19:30-21:15, Tuesday 30th September 2025
The Cockpit
Music: Chen Zhangyi
Words: Jack Lin
Dive into A Singapore Trilogy, a captivating full performance of three chamber operas—Laksa Cantata, Window Shopping, and Kopi For One. Composed by Chen Zhangyi with libretti by Jack Lin, this production weaves Singapore’s vibrant culture into universal tales of love, identity, and family.
In Laksa Cantata, Stephen, a laksa enthusiast, sparks a comedic clash with his feisty fiancée, Leah, by sneaking spicy curry noodles onto their formal wedding menu, testing their bond amid wedding preparations.
Window Shopping unfolds in a shoe boutique, where an elegant woman reflects on her past, contrasted by a reckless, shopaholic girl—perhaps her younger self—exploring memory and identity in a dreamy, lyrical narrative.
Kopi For One brings a nostalgic kopitiam to life, where a quirky waitress mediates a tense reunion between a daughter, who likens her displacement to coffee “born for a land far away,” and her stoic father, struggling to express love. The poignant twist—serving “kopi for one”—reveals lingering solitude.
Performed by a stellar cast with a small ensemble (clarinet, violin, flute, cello, piano), the trilogy blends lyrical melodies with contemporary textures, creating an intimate, evocative soundscape. Lin’s poetic libretti, rich with humor and heart, bring Singapore’s spirit to London.
You can download a programme for A Singapore Trilogy here.
Age range: All ages, but mostly adults
In a festival of new work, please note that shows may overrun.
Produced by The Clio Project/Opera Asia
Venue: The Cockpit, Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH.
ADD CAST HERE
Artistic Director: Heather Tan
Conductor: Alvin Arumugam
Composer: Chen Zhangyi
Stage Director: Shira Szabady
Text/Libretto: Jack/Lin
Window Shopping
Woman: Shimona Rose
Girl: Moira Loh
Laksa Cantata
Leah: Moira Loh
Stephen: Brendan-Keefe Au
Kopi for One
Waitress: Ee-Ping
Daughter: Moira Loh
Father: Brendan-Keefe Au
Chamber Orchestra: The Clio Project
Pianist/Repetiteur: Nok Him Chan