CL, BabyMetal, Foo Fighters: Singapore concert calendar for 2025, Entertainment News

PUBLISHED ON May 01, 2025 7:58 AM By Drima ChakrabortySyarifah Nadhirah
2024 came and went with some amazing acts visiting Singapore, from American songstress Taylor Swift, classic rockers Deep Purple, Cantopop king Andy Lau and Mandopop's Jay Chou, to Blackpink's Lisa and K-pop group Stray Kids.
Here's how 2025's concert calendar is shaping up.
This article was first published on Dec 14, 2024, and updated on May 15, 2025. May
NCT Wish performs on May 17 at Arena @ Expo. Tickets start at $148 on Ticketmaster.
K-pop girl group BabyMonster will be in Singapore for their first world tour Hello Monsters on May 17. Tickets for the concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium start at $158 on Ticketmaster.
Lady Gaga will be performing at National Stadium on May 18, 19, 21 and 24, with these being her only stop in Asia. Tickets start from $148 and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.
Japanese vocalist Ado performs at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on May 21. Tickets are sold out.
Veteran vocal group Boyz II Men returns to Singapore on May 23 for a concert at The Star Theatre. Tickets start at $98 on Sistic.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DDD4oBTy4ek/[/embed]
On May 25, Cantopop singer Frances Yip performs at Esplanade Concert Hall. Tickets start at $88 on Sistic.
Alexander Stewart performs at the Esplanade Annexe Studio on May 26. Ticketing details will be released soon on Ticketmaster.
Multi-hyphenate musician Jacob Collier brings his Djesse World Tour to The Star Theatre on May 28. Tickets start at $148 on Sistic.
Bassist and jazz virtuoso Thundercat performs at Esplanade Concert Hall on May 29. Tickets start at $78 on Sistic. June
American rapper O.T. Genasis will perform at Avenue Singapore's Venus in Furs anniversary event on June 4. Held at Avenue Lounge in Marina Bay Sands, the cover charge will be $50 per person at the door.
Alan Tam performs at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on June 14. Tickets start at $88 on Sistic.
Malaysian singer Nicholas Teo also performs that same night at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention to commemorate 21 years in showbiz. Tickets start at $98 at Sistic.
Exo's Kai performs at The Star Theatre as part of his solo tour Kaion on June 21. Tickets start at $148 with presales beginning April 7 on Ticketmaster.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DHVihoRzML_/?img_index=3[/embed]
That same night, Mandopop singer Zhao Chuan performs at Marina Bay Sands. Tickets start at $118 on Sistic.
Also on June 21, 30 local singers such as Roy Li, Jiang Hu, Xu Nansheng, Mavis Hee, Chua Lee Lian and Joanna Dong will stage the Xinyao 43th Reunion Concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium Tickets start at $50 at Ticketmaster.
Hong Kong singer William So will be in Singapore on June 22 for his concert at Esplanade Concert Hall. Tickets start from $88 at Sistic.
American singer Jason Derulo's concert has been rescheduled from March 20 to June 25, and the venue will instead be The Star Theatre. Tickets start from $148 on Sistic. All tickets sold remain valid. For more information, please refer to LAMC Productions' website.
Grammy Award-winning The Chainsmokers perform on June 27 at Arena @ Expo. Tickets cost $148 on Ticketmaster.
Malaysian pop trio Kru performs at The Star Theatre on June 28. Tickets start at $208 on Sistic. July
Abba tribute act Bjorn Again performs at the Marina Bay Sands Theatre on July 4 and 5. Tickets start at $69 on Sistic.
Irene and Seulgi from K-pop girl group Red Velvet will stage their concert at The Star Theatre on July 4. Further details will be released soon.
Seven-member Japanese boy band Be:First will be on their first world tour, performing in Capitol Theatre on July 5. Tickets are sold out.
On July 13, Japanese rock band My First Story — who performed the opening and ending theme songs of the latest season of Demon Slayer — performs in Singapore for the first time at Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands. Ticket presales start on April 28 with general sales on April 30. Prices begin from $108 on Sistic.
Korean-Canadian R&B singer Slchld also performs at The Gateway Theatre on July 13. Tickets start at $118 on Ticketmaster.
NCT's Doyoung is bringing his solo tour Doors to Singapore on July 16 at The Star Theatre. Ticketing details to be released.
R&B and hip-hop star Jay Park returns to Singapore on July 19 for his Serenades & Body Rolls concert at Capitol Theatre. Tickets start at $148 and presales begin April 21 with public sales on April 23 on Ticketmaster.
James Blake performs at The Star Theatre on July 22. Tickets start at $148 on Sistic.
After their inaugural concert here in March 2024, Korean rock band Xdinary Heroes will be back for another show on July 26 at The Star Theatre for their Beautiful Minds world tour. Tickets start from $158 on Ticketmaster.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DHlhoNfpnah/[/embed]
