Singapore

Strength in numbers and lots of laughter

SINGAPORE — There are many ways of looking at the mysterious house in The Bride Always Knocks Twice: A limbo of sorts, a cosmic bubble that breaks all laws of time and space, a metaphorical sanctuary in the mind. Whatever it is, it’s well-furnished, fully-stocked with tea and its doors are always open to women in times of need.

And so it has proven to be for an unlikely group who, despite speaking different languages and coming from different eras, have come one by one to exist in harmony — until a runaway bride (Isabella Chiam) comes knocking, that is.

Thailand

Two plays adapted from short stories by celebrated author Sri Daoruang

Author Sri Daoruang, her husband, magazine and literary editor Suchart Sawadsri and their son live by a rail track and use the train as their main mode of transport. The deep connection this literary family has with the train is well-known. And the train track figures prominently in many of Sri Daoruang's short stories.

To celebrate the author's 72nd year, Crescent Moon Theatre will stage Phap Luang Ta Ti Neun Mafeung, where two short plays adapted from Sri Daoruang's short story Phap Luang Ta and novella Neun Mafeung, will be featured back to back.

"Her writing is not overwrought; it's not vociferous. Her language is not aggressive. It's slow and gentle. But are her stories controversial? They're very controversial," director Sineenadh says of Sri Daoruang.

Taiwan

The Songjiang Battle Array, a traditional form of performance that includes dance, music and martial arts, will take place over the next week in Greater Kaohsiung’s Neimen District

This weekend, thousands of martial arts fans are expected to descend on Greater Kaohsiung’s Neimen District to watch a week-long lineup of Song-Jiang Jhen Battle Array, a form of performing arts that combines elements of kung fu, dance and drumming.

Malaysia

An artist who has been a pillar in the development of visual arts in Malaysia celebrated 60 years of his work: more than 300 of his creations are being exhibited at the Balai Seni Visual Negara until June.

Abdul Latiff Mohidin can be said to be a 'nature's child'. In the more than 300 of his two- and three-dimensional works being exhibited at the Balai Seni Visual Negara, Kuala Lumpur, not one figure or form of technology can be found. In the exhibition celebrating 60 years of Latiff's work, the drawings and sculptures present a picture of 'nature as it originally was', and when that picture has been lost, all that 'remains' are strokes of color and scratched lines, and those colors and forms are biomorphic in character (from biological and natural forms).