From 7 February 2020THE NGEE ANN KONGSI THEATRE, WILD RICE @ FUNAN

SYNOPSISTwo romeos bend the truth to spice up their love lives. Jack has invented a brother, Ernest, whom he uses to escape his dull country life and to woo the ravishing Gwendolyn. His best friend, Algernon, also decides to take the name ‘Ernest’ to cosy up to Jack’s beautiful ward, Cecily, in the country. But things spin hilariously out of control when their deceptions are discovered, threatening to spoil their romantic pursuits.

Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is one of the world’s most popular comedies, boasting some of the funniest lines in the English language. In WILD RICE’s award-winning production, celebrated theatre and film director Glen Goei puts a joyous spin on this comic masterpiece by casting an all-male ensemble – revealing fresh insights into this classic tale about courtship, hidden identities and the foibles of high society.

With a sensational international cast, dressed to the nines by renowned fashion doyen Frederick Lee and accompanied live by The Concordia Quartet, The Importance of Being Earnest promises to lift your spirits with an evening of sparkling wit, laughter and love.

IMDA Rating: Advisory (All Male Cast)

PROLOGUE

Allegro from Sonatina No. 1, Op 48 – I. PleyelGavotte from Suite in D – J.S. BachAir from Suite in D – J.S. BachPresto from String Quartet No. 1, Op 1 – J. HaydnAllegro from Divertimento K. 136 – W.A. Mozart

ACT 1

Algernon Moncrieff’s flat in Half-Moon Street, London

INTERVAL

Garden Music – Minuet and Trio – L. Boccherini

ACT 2

The Garden at Manor House, Woolton Cello Solo – Prelude from Suite No. 1 for Violoncello – J.S. Bach

ACT 3

Drawing Room at the Manor House,Woolton

A BRIEF PRODUCTION HISTORY After two successful runs in 2009 and 2013, The Importance of Being Earnest was invited to Macao Arts Festival in 2014 and Brisbane Festival in 2015. It was the winner of three ST Life! Theatre Awards in 2010: Production of the Year, Best Supporting Actor (Chua Enlai) and Best Costume Design (Frederick Lee).

MESSAGE FROM FOUNDINGARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to WILD RICE @ Funan, and the very first show of our 20th-anniversary season! In this landmark year for our company, we are proud to bring you an exciting and eclectic season that remains true to our mission of presenting plays that speak to us and the times we live in – from world classics to new works and the best of the Singapore theatre canon.

In that vein, it gives us great pleasure to kick off the season with a new revival of one of the greatest hits in WILD RICE’s repertoire.

Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is, quite simply, the perfect comedy. But it’s also so much more than that. Dig beneath the surface of its hijinks and witticisms, and you’ll find a razor-sharp satire – one that merrily skewers a society obsessed with manners and money, privilege and propriety. At the same time, the play is a full-hearted and, yes, earnest reminder of the importance of being true to oneself.

When we first embarked on bringing this production to life a decade ago, we asked ourselves how we could fully express every facet of Wilde’s brilliant play – while also making it resonate for audiences in Singapore.

The answer came in the form of Glen Goei’s inspired vision of casting a company of men in suits. With this bold masterstroke, Glen brought the play’s themes into sharp focus, while injecting layers of irony and depth that Wilde himself would no doubt have appreciated.

Over the years, it’s been our great privilege to have flown the Singapore flag overseas, wowing both audiences and critics with this production at international arts festivals in Macau and Brisbane.

But, never content to rest on our laurels, we have again applied ourselves to reimagining this beloved production as the most intimate of soirées at our new home in Funan.

We hope that everything you are about to experience – from our exceptional cast and beautiful production design, to the glorious music provided by The Concordia Quartet (Singapore’s newest string ensemble) – will tickle, romance and delight you.

Thank you so much for coming. We hope you enjoy the show, and we look forward to welcoming you to our theatre throughout the year!

IVAN HENG

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Ladies and Gentlemen,

How, you might ask, is a play written in 1894 still relevant to us in Singapore today?

The truth is that Oscar Wilde’s brilliant The Importance of Being Earnest is more relevant than ever before. Wilde’s characters live in a world that doesn’t encourage them to be themselves, and so they must invent lies and alter egos for a chance at happiness.

Sounds familiar?