August
Beabadoobee returns to Singapore on Aug 4 with a concert at The Star Theatre. Ticket presales start on May 5 and general sales May 8 on Ticketmaster.
Elijah Woods performs at The Theatre at Mediacorp on Aug 10. Tickets start at $88 on Ticketmaster.
Camila Cabello performs in Singapore on Aug 12 at The Star Theatre. The LiveNation presale starts on May 2 and general sales start May 5 on Ticketmaster.
K-pop girl group StayC returns to Singapore to perform on Aug 16 at The Star Theatre. Tickets start at $138 on Ticketmaster.
American rock band Beach Weather is set to perform in Singapore on Aug 8 at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets start at $88 on Ticketmaster.
Korean singer-actor Doh Kyung-soo from the boy group Exo will hold his solo concert in Singapore on Aug 23. More details will be released soon.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DISRMScBdn8/[/embed]
K-pop soloist Bibi's first world tour is also coming to Singapore on Aug 23 at The Star Theatre, with tickets starting at $148. General sales will begin on Ticketmaster May 21.
Part of the lineup for Waterbomb Singapore 2025 has been announced. Festival-goers on Aug 30 will see South Korean acts Exid, BTOB's Minhyuk and Team Bebe. Anson Lo from the Hong Kong boy group Mirror, Got7's JayB and K-rapper Ash Island will perform on May 31.
Presales for DBS and POSB cardholders have begun while general sales will start on May 16. Tickets start at $201.80 on Pelago.
On Aug 25, Black Eyed Peas performs at Singapore Indoor Stadium, with tickets starting at $158 on Sistic.
September
Seventeen-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting performs on Sept 23 at Arena @ Expo. Prices have yet to be announced. Presales begin April 17 with general sales on April 24 at Ticketmaster.
October
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DGRv5NQSoEo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==[/embed]
The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix this year will run from Oct 3 to 5.
K-pop stars G-Dragon and CL, Indonesian singer Putri Ariani, Singapore band Oakë, New York-based artist collective Indo Warehouse and Latin DJ duo Le Twins will perform on Oct 3.
Oct 4 will see American rock band Foo Fighters, Japanese metal band BabyMetal, Norwegian DJ Alan Walker, Australian-New Zealand rock band Crowded House, South Korean DJ Hanna and UK band and singer-songwriter The Lathums and Tom Grennan, as well as Le Twins and Indo Warehouse.
UK icon Elton John, American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, English indie rock band The Wombats and Hanna will take the stage on Oct 5.
Single-day tickets start from $148 on their website.
NCT Dream will return with two shows at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Oct 18 and 19. Ticketing details have yet to be announced.
November
Exo's Baekhyun returns to Singapore on Nov 1. Ticketing details are yet to be announced.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DJYUu7cTc0o/[/embed]
South Korean rock band N.Flying will be making a stop in Singapore on Nov 23 at The Theatre at Mediacorp. No other details have been revealed.
Past concerts
January
Malaysian Mandopop singer Firdhaus will be performing at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Ballroom on Jan 3 and 4. Tickets start at $98 and are available on Sistic.
Known as the Father of Taiwanese hip-hop, MC HotDog will be visiting Singapore for a concert on Jan 4 at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets start at $108 and are available on Ticketmaster.
Brazilian guitarist Mateus Asato will be holding an intimate fireside fan event at Swee Lee Clarke Quay on Jan 8 at 7pm. Tickets are sold out.
Fifth-generation K-pop boy band Ampers&one holds a fan meeting at Gateway Theatre on Jan 10. Tickets start at $148 on Sistic.
South African DJ-producer Black Coffee will perform at 27 Pasir Panjang on Jan 11. Tickets are sold out.
Taiwanese band Mayday will be performing at the National Stadium on Jan 11 and 12. Tickets go from $168 on Ticketmaster.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by 相信音樂 B'in Music (@binmusic.ig)
Pianist Richard Clayderman plays at The Theatre @ Mediacorp on Jan 14. Tickets go from $68 on Sistic.
R&B group Boney M is in Singapore for their 50th anniversary tour! They perform at the Arena @ Expo (Hall 7) on Jan 15. Tickets start at $95 for children, $135 for seniors and $150 for standard and are available on Sistic.
K-pop soloist BOL4 is performing at The Theatre at Mediacorp on Jan 18. Tickets start at $128 on Ticketmaster.
Chinese singer-songwriter Leah Dou, Faye Wong's daughter, is also performing on Jan 18 at Marina Bay Sands Theatre. Tickets start at $128 on Sistic.
Taiwanese singer Huang Pin-yuan is performing the same night at the Resorts World Ballroom. Tickets start at $88 on Sistic.
Get Busy in Singapore with Jamaican dancehall singer Sean Paul on Jan 21 at The Star Theatre. Tickets start at $98 on Sistic.
