Sifa 2025 Week Two: What audiences say
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Erika Poh and a friend after watching stray gods at SOTA Studio Theatre.
ST PHOTO: GABRIELLE MARIE SUNDERAJ
SINGAPORE – The Singapore International Festival of Arts (Sifa) 2025 kicked off on May 16 and ran till June 1.
The Straits Times speaks to some attendees to get their impressions of the shows in the final week of Sifa.
Stray Gods, Sota Studio Theatre, May 31, 8pm
Zasha Zahri, 27, teacher: “It was mostly musical in nature, without acting, so they had to rely solely on the musical quality. I liked the symbolism, lights and costumes. It was very non-traditional and modern compared with the typical performances we usually see.”
Chan Yoke Yee, 40, media executive: “Initially, I did not know Stray Gods was by weish. When I heard it was, I had to see it because I enjoyed her music (as part of electronic duo .gif). Even though the piece was very ambiguous, it was so interesting to see traces of weish reflected – it even mixed in her Hakka culture. It was a very moving piece. This was the first Sifa show I’ve watched in this 2025 season.”
Chan Yoke Yee after watching stray gods at SOTA Studio Theatre.
ST PHOTO: GABRIELLE MARIE SUNDERAJ
Erika Poh, 26, musician: “The visuals were so stark, contrasting and beautiful. I also really liked the costumes, which were well put together. The music was well done too and I could hear weish’s voice in the compositions. It was a mix of modern techniques along with more traditional instruments and it all came together very nicely.”
Angelica Ong, 25, cultural worker: “I liked the incorporation of the Hakka songs, stage design and lighting, which was well synced with what was going on. It felt contemporary and dynamic.”
Waiting For Audience, Sota Drama Theatre, May 31, 8pm
Ivan Pelaez, 35, tech consultant: “It was very nice, interesting and creative. The surtitles were clever and fresh, it’s not something you see everyday.”
Ivan Pelaez after watching Waiting For Audience at SOTA Drama Theatre.
ST PHOTO: DORCAS LIM
Chelsea Crothers, 36, teacher: “It was well-performed, well-written and beautifully directed. It had heart as well as comedy. I hope this show gets to tour – it’s really good, it should see more audiences, so it’s great to know that they’re going overseas with it.”
Tan Cheng Hung, 58, writer: “I liked the style of storytelling – the physical comedy and how the two of them were so evenly matched as actors. They had amazing chemistry, and looked like they had fun performing. The script was very well-written – it had comedy, drama and a lot of pathos. It was meaningful and entertaining, asking questions about the role of art in society. I loved the fact that the surtitles became a character and a voice of the theatre space that they were in.”
Ray Goh, 28, software developer: “Usually, theatre performances are contained within themselves, but this one allows the audience to be part of the performance without the fourth wall.”