We live such ‘Earnest’ lives here in modern-day Singapore. We care far too much about appearances. We insist on conducting ourselves in ways that are deemed ‘proper’. We mercilessly judge people and behaviour that challenge the norm.

That’s why we need Wilde’s open-hearted, open-minded play more than ever – we need to be reminded of the importance of being true to yourself.

We are so proud to be re-imagining The Importance of Being Earnest for WILD RICE’s new theatre in Funan. I am very fortunate to be supported in this production by some of Singapore’s very best designers and theatre-makers, not to mention the fabulous original cast who first helped me breathe fresh life into this play over a decade ago.

Thank you, Oscar, for leading the way with your plays, your essays, your life. This is for you.

And thank you for joining us in the theatre today. Enjoy the show!

GLEN GOEI

The Importance of Being Earnest is regarded by many as Oscar Wilde's greatest achievement as a playwright. Ironically, it also marked the beginning of the end of his career...By Shawne Wang

Over the next few months, Wilde revised his handwritten draft, refining it into the masterpiece it finally became. This involved condensing the play from four acts into three, tweaking every line, and cutting entire characters.

Opening Night-mare

The Importance of Being Earnest opened at the St James’s Theatre in London on Valentine’s Day in 1895. By all accounts, the opening-night performance was a smashing success – it received a standing ovation that prompted Allan Aynesworth (who originated the role of Algernon Moncrieff) to later observe that he had experienced no “greater triumph” in his decades-long acting career.

But the play’s triumphant reception by audiences was marred by the plans of the Marquess of Queensberry, Lord Douglas’ father.

To save his son’s (and his own) reputation, the Marquess had already begun to publicly denounce the flamboyant Wilde for his homosexual proclivities. He planned to disrupt the opening night of The Importance of Being Earnest by throwing a bouquet of rotten vegetables at Wilde during the curtain call. Wilde and his producer learned of this scheme and thwarted it by cancelling the Marquess’ ticket and preventing his entry into the theatre.

In the early 1890s, Oscar Wilde was at the very height of his career (and powers) as a playwright. He had become the toast of London following the popular success of his two satirical comedies, Lady Windermere’s Fan and A Woman of No Importance, and was reportedly earning up to £100 a week. (That’s about S$22,000 in today’s money!)

At the urging of his producers, Wilde wrote the first draft of The Importance of Being Earnest (subtitled A Trivial Comedy for Serious People) in August 1894. The farcical play, whose protagonists invent alter egos to circumvent social duties and societal expectations, drew inspiration from Wilde’s daily life. Lady Bracknell, for instance, was named after the hometown of Lady Queensberry – mother of Wilde’s lover, Lord Alfred Douglas.

A Comedy of Earnest Proportions

The Beginning of The End

Frustrated by the Marquess’ continued harrassment, Wilde sued his lover’s father for criminal libel. This decision proved to be a catastrophic one. The Marquess hired private investigators to dig up evidence of Wilde’s homosexual liaisons, and salacious details soon began spreading through the press.

Following a series of trials over the next few months, Wilde was convicted on the charge of gross indecency on 25 May 1895. (The laws that incarcerated him were repealed in England in 1967, but remain in force in Singapore today as Section 377A of the Penal Code.) Barely 15 weeks after The Importance of Being Earnest had opened on the West End, Wilde was in prison – serving a sentence of two years’ hard labour.

Thus began Wilde’s tragic decline. His health suffered greatly during his incarceration. Released in 1897, he spent the final three years of his life, impoverished and practically friendless, in France. On 30 November 1900, Wilde died of meningitis at the age of 46.

A Legacy of Wit and Wisdom

Wilde’s wit, words and wisdom have outlived him – from his extraordinarily funny quips and bon mots, to his profoundly insightful novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

But it is The Importance of Being Earnest that perhaps best encapsulates Wilde’s enduring appeal and brilliance as an artist. On the surface, the play is a dazzling fireworks display of literature and language – according to renowned poet W.H. Auden, “perhaps the only purely verbal opera in English”. It is a feather-light confection, written by “a butterfly, for butterflies”, as Wilde himself described it.

However, the comedy’s madcap hijinks hide a mighty sting. Apart from being one of the funniest comedies ever written, The Importance of Being Earnest is also a merciless satire of the uptight Victorian society and rigid moral codes that ultimately proved to be Wilde’s own undoing.