On the same night, J-pop idol group Phantom Siita performs at Capitol Theatre. Tickets start at $78 on Ticketmaster.
K-pop band Seventeen is returning to Singapore for back-to-back concerts at the National Stadium on Jan 25 and 26. Tickets start at $168 and are available on Ticketmaster.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by SEVENTEEN (@saythename_17)
Singapore Mandarin pop-rock band Quis will showcase their new album We Are All Aliens on Jan 26, 5pm at the Esplanade Annexe Studio. Tickets are priced at $25 on Sistic.
That same evening, Taiwanese actress-cellist Nana Ouyang will perform at the Esplanade Theatre at 7.30pm. Tickets start at $58 on Sistic.
February
American dream pop band Cigarettes After Sex is performing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Feb 3. Tickets are sold out.
Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora holds a concert at The Star Theatre on the same night. Tickets start at $108 on Sistic.
K-pop pop group Infinite performs at The Star Theatre on Feb 7 for their 15th anniversary concert. Tickets start at $148 and are available on Ticketmaster.
The Script plays at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Feb 8. Tickets start at $115 on Sistic.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DB89VCfRBvh/[/embed]
Taiwanese rock band Mixer is bringing their CircUs Tour to Capitol Theatre on the same day. Tickets start at $98 on Sistic.
South Korean indie act Wave To Earth performs at The Star Theatre on Feb 11. Tickets are sold out.
Irish family band The Corrs play at The Star Theatre on Feb 13. Tickets start at $125 and are available on Sistic.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DCYLj5dPpzX/[/embed]
Spend your Valentine's Day with local singer Boon Hui Lu, who is performing at Esplanade Annex Studio on Feb 14. Tickets cost $68 on Sistic.
Indian playback singer Sonu Nigam also performs at The Star Theatre on Feb 14. Tickets start at $90 on Sistic.
Chinese singer-songwriter Joker Xue brings his tour to the National Stadium on Feb 14 and 15. Tickets start at $107 and are available on Ticketmaster.
Composer-pianist Yiruma performs on Feb 15 at The Star Theatre. Tickets start at $138 on Ticketmaster.
On the same day, Music festival Cloud 9 - featuring K-pop soloist B.I., Canadian singer Elijah Woods, Mandopop singer Ivy Lee, Malaysian pop trio Dolla, local singer Shazza and more - will be held at Arena @ Expo Hall 7. Tickets go for $28 on Ticketmaster.
Singer-songwriter and producer Niki is coming to Singapore on Feb 18. She performs at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and tickets start at $128 on Ticketmaster.
K-pop girl group Apink returns to Singapore after almost nine years and will perform at Arena @ Expo Hall 7 on Feb 20 for their Pink New Year concert. Tickets from $128 are available on BookMyShow.
[[nid:708644]]
English indie rock band Glass Animals plays at the Capitol Theatre on Feb 22. Tickets start at $88 on Ticketmaster.
Japanese pop duo Yoasobi performs at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Feb 22 and 23. Tickets start at $108 on Ticketmaster.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by YOASOBI (@yoasobi_staff_)
Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Ros performs on Feb 25 and 26 at the Esplanade Theatre. Tickets start at $128 on Ticketmaster.
Super Junior's Yesung holds his first solo concert in Singapore on Feb 28 at The Theatre at Mediacorp. Tickets start at $168 on Ticketmaster.
March
Mandopop singer G.E.M performs at the National Stadium on March 1 as part of her I Am Gloria world tour. Ticket prices start at $168. Presales begin on Jan 16 for UOB cardholders while public sales start a day later on Ticketmaster, Trip.com and Damai.cn.
Taiwanese indie band Sodagreen brings their 20th anniversary tour to Singapore on March 8 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets go from $168 on Ticketmaster.
Thai actors Gemini and Fourth are bringing their Run The World concert to Singapore on March 8 at The Theatre at Mediacorp. The show is rated R18 at tickets start at $60 on Sistic.
Thai boy band Lykn performs at The Theatre at Mediacorp on March 9. Tickets start at $45 on Sistic.
American singer-songwriter Kehlani performs on March 13 at the Star Theatre. Tickets start at $108 on Ticketmaster.
Rock fusion trio The Aristocrats performs at Phil's Studio on March 14. Tickets cost $158 on Sistic.
K-pop boy band Boynextdoor performs at Arena @ Expo (Hall 7) on March 15. VIP and Cat 1 tickets are sold out. Remaining tickets, starting at $178, can be purchased on Ticketmaster.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DAStuVMBrsF/?hl=en[/embed]
Indian playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan performs at The Star Theatre on March 15. Tickets start at $58 on Sistic.
Hong Kong diva Liza Wang performs at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Ballroom on March 22 and 23. Tickets start at $28 on Sistic.
