong from Singapore, Gabriel Leung from Hong Kong, Chulayarnnon Siriphol from Thailand, and Nobuaki Takekawa from Japan present you with their reactions to the current socio-political issues in their respective countries. With art that ranges from photography to painting, each artist sheds light on the diverse dynamics from various cultural backgrounds.
SIZE MATTERS: A Question of Scale
When: Until 22 July 2018
Where: Chan + Hori Contemporary, Singapore
Does size matter? A universal question for many things in our lives. Chan + Hori Contemporary art gallery showcases an exhibition dealing with exactly this question. Size and scale are essential to artists and the conception of their works, whether they play with these two aspects subconsciously or consciously. Some of the artists exploring this theme in the exhibition are Shahrul Jamili Miskon, Ivan David Ng, Simon Ng, Ruben Pang and Loi Cai Xiang. Investigate size in all forms, large and small this July.
THEATRE
Building a Character
When: 5 to 8 July 2018
Where: Creative Cube, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore
A study in race and acting, Rebekah Sangeetha Dorai is a young Indian actor with her whole career ahead of her, but the waters seem perilous. Thrown off by racial preference for a race that she is not and plagued by roles that would prefer her to have an American or British accent, Sangeetha explores the dilemma of an actor’s struggles from the shoes of a Singaporean-Indian woman. Poet-playwright Ruth Tang and director Teo Mei Ann took inspiration from Konstantin Stanislavski’s book on acting. These women don’t shy away from the tough topics and deliver an insightful and introspective piece on trauma, time travel and transformation.
Photo: Singapore Theatre Festival 2018
Press Gang
When: 19 to 22 July 2018
Where: The Singapore Airlines Theatre, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore
Diving into a newsroom crisis, Press Gang is gallant in its expose on the restrictions on Singapore’s press. Follow a former civil servant Chai Kin Jek into the depths of The Singapore Times just as its veteran editor is whisked away on indefinite leave for letting his mouth run about the abuse of power coming from the highest ranks of the government. As two deputy editors vie for the gap left by his removal, a new rumour arises that if made public, could be detrimental to the government. Former journalist Tan Tarn How’s exhilarating new play is a brave and intriguing insight into Singaporean journalism.
UP AND ABOUT
Singapore Food Festival
When: 13 to 29 July 2018
Where: Various places around Singapore
For foodies, this is the time to indulge in a culinary experience around Singapore. The festival presents 16 glorious days of food delights for you to choose from. They range from modern to traditional, burgers to otak-otak; all delicious at the end of the day. Taste test restaurants such as The Quarters (with its fabulous cheesy burgers), CreatureS (delicate cakes and sumptuous cafe food) and Venue by Sebastian (serving up extravagant contemporary European food) at the STREAT at the Empress Lawn. Enjoy the Park Bench Deli collaborations on 15 and 29 July for delightfully delicious cheesesteaks and salt beef bagels.
Rainforest Lumina
When: 1 July 2018 onwards
Where: Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo has long been known for its night walks and this year they are taking it to the next level. Integrating technology with nature, the zoo has worked to create a multimedia experience for all ages. It’s time to unleash your inner child (or bring your kids along) and enjoy the spectacle of a night safari with colourful light shows brought to you by multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory. Explore a one-kilometre stretch of the zoo and keep an eye out for those sleepy creatures.
ON THE SMALL SCREEN
Sharp Objects
When: 9 July 2018
Amy Adams has broken into roles that have more quiet mystery around them, a far cry from her Enchanted days. Adapted from Gillian Flynn’s bestselling novel of the same name, Adams stars as reporter Camille Preaker who is sent back to her hometown to cover the murder of two girls. Like any good psychological thriller, it has crazy townspeople, mutilated bodies, a disturbed main character and a psychotic mother. If you liked Gone Girl and Get Out, you will like this.
Sacred Games
When: 8 June 2018
Some are calling it the Narcos of India, while others remain pensive about Netflix’s latest crime drama. The trailer is gritty and dark, with dramatic switches between scenes and next to no explanation about the show except that you can expect it to get bloody, fast. Adapted from a novel of the same name by Vikram Chandra, the story revolves around a Mumbai police officer, Sartaj Singh, played by Saif Ali Khan and crime boss Ganesh Gaitonde played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. With intense eye contact and dramatic turns, Sacred Games looks promising.
ON THE BIG SCREEN
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
When: 26 July 2018
Tom Cruise is back to continue the Mission: Impossible movie series. We’re still unsure what the actual story for Mission: Impossible – Fallout will be. All we know is that Ethan Hunt has gotten into something dangerous again, this time maybe even lethal and what does Hunt do when he is in danger? Pull crazy stunts. In fact, Cruise broke his ankle leaping from one building to another, and performed the highly dangerous HALO (high altitude, low opening) jump for authenticity. Watch out for the skydiving scene – Cruise could have gotten hypoxia performing it.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
When: 19 July 2018
It’s summertime and what screams summer more than Mamma Mia!? Musical lovers, fret no more; Sophie Sheridan is back and this time she knows exactly who the father of her child is. Follow her as she finds out how her mum met all three of her fathers to understand how her mother made it through her pregnancy on the island. Unfortunately, it looks like Meryl Streep’s screen time has been reduced. By how much? Streep finished the filming of her role in a week. But worry not, there’s Lily James who will be playing a young Donna. Also, Cher’s making an appearance. My, my, how can we resist this?
Ant-man and the Wasp
When: 13 July 2018
Marvel is still on a roll and next up on its long list of movies is Ant-man’s sequel, this time we actually get to see the Wasp. As founding members of the Avengers in the comics, fans will be glad to finally see how these two work out in a movie. The trailer is packed with size-changing objects and action scenes, so fans of comic book movies will not be disappointed. The movie is also a refreshing break from the gut-wrenching Avengers: Infinity War ending. Duo Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly kick-ass with the recurring cast members Michael Pena and Michael Douglas, while some are surprised to see Michelle Pfeiffer on the poster.
OUT OF THE REGION
Proms 1: First night of the Proms
When: 13 July 2018
Where: Royal Albert Hall, London
The Proms are here again; no, not it’s not your average awkward teenage high school prom, but the Proms, the majestic celebration of all things classical held over a span of eight weeks during the summer. Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Towards the Unknown Region leads you into the night gently before the night delves into the vast universe with Gustav Holst’s The Planets. What better way to usher in the new Proms season than with a piece so phenomenal, a true exploration of the planets and their mythos in our universe. End the night with Anna Meredith and 59 Productions’ collaborative creation Five Telegrams.
Prom 11: Mahler Symphony of a Thousand
When: 22 July 2018
Where: Royal Albert Hall, London
For Gustav Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major, ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ the Proms have gathered no less than five choirs to do the piece justice. It is no wonder this symphony is the composer’s favourite as it is a tremendous show of vocal and instrumental magnificence. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales led by conductor Thomas Søndergård builds up the majesty alongside the five choirs as well as the eight opera singers, to give you the best surround sound performance you’ll ever hear.
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