Most of all, The Importance of Being Earnest is a celebration of individualism: a reminder of the importance of being true to oneself. In every sparkling line of this classic play, Wilde demonstrates his keen understanding of the Herculean efforts that go into leading a double life – as well as the immeasurable happiness that comes with shedding falsehoods to embrace love, life and laughter.

Images from the original 1895 production of The Importance of Being Earnest

CAST (In order of appearance)

BRENDON FERNANDEZ as Algernon Moncrieff

Brendon is equal parts astonished, elated and grateful to be reprising his role as Algernon! 11 years, 3 countries and many soirées later, The Importance of Being Earnest remains one of his most cherished productions.

His recent stage credits include Merdeka /獨立/�தந்திரம், Displaced Persons' Welcome Dinner, Off Centre, Underclass, Tropicana the Musical and HOTEL.

Brendon is also a documentary television presenter, emcee, corporate trainer and voiceover talent.

Instagram: @brendon_fernandezFacebook: fb.me/page.brendon.fernandez

CRISPIAN CHAN as Lane / Merriman

Crispian is an accomplished actor and performance photographer with over 20 years’ experience in the performing arts industry.

Singapore theatre credits: The Importance of Being Earnest (WILD RICE); The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate “S” Machine and Dark Room x8 (Esplanade Studio); Paradise (Teater Ekamatra); Swimming with Sharks and Peter and the Starcatcher (Pangdemonium); Equus (Toy Factory); Becoming Graphic (Edith Podesta/Singapore International Festival of Arts); and The King Lear Project (kunstenfestivaldesarts/Singapore Arts Festival).

Film credits include: Kelvin Tong’s The Offering and Boo Junfeng’s Apprentice.

Crispian is represented by FLY Entertainment.

DANIEL YORK LOH as John Worthing

Daniel is a mixed-race British-Singaporean actor and writer. As an actor, he has worked in the UK at the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, Royal Court, Hampstead Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Finborough Theatre and more. In Singapore, he has worked with WILD RICE, The Finger Players, TheatreWorks and Pangdemonium, for whose production of Dealer’s Choice he was awarded the Straits Times Life! Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has appeared in films, including Rogue Trader, The Beach, The Receptionist and Scarborough. He is one of 21 “writers of colour” featured in the best-selling essay collection, The Good Immigrant. His most recent play, Forgotten 遗忘, based on the experiences of the World War One Chinese Labour Corps, played at the Arcola Theatre in 2018.

IVAN HENG as Lady Bracknell

Ivan is one of Singapore’s most prominent and dynamic creative personalities. In a pioneering career spanning three decades, Ivan has directed, acted in and designed many landmark Singapore theatre productions. Ivan founded WILD RICE in 2000. Under his leadership, the company has reached an audience of over a million people, and is today at the vanguard of creating theatre with a distinctive Singaporean voice. In 2013, Ivan was awarded the Cultural Medallion, Singapore’s highest cultural honour.

Photo by Joel Low Photography

CHUA ENLAI as Gwendolen Fairfax

Enlai is an award-winning actor and host known for his dramatic and comedic work across theatre, television and film.

Currently seen in the Channel 5 drama series, Mixed Signals, recent television credits include Channel 8’s Happy Go Lucky and CNA’s Becoming Human. He is known for his work on the International Emmy-nominated The Noose, for which he won the Asian Television Award for Best Comedy Performance in 2010 and 2013.

Enlai has performed in over 50 theatre productions. This will mark his 15th collaboration with WILD RICE. He was last seen on stage as Mirabella in Michael Chiang’s Private Parts. Awards include Best Actor at the DBS Life! Theatre Awards for Shopping & F***ing and Best Supporting Actor at the Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards for The Importance of Being Earnest.

Enlai is represented by FLY Entertainment.

HOSSAN LEONG as Miss Prism

Hossan, Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, is one of Singapore’s most-loved and recognised entertainers. Affectionately known as ‘Singapore Boy’, Hossan is a consummate performer and director whose skills include singing, dancing, acting, piano-playing and stand-up comedy. Directing credits include Stephen Sondheim’s Company, Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, Beauty & The Beast, A $ingapore Carol and the 2018 True Colours Festival Concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. He also directs traffic when necessary.

www.doubleconfirm.myfb.com/HossanLeongOfficialLinkedIn/Twitter/IG: @hossanleong

GAVIN YAPas Cecily Cardew

Gavin is an actor, writer and director.