Taiwanese band Bestards performs at Gateway Theatre on March 23.Tickets are sold out.
American singer Jason Derulo's concert has been rescheduled from March 20 to June 25, and the venue will instead be the Star Theatre. Tickets start from $148 on Sistic. All tickets sold remain valid. For more information, please refer to LAMC Productions' website.
Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter is bringing his Who I Am tour to The Theatre @ Mediacorp on March 25. Tickets start at $118 and are available on Sistic.
American singer-songwriter Keshi is performing on March 26 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets start at $128 on Ticketmaster.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by keshi (@keshi)
On March 27, Korean actor Yoo Yeon-seok will hold his fan-meet at The Theatre at Mediacorp. Tickets start at $158 on Ticketmaster.
Taiwanese singer A-Lin performs at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Ballroom on March 28 and 29. Tickets start at $28 on Sistic.
Chinese singer Yisa Yu brings her Romance World Tour to The Star Theatre on March 29. Tickets start at $128 on Ticketmaster.
Japanese singer-songwriter Centimillimental returns to Singapore at The Gateway Theatre on March 30. Tickets start at $108 on Ticketmaster.
Malaysian singer Michael Wong and Indonesian singer Putri Ariani are holding a joint concert titled The Spring Symphony on March 30 at the Resorts World Ballroom. Tickets start at $118 on Sistic.
Taiwanese singer Sam Lee performs at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Ballroom on March 31. Tickets start at $98 on Sistic.
April
Indie rock band Feeder returns to Singapore on April 2 at the Hard Rock Cafe. Tickets cost $148 on Sistic.
American singer Gracie Abrams brings The Secret of Us Tour to The Star Theatre on April 3. Tickets are sold out.
Chinese singer-songwriter Ryan.B performs at Capitol Theatre on April 5, with tickets starting at $89 on Ticketmaster.
Singapore songstress Stefanie Sun performs at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on April 5, 6, 12 and 13. Tickets are sold out.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Sun Yanzi 孙燕姿 (@stefsunyanzi)
Power Station returns to Singapore on April 19 at the Resorts World Ballroom. Tickets are sold out.
Wu Bai and China Blue perform at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on April 19. Tickets start at $98 on Ticketmaster.
Boyce Avenue is also performing with Daniel Sid on April 19 at the University Cultural Centre. Tickets start at $98 on Ticketmaster.
Third time's the charm — K-pop girl group Kiss of Life will be back in Singapore to perform at Capitol Theatre on April 25 as part of their first world tour Kiss Road. Tickets, which go on sale on March 2 on tapyourtickets.com, start at $158.
Malaysian singer Liza Hanim performs at The Star Theatre on April 26. Tickets start at $78 on Sistic.
BTS' J-Hope will hold his first solo concerts in Singapore on April 26 and 27 at Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets start at $198. The Weverse presale begins on Feb 19 on Ticketmaster, the Live Nation presale on Feb 20 on their website while general sales begin the following day on Ticketmaster.
May
[CANCELLED] Korean stars including Joohoney and I.M of Monsta X, Jessi, Gray, Loco, Yungin, Holybang, Lil Cherry and Goldbuuda will be performing at festival Playground on May 3 at 27 Pasir Panjang. Tickets start at $188 on Ticketmaster.
Taeyeon from K-pop group Girls' Generation will return to Singapore for her The Tense world tour, performing on May 3 and 4 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Details to be announced later.
American pop-rock band The Click Five will be reuniting for a Southeast Asian tour this May. The band, which split in 2013, will perform at the Capitol Theatre on May 6. Due to scheduling conflicts, only Kyle Patrick, Joe Guese and Ethan Mentzer will be returning while Ben Romans and Joey Zehr will not be here. Tickets are sold out and a new show for the following night has been announced, with tickets going on sale from April 3 on Ticketmaster.
Seems like May is for the rock enthusiasts, as another American rock band Boys Like Girls will be performing on May 7. Tickets start at $128 on Sistic.
Japanese rock band Flow performs at The Star Theatre on May 8. Tickets start at $98 on Ticketmaster.
German DJ Boris Brejcha is bringing his concert tour to Singapore on May 10 at 27 Pasir Panjang. Single early-bird tickets are sold out. The remaining available tickets start at $128 on Megatix.
Norwegian pop duo M2M have reunited after 22 years and perform at The Star Theatre on May 12. Tickets start at $148 on Ticketmaster.
The following day on May 13, UK pop-punk band Neck Deep will hold their concert at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets start at $98 on Eventbrite.
drimac@asiaone.com
syarifahsn@asiaone.com
No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
concertsmusiccelebritiessingersK-popBTSJ-pop
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

