Russian Classic

Staged by the acclaimed Mandarin theatre company Nine Years Theatre, Dear Elena is based on a well-known Russian play that pits good and evil in a classroom dynamic. Four students visit the home of their lonely middle-aged schoolteacher Elena to throw her a surprise birthday party. She is at first touched, but then realises they want something in return - the key to the safe that contains their exam papers.

Thus begins the 4-against-1 battle of wills, as the students threaten violence while Elena holds her ground. But morality isn't as simple as it looks: Though the students are behaving abominably, Elena is defending a system that's essentially broken and corrupt.

Dear Elena runs at the Drama Centre Black Box from now till Oct 20. Tickets from Sistic.