Selected theatre credits include Hand To God (SRT); Tribes, Fat Pig (Pangdemonium); and Red (Blank Space). Television credits include The Fifth Floor (Ochre Pictures/Toggle), The Bridge (Double Vision/HBO Asia), Lion Mums (Ochre Pictures/Mediacorp), Mixed Signals (Stardust Story/Mediacorp) and Invisible Stories (BirdManDog/HBO Asia).

Feature film directing credits include Take Me To Dinner (2014), KL24: Zombies (2017) and, most recently, Revenge Of The Pontianak (2019), co-directed with Glen Goei and now streaming on Netflix.

LIM KAY SIUas Rev. Canon Chasuble

Kay Siu has been acting professionally since 1985 in Singapore, America, London and Germany. Stage credits include The Father (Pangdemonium); Drift (Drama Box), ITSY The Musical (The Finger Players); Decimal Points 4.44, Cheek (Cake Theatrical Productions); Lao Jiu The Musical, If There’re Seasons (The Theatre Practice); The Emperor’s New Clothes, HOTEL, Monkey Goes West, Family Outing, Blithe Spirit, Animal Farm (WILD RICE); Morning People, Army Daze (Toy Factory); Death of a Salesman, Oleanna (SRT); Three Japanese Women (Mu-Lan, London); and The Letter (Lyric Hammersmith, London). Musicals include Dick Lee’s Beauty World, Fried Rice Paradise and Nagraland (lead role and assistant director), as well as Piaf for TheatreWorks. Kay Siu also went to directing school at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama in 1994.

MATTHIAS OESTRINGER

MUSICIANSThe Concordia Quartet is the newest addition to Resound Collective, members of which include conservatory-trained professionals who are among Singapore’s most talented and dedicated musicians. The Concordia Quartet was formed to bring chamber music in the string-quartet form to more audiences, as part of Resound Collective’s goal to enrich Singapore’s classical music landscape by performing at the highest level. As Singapore’s second-ever full-time professional string quartet (following the acclaimed T’ang Quartet), The Concordia Quartet strives for dedication and commitment to the music it plays, in hopes of reaching out to audiences both in and beyond the concert hall through regular performances as well as community outreach.

The Concordia Quartet, which comprises four prize-winning musicians (Kim Kyu Ri, Matthias Oestringer, Edward Tan and Theophilus Tan), made its debut on 1 February 2020.

Viola

While studying at the Akademie für Tonkunst in Darmstadt (Germany) under the tutelage of Dorothee Birke (violin) and Jan Nowicki (viola), Matthias participated in several master- and chamber music classes with Michael Hahn, Prof. Rainer Hoffmann, Matthias Gräff-Schestag, Lavard Skou Larsen and Prof. Valery Gradow. After graduating in 2000 and before moving to Singapore in 2002, Matthias performed in concerts and solo recitals in Poland, France, Germany, Switzerland and Turkey. Matthias is a lecturer at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) for violin principle studies. Since 2016, he has performed as a violinist and violist with Resound Collective.

KIM KYU RIViolin

Kyu Ri is currently second violinist in the newly formed Concordia Quartet. She has been freelancing regularly with professional orchestras in Singapore, such as the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra and re:Sound Chamber Orchestra. In 2017, she was selected from over a thousand musicians across Asia to participate in the Asian Youth Orchestra’s Global Tour on a full scholarship. Kyu Ri received her Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Igor Yuzefovich. She went on to pursue her Master of Music degree at Mannes School of Music with renowned pedagogue Lucie Robert.

MATTHIAS OESTRINGER

THEOPHILUS TANCello

Theophilus is a Singaporean cellist who started learning the cello at the age of 15 under Mrs Herminia A. Ilano. He then studied at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music from 2011 to 2015 under Ng Pei-Sian. He won the Goh Soon Tioe Award in 2015 and went on to pursue a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano, Switzerland, supported by Trailblazer Foundation and individual donorship. He has participated in master classes with cellists such as Frans Helmerson, Gustav Rivinius, Arto Noras and more. Theophilus has performed with various groups, including the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra, Resound Collective and Enrico d’Onofrio.

EDWARD TANViolin

Edward holds a Master’s Degree from the Yale School of Music and a Bachelor’s Degree with Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. Since returning home after his studies in 2012, he has performed extensively in both chamber and orchestral settings, regularly freelancing with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra and re:Sound Chamber Orchestra - for which he also serves as a member of the Artistic Committee.Edward is also a teacher and conductor; he is an instrumental teacher at the School of the Arts, as well as the Associate Conductor of the Musicians’ Initiative.