CNA

2 hours ago

• CNA

Singer Camila Cabello's Singapore concert cancelled, refunds will be issued

American singer Camila Cabello has cancelled her Singapore concert at The Star Theatre on Aug 12. The show, part of her Yours, C tour, was first announced in April and would have been Cabello's first concert in Singapore. A notice on the site states that the concert has been cancelled "due to an unexpected scheduling conflict" and that fans who have purchased tickets will receive a full refund through the original payment method. Cabello's other Asian stop on the tour – in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Aug 14 – has not been cancelled. Several weeks earlier, the 28-year-old singer also cancelled three performances across Spain that were slated for June. Cabello rose to fame as a member of the American girl group Fifth Harmony in 2016. She left the group in 2016 to pursue a solo career. She's known for hits such as Havana, sang alongside American Rapper Young Thug, as well as Senorita, a duet with ex-boyfriend Shawn Mendes.

Vogue Singapore

11 hours ago

• Vogue Singapore

Playwright Chong An Ong and director Timothy Koh investigate the meaning of home in Singapore, Michigan

In a faraway corner of Michigan, United States, situated at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, is the little town of Singapore—or at least, it was, until the town met its demise in the 1870s when fires swept through the state, leading to surrounding areas being completely deforested to supply lumber for rebuilding, and thus causing the winds and sands to erode the town into ruins due to the lack of protective tree cover. Today, its remnants lie buried under the sand dunes of Lake Michigan, its only legacy found in its reputation now as the state's most famous ghost town—and, more recently, as the opening anecdote used in Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's first National Day Rally in 2024. It is this fabled town that sets the scene for Pangdemonium's latest production. Written by Chong An Ong and directed by Timothy Koh, Singapore, Michigan follows three college friends—two Singaporeans and one American—on a mission to find the abandoned town. But when they find themselves trapped in a blizzard, they are forced to confront questions of belonging, passion versus practicality, and what home really means. Developed as part of Pangdemonium's New Works Lab, the play is Ong's first, written during his own time spent studying in the States. Last year, an early version of it was also staged at the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA). In the lead-up to the show, Ong and Koh chat about the inspiration behind the play, the parts they've been looking forward to explore in the rehearsal room, and what they're most excited for audiences to see. Singapore, Michigan stars Ching Shu Yi, Shrey Bhargava and Zane Haney. Courtesy of Pangdemonium How are you guys doing in the lead-up to the show? Timothy: We're in the midst of rehearsals right now, and that's been surprising in the best ways. We're making a lot of discoveries in the room that I wouldn't have thought of had I just read it on the page. I think that's just the magic of what happens when actors come into the space with us. That's always when I'm at my most excited, and when I have the most fun. Chong An, this is your first play. What has it been like getting to stage it? Chong An: It's like a pinch myself moment in a dream. It's really surreal and full-circle, as one of the first experiences that got me interested in theatre was Pangdemonium's Next to Normal production in 2013. I'm aware that they've done new original works before, but it's always been with really established writers and theatre professionals. To be in that company now is daunting, but also really exciting. I'm honoured to be a part of the New Works Lab program in particular, and I look forward to seeing more works come from other Singaporean writers as part of it. What inspired you to write Singapore, Michigan? C: I started writing this play in the winter of 2020, as part of an undergraduate writing workshop at the University of Chicago. I was in a similar place as the characters—a college senior about to graduate and come back home to serve my government scholarship. And I was thinking a lot about the same questions. What do I want to do with my future? How has four years of college in a foreign country shaped me, as opposed to the person I was before that? I think, in Singapore, oftentimes, there's this almost ritualistic invocation of the idea of home. After four years of talking to both my Singaporean and non-Singaporean friends, I was having these epiphanies about the concept of home that I wouldn't otherwise have had if I'd stayed in Singapore. It was a transitional period of my life where a lot of these questions were boiling, and it honestly almost felt like I had no choice but to write it, to process a lot of the emotions that I was going through. The play follows three friends who get snowed in whilst on a mission to find the ghost town of Singapore, Michigan. Courtesy of Pangdemonium Has the play evolved since you first started writing it in 2020? C: For sure. Writers will often say that playwriting itself is a very lonely endeavour, but the exciting part of the experience is when the play meets other people. Having conversations with the Pangdemonium team, receiving feedback from a wider audience at the developmental platform at SIFA, and now having the actors in the room—I get to learn new things about the play and expand it beyond what was a very personal piece that I had written for myself. Incorporating all these different experiences and perspectives of home really enriches the dramatic potential of the piece. So a lot has evolved, not just from when the play first met Pangdemonium, but from when I first wrote it five years ago by myself in a college basement classroom in Chicago. Has writing this play helped you to find some of the answers to the questions you were asking? C: For me, rather than answers, it's more about finding other people who feel similar, and discovering community and companionship through the power of art. That was a conversation I had with Tim as well—about having a more open-ended exploration of the play, and being okay to sit in the ambiguity of it. 