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C2 Arts TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 Arts C3

PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR And the nominees are...

Production of the Year Best Supporting Actor í Art by Nine Years Theatre; í Erwin Shah Ismail in The Ant & commissioned by Esplanade – The Grasshopper (I Theatre) Theatres on the Bay í Remesh Panicker in The Merchant í Monkey Goes West by Wild Rice Of Venice (Singapore Repertory í The Rise & Fall Of Little Voice by Theatre) Pangdemonium í Zachary Ibrahim in Fat Pig (Pangdemonium) Best Director í Edith Podesta for Dark Room x8 Best Supporting Actress (Edith Podesta; presented by í Elizabeth Lazan in Fat Pig Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay) (Pangdemonium) í Nelson Chia for Art (Nine Years í Jo Kukathas in The House Of Theatre) Bernarda Alba (Wild Rice) í Sebastian Tan for Monkey Goes í Siti Khalijah Zainal in Monkey Goes West (Wild Rice) West (Wild Rice) í Tracie Pang for Fat Pig (Pangdemonium) Best Set Design í Eucien Chia for The Rise & Fall Of Best Original Script Little Voice (Pangdemonium) í Dark Room x8 by Edith Podesta í Ho Tzu Nyen, Andy Lim and Jed (Edith Podesta; presented by Lim for Ten Thousand Tigers (Ho Tzu Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay) Nyen; co-commissioned by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Asian Culture í Fluid by Liu Xiaoyi (The Theatre Practice) Complex – Asian Arts Theatre Korea, Carriageworks Australia and Wiener í Poor Thing by Haresh Sharma (The Festwochen Austria) Necessary Stage) í Wong Chee Wai for The House Of í #UnicornMoment by Oon Shu An Bernarda Alba (Wild Rice) (Checkpoint Theatre; in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Best Sound Design or Original Bay) Score í Bani Haykal for Gitanjali (The Best Actor Necessary Stage) PHOTOS: ALBERT KS LIM FOR WILD RICE, ESPLANADE – THEATRES ON THE BAY, CRISPIAN CHAN, DREAM ACADEMY, KUA CHEE SIONG, DESMOND FOO, ST FILE Adrian Pang in Frozen í í Darren Ng for Art (Nine Years (Pangdemonium) Wild Rice’s Theatre; commissioned by Esplanade í Oliver Chong in Art (Nine Years – Theatres on the Bay) Monkey Goes Theatre; commissioned by Esplanade West (far right), í Elaine Chan and Bang Wenfu for Nine Years – Theatres on the Bay) Monkey Goes West (Wild Rice) Theatre’s Art í Peter Sau in Art (Nine Years í Jeffrey Yue, Yasuhiro Morinaga and (above) and Theatre; commissioned by Esplanade Bani Haykal for Ten Thousand Tigers Pangdemonium’s – Theatres on the Bay) (Ho Tzu Nyen et al) The Rise & Fall í Sugie Phua in Monkey Goes West Of Little Voice (Wild Rice) Best Lighting Design (right) are the í Andy Lim for Ten Thousand Tigers three nominees Best Actress for Production of (Ho Tzu Nyen et al) the Year. í Frances Lee in Fat Pig í James Tan for Red (Blank Space (Pangdemonium) Theatre; in collaboration with í Lydia Look in The Way We Go Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay) (Checkpoint Theatre) í Lim Yu-Beng for The House Of í Mina Kaye in The Rise & Fall Of Bernarda Alba (Wild Rice) Little Voice (Pangdemonium) Best Costume Design Best Ensemble í Ivan Heng for The House Of í Dark Room x8 (Edith Podesta; Bernarda Alba (Wild Rice) presented by Esplanade – Theatres on í Tube Gallery by Phisit & Saxit for the Bay) Monkey Goes West (Wild Rice) í Poor Thing (The Necessary Stage) í Yang Derong for Hotpants í Senang (Drama Box) (produced by Annie Pek) BEST DIRECTOR Highs and lows over 15 years

The Life! Theatre Awards weathered early criticisms usefulness of the awards”. Crowd-pleasers and about its credibility before going on to capture the There was “a particular kind of trepidation that it sweep of Singapore theatre over the last 15 years. would endorse notions of standards or preferences Playwright-director Chong Tze Chien, company or might be deemed too subjective in its rendering”, director of The Finger Players, acknowledges that he adds. The awards came with “a lot of teething while awards of any nature will always carry the issues” such as how to give complimentary tickets burden of subjectivity, theatre practitioners here to a large body of judges, which would cost a have moved “from being sceptical and cynical of it substantial sum; practitioners also wondered how intimate encounters to accepting it and finally embracing it as part and the judging panel would look at complex, abstract parcel of our theatre ecology”. work, compared with plays that were text-based another four nominations for the intense Pangdemonium productions. drama of the real-life experiences of eight The Finger Players has nabbed the coveted and representational. Comedies, smaller shows The House Of Bernarda Alba, for a total Pang says: “It gives them the male inmates incarcerated in Changi Production of the Year award three times. This has But over time, the awards proved itself by of 10 nominations. confidence to know they’ve made a right Prison, from their day in court to the day and new experiments helped to turn its fortunes from half-empty houses, recognising an eclectic array of works both large The company’s founder, Ivan Heng, career choice and that other people see of their release. following a rebrand of its puppet theatre troupe in take the spotlight at the was thrilled by Monkey Goes West’s