OSCAR WILDEPlaywright

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854 – 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. He was a leading spokesman for England’s Aesthetic movement, which championed art for art’s sake. In 1881, at the age of 27, Wilde published his first collection of poetry. His only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890), was poorly received upon publication but has since become a classic. In the early 1890s, Wilde became one of the most popular playwrights in London, producing a string of beloved comedies like Lady Windermere’s Fan, An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest. Wilde’s career came to an untimely end in 1895, when he was convicted on the charge of ‘gross indecency’ and sentenced to two years’ hard labour. In 1900, Wilde died of meningitis at the age of 46.

CREATIVE TEAM

GLEN GOEIDirector

Glen has been the Co-Artistic Director of WILD RICE since 2002. Productions he has directed include Merdeka/獨立/�தந்திரம,் Emily of Emerald Hill, Supervision, La Cage Aux Folles, HOTEL, Public Enemy, The House of Bernarda Alba, Cook a Pot of Curry, Family Outing, Blithe Spirit, The Magic Fundoshi, Aladdin and Boeing Boeing. As an actor, Glen made his professional debut playing the title role in M. Butterfly in London’s West End, opposite Anthony Hopkins. After an extended break, he donned his acting heels again when he played Mama White Snake in WILD RICE’s 2017 pantomime. Last year, Glen was seen playing a cannibalistic theatre director in Daniel Hui’s feature film, Demons (Busan and Berlin International Film Festivals). As a filmmaker, he released his third feature film, Revenge of the Pontianak, in 2019, after winning international acclaim with Forever Fever (1998) and The Blue Mansion (2009).

WONG CHEE WAISet Designer

Chee Wai is a full-time freelance set designer. He has designed and worked with various performing arts companies in Singapore. Some of his recent works include WILD RICE’s Merdeka /獨立/�தந்திரம், Fair Play, Emily of Emerald Hill, Supervision, Mama White Snake, HOTEL, Monkey Goes West, Public Enemy and The House of Bernarda Alba; as well as The Necessary Stage’s Those Who Can’t, Teach and Sight Lines Productions’ Lord of the Flies.

TAI ZI FENGLighting Designer

A theatre acting student from NAFA, Zi Feng found himself mesmerised by the stage lighting in a showcase in his second year. Thereafter, he volunteered to help out in various theatre productions, which eventually led to him designing lighting for several NAFA productions. He went on to study for a degree in Theatre Arts, specialising in Lighting Design. Since then, he has been freelancing as a lighting and scenic designer. His recent credits include Permanence by Toy Factory and Infinite Island by Singapore Chinese Orchestra, as well as The Severing Sword by Nam Hwa Opera Ltd.

FREDERICK LEECostume Designer

Frederick’s couture fashion-as-performance-art theatricality has made him one of Singapore’s most sought-after designers. Frederick’s work in pushing the envelope on fashion design as we know it has also garnered him numerous awards and accolades. Most recently, he was named Best International Designer of the Year at Vietnam Fashion Week 2019. To support his friends in the theatre, Frederick has designed costumes for the likes of WILD RICE’s La Cage Aux Folles and The Importance of Being Earnest; Dream Academy’s Dim Sum Dollies and The Theatre Practice’s If There’re Seasons. Along the way, he has won the Best Costume Design Award at the Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards thrice. Frederick was also the director of costumes for the 2008 and 2009 National Day Parades, as well as the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

ASHLEY LIMHair Designer

Ashley started his hairstyling career in 1986 and set up Ashley Salon in 1999 to further pursue his dedication towards the art of hairdressing, especially for the theatre. He has worked on over 300 productions locally and abroad, and is privileged to be widely recognised by the local theatre community as a veteran in his artistry. Recent credits include WILD RICE’s Peter Pan in Serangoon Gardens, HOTEL and La Cage Aux Folles; Michael Chiang’s Army Daze 2; Pangdemonium’s Fun Home; The Theatre Practice’s Liao Zhai Rocks! and Dream Academy’s Broadway Beng: Last Beng Standing. He recently took home the Lifetime Achievement Award for Theatre, presented by Mediacorp.

