ST Life Theatre Awards 2025

Newly appointed Sifa festival director Chong Tze Chien's Dream Of The Red Chamber triumphed in three of the four categories it was nominated in, snagging Best Set, Best Sound and Best Costume.

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For the tale of corrupt wealth and ill-fated romance told with a Shakespearean flavour, the actors crouched and scuttled on a sunken stage littered with lotus flowers made of organza and netting, in the manner of a Vietnamese water puppetry show.

Mask designer Loo An Ni's crude but expressive masks captured the essence of characters' cunning, frivolity and beauty, while sound designer Ng Jing toggled the volume of the many speakers in the space so the recorded dialogue seemed to follow the actors as they moved.

Ng said: "The level of detail of the sonically ambitious design was precise and dimensional, allowing the audience to perceive the sounds directionally. I'm glad we persisted as the end result was worth the effort."

Chong, who conceptualised the set with Grace Lin, said: "The brief yet intense creative and rehearsal process brought out the best in all of us — designers, performers and puppet makers alike — fostering a collaborative spirit that infused the entire production from start to finish."

ST's review said it made for "surreal, operatic viewing", and that the overall effect was alienating in ways that suited its cosmic themes.

"While impeding emotional connection, they elevate actors' plangent sighs and serpentine mischief to a universal timelessness."

Best Lighting was also awarded to a TFP production, Puppet Origin Stories @ One-Two-Six: Temporary Occupation. Light designer Faith Liu Yong Huay created three distinct looks for the weird and affecting triptych, which split audiences into two groups to experience the stories at various locations in Cairnhill Arts Centre.

Liu said the question that confronted her was "how to consider lighting not just as illumination but also as spatial design".

"Rows of bulbs lit in sequence could signify the flow of information. Lit bird masks created larger-than-life shadows of birds. Fairy lights meant little hopes and wishes for a new life."