'In Singapore, oftentimes, there's this almost ritualistic invocation of the idea of home' Timothy, as a director, what draws you to the plays that you choose to work on—and why this play in particular? T: I've been quite known in the scene for doing classic or classic-adjacent work. That is a big part of my desire to work in theatre, and that will always be there, but what I've also been pushing for in the last couple years is new plays and new young playwrights, because there is nothing more thrilling than being able to create something entirely new. That said, I think that there is a very strong through line in all the plays I choose to do, which is that they all concern intelligent, articulate characters who are faced with very difficult decisions. I like exploring the psychological aspect of characters, and I think this is true both for my classic work and for new plays. But with this piece, I was certainly drawn to it because the characters are so richly drawn and so complex that we learn new things about them every day, and I think that's what makes it fun. Was there an aspect of the play that you were most excited to tackle in the rehearsal room? T: It's no secret that there is snow in this play, and that's something I've been quite excited to play with. Obviously, we're not getting real snow on stage, but when you come see the show, you'll see how we tackled it. This show has some fun sets and scenic moments that we employ, so I'm very excited to tech it because I think that would be the final piece to the puzzle that we've been working on. C: I agree that the snow is very exciting. Winter is my favourite weather, and when I first started writing the script, I always knew this play was going to be set in the winter, because the dissonance of Singapore in the winter is very interesting. But this is such a personal piece for me, so the most exciting thing is really just having these characters and words and emotions that have lived within me for five years at this point come to life on stage. Singapore, Michigan was developed as a part of Pangdemonium's New Works Lab. Courtesy of Pangdemonium Have there been any challenges along the way? C: I have a day job—I'm a civil servant—so it's been a bit of a challenge for me to balance the rehearsal and script revision demands, plus my own personal life as well. T: I'm lucky that this is my day job [laughs]. Every piece presents different kinds of struggles, but weirdly enough, I actually think this has been going quite smoothly. Nothing particular comes to mind. C: I do think there was a degree of trepidation before coming into the rehearsal room, right? There were moments right before and right after we had the actors come in that I personally felt a bit without a safety net. And then afterwards, it was like, 'Oh, this is good. There's a lot to explore here. We're ready for the actors to attack it'. What has that been like—seeing the actors bring your words to life? C: It's really surreal. Words fail to describe that kind of feeling. What I will say is, as a playwright, the ideal is always to be able to create something that is flexible enough to fit different interpretations. That was something that I wanted the text to have. I wanted room for the actors to play and discover, so it's very heartening to see that validated. There is space for other collaborators to come in and offer their own additions, which is the magic thing that you always want in the theatre. T: And we have such intelligent performers in Ching Shu Yi, Shrey Bhargava and Zane Haney. Sometimes I feel the actors might know the characters in more intimate ways than we do, because they offer up interpretations of texts that we don't think about, and we're like, 'Whoa, okay, yeah, that makes so much sense'. I think that is the most enlightening part about the rehearsal process. 'As a playwright, the ideal is always to be able to create something that is flexible enough to fit different interpretations' Lastly, what are you most excited for audiences to see with this play? T: I'm excited for the audience to be challenged. I really like theatre that challenges audiences to think more deeply about situations or people or issues in a way that perhaps they have not thought of before. I would consider this play successful if it raises difficult questions for audiences, while still offering a fun and enjoyable theatrical experience. But I think at the heart of it, I really want the audiences to investigate what home means. What does it mean to belong, and how do you think about home when you're not there? C: When I wrote this play, I included a lot of twists and turns—kind of like the Alfred Hitchcock theory of drama being such that there is a bomb under the table. The audience knows it's there, but they don't know when it's going to go off. We've really amped up those twists and turns in the rehearsal room. Yes, I think it's important that the play explores important themes and provokes important reflections, but I'm also excited to see the audience react to the roller coaster ride that I hope we're creating for them. I feel like it would be very gratifying to see the different energy that each new audience will bring every night. Singapore, Michigan runs from 26 June to 11 July 2025.