CREDITSCast

in order of appearance

Crispian Chan Lane/MerrimanBrendon Fernandez Algernon Moncrieff

Daniel York Loh John WorthingIvan Heng Lady Bracknell

Chua Enlai Gwendolen FairfaxHossan Leong Miss PrismGavin Yap Cecily Cardew

Lim Kay Siu Rev. Canon Chasuble

Live Musical AccompanimentThe Concordia Quartet

Kim Kyu Ri, Matthias Oestringer, Edward Tan & Theophilus Tan

Creative TeamPlaywright Oscar Wilde

Director Glen Goei Set Designer Wong Chee WaiLighting Designer Tai Zi Feng

Costume Designer Frederick LeeHair Designer Ashley Lim

Production TeamProducer Koh Bee Bee

Production Manager Melissa TeohTechnical Manager David Sagaya

Production Co-ordinators Phua Yun Yun & Augustina OngahProduction Assistants Alfred Ang & Angela Ee

Stage Manager Nureen RaidahAssistant Stage Managers Nadia Noordin & Joyce Gan

Stage Assistant Joy LeeWardrobe Manager Theresa Chan

Props Mistress Joyce GanDressers Lim Zhiying & Nurhazirah Hazian

Hair Assistant Michelle WaiTechnicians Ahmad Hafriz Bin Berkath & Muhammad Azhar Bin Azman

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSARCHANGEL

WILD RICE LTD IS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL UNDER THE MAJOR COMPANY SCHEME FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 APRIL 2019 TO 31 MARCH 2022.

THANK YOU!

Bobbie Ng from The Make Up Room / Frederick Lee Couture / Grafunkt Huntington Communications / Jem Toh / Joe's Tailoring / MZA Productions

On Staging Pte Ltd / SISTIC.COM Pte Ltd / THE SUPERGRAPHER! / WILD RICE AngelsVolunteers & Ushers

CORPORATE SPONSOR SEASON PARTNER OFFICIAL CARD PARTNERS

OFFICIAL MAKE UP OFFICIAL CATERER OFFICIAL PRINTER OFFICIAL WINE

WILD RICE was founded in 2000 by Ivan Heng, an internationally acclaimed andaward-winning theatre practitioner, and is recognised today as one of Singapore'sleading professional theatre companies.

Its mission is to provide an open forum for the shared experience of theatre: celebrating our diversity; reflecting on the problems and possibilities of our times; and presenting productions that inspire, challenge and entertain.

A commitment to the highest standards informs every aspect of WILD RICE’s creative work, which is first and foremost a celebration of Singapore’s theatrical talent. By producing and touring productions that are distinctively local in flavour and yet universal in vision and concerns, the company creates memorable experiences for audiences in Singapore and across the world.

WILD RICE is committed to touring its shows internationally to raise the profile of Singapore theatre, to create an international awareness of its unique productions, and to engage its artists and collaborators in creative dialogues with the international arts community. Its distinctively Singaporean productions have won great acclaim in major international arts festivals in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand and Russia.

WILD RICE @ Funan is the company’s new home in the heart of Singapore’s civic and cultural district. This groundbreaking performing arts complex promises to be an iconic destination theatre for Singapore, one dedicated to creating and presenting the best of Singapore theatre, while nurturing the artists and audiences of tomorrow.

ABOUT WILD RICE

The company's exciting and variedprogramming for the main stageincludes:

+ New and original works+ New productions of the Singapore repertoire+ New interpretations of world classics

The company's mission to build a theatre culture also extends to the wider community through the following divisions:

+ WILD RICE Academy and First Stage, which offer drama and training programmes to nurture young talents from the ages of 5 to 12+ Singapore Youth Theatre, which develops and empowers young people aged 13 to 17 through theatre+ Young & Wild, which identifies and develops Singapore’s young theatre professionals from the ages of 18 to 30

IVAN HENG Founding Artistic Director

TONY TRICKETT Executive Director

ARTISTICGLEN GOEI Co-Artistic Director

ALFIAN SA'AT Resident Playwright / Co-Artistic Director,Singapore Theatre Festival

YOUTH & EDUCATIONTHOMAS LIM Associate Artistic Director, Youth & Education

EDITH PODESTAAssociate Artistic Director, Young & Wild

EZZAT ALKAFFYouth & Education Manager

BENJAMIN LYEAdministrator, Young & Wild

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONSASH LIM Head, Marketing & Communications