that their work is being recognised. It’s Feted visual artist and film-maker Ho and small, abstract and naturalistic and, in the nominations. He says of the work: really exciting to see them flourish in the Tzu Nyen’s forays into theatre and 2004, to sold-out runs and a loyal following for its process, striving for a more inclusive view of Singa- Life! Theatre Awards “When you really think about Monkey acting community.” performance have also been rewarded. mode of intelligent and inventive object-based pore theatre. Goes West, it had Xi You Ji (Journey To Awards judge Helmi Yusof says of this His performance-installation Ten theatre catering to adults. Mr Purushothaman says: “I’m glad the enterprise The West), flamenco, Chinese opera, promising batch of young practitioners: Thousand Tigers gained three nomina- Chong adds: “Whether you agree with the continued and, slowly, people started to build wushu, shadow puppetry and the goddess “There was a whole batch of young tions for its technical finesse. The visual awards or not... it has achieved what it set out their confidence in it. Today, artists are proud of mercy Guan Yin played by Siti Khalijah talents delivering work that was up there spectacle, akin to a cabinet of curiosities, to do, which is to celebrate the year and to say, ‘I’m a Life! Theatre Awards winner.’” Zainal, a Malay actress – I think what it with the best. I was taken aback, for examined the mythos of the tiger in the theatre practitioners. It goes beyond He notes that having these credentials, Corrie offered was an experience you’ll never instance, by Tracie Pang’s very solid Fat Singapore history. the winners – it’s always a great occasion to and to have a production supported and Tan see anywhere else in the world. Pig. It had a cast of four young actors – The Necessary Stage also broke new meet friends, colleagues and peers at the acclaimed in its home country, is a step “This is what we’ve been trying to do three of whom are relatively fresh faces – ground with its play about the whims of awards ceremony, and everyone will go towards global recognition and has “phenom- ingapore’s longest-running with our entire body of work, to celebrate and they were all delivering pitch-perfect social media, Poor Thing, where audience there and clap for everyone, and enally supported capacity building” theatre awards turns 15 this what it means to be Singaporean and to turns in a pitch-black comedy.” He also members were allowed to comment on celebrate everyone, and that’s an year, a major birthday for what for the theatre sector. explain to ourselves and our audiences lauded Pang’s ability as a director to draw the action – a road-rage incident gone amazing feeling.” remains the only annual awards Crucial to the awards’ what it means to be Singaporean, with out these performances from the actors. wrong – in real time on Facebook. Each year’s awards credibility has been the streamlin- to honour excellence in the the ability to so freely adapt and borrow Another production featuring an On the whole, however, there were Scountry’s theatre industry. From the ceremony has had different ing of the judging panel to a and bring it all together.” up-andcomer was fewer nominees from the 2014 season, themes and dress codes, from smaller group of informed and audaciously experimental and irresistibly Another comedic 28-year-old Oon Shu with the Production of the Year category provocative to good ol’ fashioned drama, 2013’s Hipster Cheek to 2007’s dedicated theatre watchers, production with almost An’s deeply personal at an all-time low of three. Curse Of The Golden Flower comprising academics or Life! Theatre Awards has welcomed and as many nominations is production #Unicorn- This was largely due to the fact that celebrated them all. th (And Other Dysfunctional reviewers from the major news- Art, a razor-sharp 1 Moment, which she there were fewer new productions than Royalty), which saw former papers, says Life!’s arts editor With this milestone comes a new 5 Chinese adaptation of wrote and starred in. It usual last year. It seemed that many judge, theatre academic K.K. Clarissa Oon, a former theatre identity: telecommunications company Yasmina Reza’s popular had its finger on the theatre companies and practitioners had Seet, sweeping in with 20 of reviewer who was on the judg- M1 comes on board as the awards’ title French comedy about pulse of the millennial their eyes on 2015, with a slew of commis- his students carrying the train ing panel in the early years. sponsor this year, which will now be three friends clashing identity; one of the sions for the SG50 celebrations as well as of his red Chinese silk over- known as the M1-The Straits Times Life! over an artwork. Nine videos she made in the the blockbuster Singapore International The awards were initially Theatre Awards. Years Theatre bagged lead-up to the show, Festival of Arts. Mr Lyon hopes the coat. Dressing up has become judged by a panel of 15 – Actress Pam Oei will host an invitation- five nominations for the titled My 5-Minute upcoming new works might be “able to part of the tradition, with including reviewers, arts only ceremony, themed Solid Gold, at the production. Magic Routine, went jolt the scene out of what appears to be a practitioners such as costume managers