Straits Times

19 hours ago

• Straits Times

Singer Wang Leehom invites ‘twin brother' Aarif Rahman as guest performer at Beijing concert

Wang Leehom (left) invited Hong Kong singer-actor Aarif Rahman as the guest singer on the first night of his show in Beijing. PHOTO: AARIF_964/INSTAGRAM Fans could be forgiven if they thought they were seeing double at Taiwanese-American singer Wang Leehom's concert on June 20. The 49-year-old star invited Hong Kong singer-actor Aarif Rahman, 38, often dubbed 'Little Wang Leehom' due to his resemblance to Wang, as the guest singer on the first night of his show in Beijing. Wang is currently staging his The Best Place concert tour in China, with three sold-out shows in Beijing from June 20 to 22. 'Is there something wrong with the camera? Why are there two overlapping images?' Wang jested when Aarif, dressed in clothes similar to his outfits, appeared on stage on June 20. 'Or are my eyes seeing things?' Aarif joked that it could be due to artificial intelligence (AI). 'AI is very powerful now, and the technology of face-swopping is very scary,' he said. 'The AI filter is so powerful that it makes me 10 years younger today,' Wang replied. Aarif quipped: 'And you will grow taller.' Wang is 1.8m tall, while Aarif is 1.75m tall. Wang said many people have remarked on their resemblance, as the two artistes positioned themselves together on stage for the fans to make their judgment. 'Thank you, my 'twin'. We really look alike,' Wang acknowledged. Aarif – who is of Arab, Malay and Chinese descent – said that since the age of 16, he has often heard comments that he is a Wang lookalike. He attended his first Wang concert in 2008 when he graduated from university, he said, adding that both of them have finally appeared on stage together after 17 years. At the concert, they performed Wang's songs Still In Love With You (2011) and One World One Dream (2008). Wang posted photos of the concert on Chinese social media platform Weibo on June 21. 'Brothers performed a 'lookalike show',' he wrote . 'Were you surprised by today's guest performer Aarif Rahman?' Under Wang's post, Aarif thanked him for inviting him to the concert. Aarif also posted several concert photos on social media. 'Performing your songs on the same stage with you was something I never imagined when I was watching your concert during my younger days,' he wrote on Weibo. 'It has come true in Beijing. I look forward to meeting you next time.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.