LINDA TANMarketing Manager

ELSY NGMarketing Executive

SHAWNE WANGEditorial Consultant

MEGAN BARKERVideo Content Creator

NURUL IZZAHGraphic Designer

WILDRICETEAMBOARD OF DIRECTORSTan Siok Sun Chair

Janice Koh Vice Chair

Bill AngDeborah BarkerRandy ChanChan Ying LockGlen GoeiIvan HengAnthonia HuiSimone LoureyTony Trickett

DEVELOPMENT BOARD Janice Koh Chair

Holman Chin Harris Zaidi Anthonia Hui Ken Khoo Kitch Lum Tan Siok Sun Jimmy Yim

PRODUCTIONKOH BEE BEEProducer

MELISSA TEOHProduction Manager

PHUA YUN YUNProduction Co-ordinator

AUGUSTINA ONGAHProduction Co-ordinator

ALFRED ANGProduction Assistant

ANGELA EEProduction Assistant

DEVELOPMENTGEMMA BYRNEHead, Business Development

TERESA FUBusiness Development Manager

FATIN ROSSIDADevelopment Executive

ADMINISTRATIONKATHERINE KHOOHead, Administration

JASMINE LIMAccounts Manager

ROSS TOHAdministration Executive

VENUEKOH WEE GIAPVenue Manager

MUHAMMAD FADLY BIN NANYANAssistant Venue Manager

DAVID SAGAYATechnical Manager

AHMAD HAFRIZ BIN BERKATTechnician

MUHAMMAD AZHAR BIN AZMANTechnician

Thank you, WILD RICE Angels!GUARDIANMs Kay Kuok

ARCHANGELAL Wealth Partners Pte Ltd

GOLDEN ANGELMrs Betty Chen

PINK DIAMONDMdm Lena Cheng U Wen & FamilyWilliam S.W. LimHCS Engineering Pte LtdMr Peter Michael Lee & Ms Suzanne LiauMr William Randall & Ms Simone LoureyDr Finian Tan & Fiona Tan

YELLOW DIAMOND Mr Lam Kun KinStella T. EastConrad Lim & Andrea GiamMs Paige Parker & Mr Jim RogersDr Mary Ann Tsao

DIAMONDMr Rogerio BernardoMr Andrey BerzinsLim Ming YanMr. Chong Chan Meng & Ms Lim Sing YuenMs Cara Puah The Friedman FamilyJacqueline Ho, EsqSimon HoMr. Anthony HurayPing Ong & Jason CoatesMolly Singam-ChowMr. Kenneth TanMr Terry Tan & Harris ZaidiMr Kris Taenar WiluanMs Eleanor Wong Siew YinMr Hugh Young

EMERALDNoreen ChanBenjamin & Annie ChangElisabeth de RothschildJoel Devidal & Tomoko DevidalEnya-Lea Pte LtdDorian GohMr Ronald GweeRussell HengStephanie HoChung Wei Han & Hoong Yik Luen Raja KamalMr & Mrs Kenneth KanMs Kuah Eng Hua & Mr Patrick KwekDr Lai Jiunn Herng

Leroy & Genevieve MccullyKishore MoorjaniTerrific Mentors International Pte LtdThe Silent FoundationMr & Mrs Neil & Mi Jong TottmanTRAXX Payments Pte LtdDr Knut UngerCatherine Poyen & David Zemans

PEARLKeith Aldrich & Janice NgeowBynd Artisan Pte LtdDarren CerasiSL Chan Ben & Yvonne ChiangDina and Kevin CoppelColin & Linda CheeHeng H MMr & Mrs Leonard HengMr Richard Ho KFMs Susanna Kang Lee ChengDr Grace ChiamMr. & Mrs. Dermot KeilthyAlla LukyanovaPacific Century GroupTen Hui YuElvin Too & Catherine CheungKoh Choon HeongMdm Koh Geok KhingNorman HoLee Guo ZhengLeslie LeeMr Lim Sin TeckMr & Mrs Lim Sze-LiangSteven Miller & Pat MeyerMr & Mrs Darren & Jill MurphyVernie Alison OliveiroMs Tracy Forster& Mr Ivo PhilippsPromoPower Pte LtdMs Kamini SathanantharDr �gi SlaterS Soon & C LimCasey TehDavid Tan THTristan & Denise TheurierMrs Tracey WoonTan Hong WuiTan Jin KienDr Tan Poh Kiang & Mrs Tan Lie JoanMs Viviene SandhuM Sirisena & S. ChaturapitMr Yeoh Cheng HuannGeoffrey Yu

