Parenting on Purpose

Appearances were deceiving. It was a secluded building apparently in the middle of nowhere. The only clue we had was from a curious invitation card, mysteriously emailed to us, and informing us that we had come into possession of a "rare and limited ticket" which would grant us access into the "wonderful world of Grimmsneyland". Could it be that the entrance to such a magical place would be innocently hidden in the outskirts of suburban Singapore? And so we climbed up the rickety steps, uncertain at what we were to expect. Little did we expect to find a strange creature at the top of the stairs. He said his name was Brandon, and that he was a Fairy-Godfather-in-Training; and that it was his duty to guide us into Grimmsneyland.  And that, dear readers, was the beginning of our Adventures in Grimmsneyland! What magical adventures await! Imagine coming face to face with Napping Beauty, who dazzles in her pink outfit! ANDSOFORTH Jr.'s production,  Tales of G...

Cluck Cluck! Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the Golden Eggs of course! Wait a minute. That doesn't sound right. Of course.  She crossed the road because the sky was falling! Oops. I meant she actually had some delicious bread to bake, but no one was there to help her! Oh no. I got it all wrong. But did i? I Theatre presents a new and interactive musical production that tells the story of not one, not two, but three feathered friends! There's The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs, The Little Red Hen, and Chicken-Licken! And the trio band together to hatch a tale which stitches together a whole host of well-known folk stories. And it's no fowl play. The chickies will be sharing with the audience how a musical is made, and will share about the themes and morals of the stories. As I Theatre promises, the show is "g uaranteed to engage young and old alike", and is "specially designed with exciteme...

Grow and change  Grow and change Look around and you will see Everyday a little difference Nothing stays the same you'll see. I Theatre's musical showcase The Ant and The Grasshopper  is all about change. Yet not everyone is keen to embrace the changes that occur each day. There's the Grasshopper, who lives from day to day, composing songs and dancing to the beat of the springtime sunshine. There's the Ant, who attempts to deal with the upcoming winter by neurotically gathering food and neglecting the beauty of the world around her. There's the Caterpillar, a little creature who is afraid of everything and everyone, and who spends her life resisting every iota of change. There's the Ladybird, who deals with change by escaping south to a warmer climate. And there are of course the Bees, who make it their business to question every single change that happens to everyone other than themselves. I Theatre has taken a classic tale from Aesop, and tr...

When Singapore girl Toni Lee makes a wish, little does she know that her dreams can come true! The 10-year-old travels back to ancient China, and becomes the poor painter Ma Liang, who is presented with a special gift by the Spirit of Creation. Anything Ma Liang paints can come to life! And he uses this gift to provide for the poor and the under-privileged. But what happens when the tyrannical Emperor finds out? Will this spell the end of Ma Liang and the Magic Paintbrush? "If only.... " A Singapore girl faces her dreaded exams; and her parents don't seem to understand how she feels. I Theatre's last production of the year, the Magic Paintbrush , is a theatrical work of genius. The first time the play was run was in 2000, and the musical generated so much hype it was made into a book by publisher Marshall Cavendish. The 2016 version stole the hearts of the audience from the get-go. With powerful songs put together by the I Theatre music trio of Kenneth Lyen, Ba...

I Theatre's spectacular production The Magic Paintbrush  starts its run this week. Parenting on Purpose goes up close and personal with the company's Creative Director Brian Seward, to learn more about why I Theatre is bringing back this popular play. Spectacular artwork from the original production of The Magic Paintbrush. Parenting on Purpose:  What made you choose this particular Chinese folk tale as the original inspiration for the play? Brian Seward:   It was an interesting story, with not too many characters, and with a very clear moral, that was suitable for younger children as well as older ones. A lot of Chinese folk tales can be quite long and involved. Others involve a lot of fighting and chopping off of heads. This story lent itself a bit more to a theatre adaptation - although we have the challenge of making things that are painted come to life! There were a number of different versions of the story - some more bloodthirsty than others....