and audience Esplanade Recital Studio on April 20, Pangdemonium, last viral with more than bit of a nap”. designer Frederick Lee and members – who scored the where the winners will be announced. year’s big winner for the 443,000 views on Ultimately, the awards will always be a director Beatrice Chia known productions before their This is held in collaboration with heart-rending musical 2015 YouTube. The produc- celebration of the arts and Singapore’s to come in far-out fashion, votes were tallied by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and is Next To Normal (2013), tion is nominated for artists, even as the quality of theatre adding to the fun and auditors. also part of The Studios: fifty season, scooped up a total of eight nominations Best Original Script. It was presented by productions vary from year to year. bonhomie. In the last decade, however, the featuring 50 Singapore plays, which runs across all three of its main season shows: Checkpoint Theatre, known for its Mr Lyon says: “It’s easy to watch the This year, the awards are process was simplified. Now, half that from April 2 to May 10. the tragicomedy Fat Pig, a Singaporean unflagging efforts in nurturing new Oscars and feel that actors and directors judged by a six-member panel number of judges meet at the start of Over the past 15 years, the awards adaptation of the musical The Rise & Fall writing blood for the theatre. are all glamorous and rich, but in the comprising Lasalle College of the the year to debate on the merits of have celebrated some of the most Of Little Voice and the provocative dra- Mr Helmi, The Business Times’ arts local theatre scene, a lot of people are Arts provost Venka Purushotha- various productions before determin- stunning and spine-tingling productions ma Frozen. reviewer, says: “I hope some of these doing wonderful, creative work with little man; online arts journal The ing the nominees and winners in each to grace the Singapore stage and charted financial reward and little recognition. Flying Inkpot co-editors Ken- of the 12 categories. the meteoric rise of many artists from The company has proven that it has an nominees stay on for the long haul.” “If winning a Life! Theatre Award neth Kwok and Matthew Lyon; newcomers to established players. eye for new talent, notching up four The judges also include Lasalle College “The judges’ debates can get really means a company can mention it in its as well as arts reviewers from Each annual slate of nominees acting nominations for the emerging of the Arts provost Venka Purushotha- heated sometimes. But such conver- actors and fresh graduates it has taken man; online arts journal The Flying Ink- publicity materials and sell a few more The Business Times, Lianhe sations push us to consider what is presents a snapshot of Singapore’s play tickets, or if a practitioner finds diverse theatre industry and last year was under its wing, including Mina Kaye, pot co-editors Kenneth Kwok and Mat- Zaobao and The Straits Times: really of value in the theatre and we Frances Lee and Zachary Ibrahim, who thew Lyon; as well as arts reviewers from herself among the nominees and feels her Helmi Yusof, Tang Hwa Kwee hope this has kept the awards on no different – it was a year for work has touched someone, then at least sharp-tongued, crowd-pleasing comedy are all under 30. Lianhe Zaobao and The Straits Times: and Corrie Tan. top of what is going on in the Co-artistic director Tracie Pang, who Tang Hwa Kwee and Corrie Tan. we on the judging panel have been able to Mr Purushothaman, who scene,” Ms Oon says. and intimate, unexpected encounters. give back just a little to the industry.” is nominated for Best Director, says the Smaller shows and new forms also was on the very first panel of Corrie Tan Wild Rice’s rollicking pantomime with [email protected] a heart of gold, Monkey Goes West, leads actors were “over the moon” about the took the spotlight. Actress-director Edith judges in 2001, recalls how in The nominees for Best Director are nominations and that the awards seem to Podesta was pleasantly surprised to find the theatre scene then, the (from top) Sebastian Tan for the pack with six nominations – Follow Corrie Tan on Twitter @CorrieTan including Production of the Year – for its have had a positive impact on these that her play Dark Room x8, which had a awards had “a good number Costume designer Frederick Monkey Goes West, Edith Podesta budding artists. In previous years, one-day, two-show run as part of the of supporters, but there for Dark Room x8, Nelson Chia for musical take on the Chinese classic of For all stories and photos of the Lee’s interpretation of the Art and Tracie Pang for Fat Pig. Journey To The West, coupled with a younger actors such as Seong Hui Xuan, Esplanade’s RAW series, had received M1-The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards, was also an equal Hipster Cheek dress code for uniquely Singaporean twist. It was a Eden Ang and Nathan Hartono have three nominations. The stripped-down go to www.straitstimes.com/ number of the Life! Theatre Awards in banner year for the company, with received nominations for their roles in work was a candid but humane docu- life-theatre-awards-2015 detractors as to the 2013.

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