[Review] Toy Factory’s Moonlit City (城里的月光): A Nostalgic and Sentimental Musical Love Letter to Singapore’s Power Couple

Singapore’s Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble has done it again with Moonlit City (城里的月光), a touching musical that blends Xinyao nostalgia with one of the nation’s most enduring love stories, that the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and Mdm. Kwa Geok Choo.

Following last year’s more serious English-language production, Kwa Geok Choo – Singapore & The Story of Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, this Mandarin rendition takes a gentler, almost K-drama-like approach, making it both accessible and deeply sentimental.

For Singaporeans who lived through the nation’s formative years, the musical is a sentimental journey. For younger audiences, it’s an intimate introduction to a love story that shaped a country.

Kwa was famously private, making the portrayal a challenge for the creative team, led by established theatre director, Goh Boon Teck. How do you dramatise a woman who shunned the spotlight while staying true to history?

The musical navigates this by focusing on key moments, their courtship at Raffles College, their struggles during the Japanese Occupation, and their partnership through Singapore’s tumultuous early years. The result is a tender, humanising portrait of two extraordinary individuals.

Known as a formidable leader, Lee Kuan Yew is often remembered for his steely resolve. Yet, Moonlit City offers a different perspective, one that highlights his devotion to his wife, Kwa Geok Choo.

A brilliant legal mind in her own right, she remained fiercely private, making this portrayal a delicate balancing act between historical accuracy and dramatic storytelling. The musical succeeds in humanising the couple, presenting their bond as one of Singapore’s greatest love stories.

Filled with Xinyao tunes, the musical featured music by renowned Singaporean composer, Tan Kah Beng (陈佳明), best known for his hit songs like Moonlight in the City (城里的月光) and The Sun After the Rain (阳光总在风雨后).

The songs are melodic and nostalgic, enhancing the emotional weight of the narrative. Unlike its predecessor, Moonlit City leans into sentimentality, making it an easy watch that is accessible to all audience.

Whether you are drawn to Singapore’s political history, classic Xinyao melodies, or simply a well-told love story, Moonlit City delivers on all fronts and is worth a worth. For me, I love to see a softer portrayal of the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, that he is also only human like you and I when it comes to love and family.

Catch it before it closes. Tickets are available via SISTIC.

For more details, visit Toy Factory’s official website.

Date:
25 July to 3 August 2025

Show Time:
2.30pm and 7.30pm

Venue:
Gateway Theatre
3615 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 159461

Duration:
135 minutes (with a 15-minutes intermission)

Performing Language:
Mandarin (with Chinese and English surtitles)

Ticket Price:
$98, $88, $68, $48 (restricted view)