RUBY DEVILDr & Prof Irene Lim Kay Han& David Alexander Stringer

RUBYAamer ArchitectsA Ruby AngelBenett Bernhard & ElenaMss N. & K. BunLisa Burnage& Christoph TheisingerMr & Mrs Bernard ChanHK ChanMs Jessica ChanCharinne CharCara & Tamara Chang LC CheamCheam Shou-SenMs Florence ChekDr Christopher ChenMr Felix Chen Seong Kit& Mdm Ong Paik SimMs Cheng AdelineTony ChingBen & Yvonne Chiang Dr Chionh Su LinRosemary ChngChong Zhi Xin & Jovin OngMs Stephanie Chu Yen TzerMs Genevieve Chua Kwee HuayRichard ChuaSelene ChuaDr. Ivan ChuaTristan Chua Tian YuMr Arnoud De MeyerRoopa DewanFlower DiamondEnceinte Pte LtdFlorenceHarry FokTheresa FooRobert Fox & Irene LowMervyn FongDanny GohGoh Mia Yang Ms Bernice FranckGan Yong AnnGoei Kim ChweeGoh Kok WeeHonor HargerShirley HengMs Katharine HoMay HuiJason & Clare HumphreysJake, Ta & Sasithon JacobsJi ShinZaki JumahriDr Khoo Mavis KuekMr & Mrs Winston& Valerie KwekMs Fanny LaiAnnie LeeEugene Lee

Mr. Jonathan Lee Wee ErnMr Phillip Lee Soo HoonLeong ChingVincent LeowLes Trois ChatsMr. Amos Lim Mdm Bernice LimCollin Lim Lim Kian Chong GeraldMr Terence Lim Chee WenTimothy LimEdmund Lin & Trina Liang-LinRichard LingnerGretchen LiuJeffrey Loke Ms Shirlyn LooSteven Luk Chiew Peng Kitch LumMaisy & DawnMay HuiMrs & Mrs MunnleyJames & Katherine Murray Dr Euan Murugasu & Dr Gillian KohMeena Mylvaganam & Michael TayMr Praveen NairDorothy Ng Geok EngDr. Serene NgDavid NeoSu-Chzeng OngAdrian PehPamela PhuaPrakash & Vidhya PillayPoh Kim WahDavid Poon & Jacqueline NgRaleigh & Jasper PritchardQue Richard RubnanStephan RepkowRubyHenrik SaviaShaun & KlarissaRoger Simons & Valerie TanCatherine TangBenedict SeeTohBrian Selby & Angelina ChangDr. Kanwaljit SoinSoo Kuo TongDr. Jam Sou Lai, E15/80Dr Tony Stanley & Dr Suditi MuttuMr Hugh SutherlandCasey TanDr. Fred Tan Kong MengDr Gilbert TanHarry TanVivienne TanMr & Mrs Kevinand Tiffany TamDr Glenn TanMr Kenneth Tan Wee Kheng

Mdm Tan Siok SunMylene TayMs Jennifer TayTeo Ai ShoonTeo Ee JunMs Kathy TeoKeith Teo Elsie Tjoeng Mrs Carole TorelMr. Joe Vu & Dr. Michelle Cheung Mr. Andre WalderbachMr Sacha WalkerWong Ah YokeMr & Mrs Jonathan Wong Mr & Mrs Don YapMr Dharmendra Prasad YadavMs Yeo Suan WeiTania WeeMr David Wilkins & Ms Rachael TayWong T HDr Jean Yim Yeo Yien HoeAndrew & Joan YimYong Mei Ling, Gabby Yuchien

SAPPHIREKelli ChngMr & Mrs Peter & Britta PfisterMr Colin RobinsonMs Priscylla ShawChris & Gudrun Werner

JADEAlvinRajesh AchantaMr Peter AllenDr. Peter L. Allen & Mr. Heng Ching Jet Ang Kim Choo Ann Mei & MahatProf. Neil & Mrs Rajitha BeardenDr. Anne K. BendtBenjamin & Ying-LiMs Judith BollingerMr Chester ChanTrisha ChanLynn Chang Adeline ChewMs Lyyn ChinOliver ChongValerie ChuMr Ferdinand De BakkerRajeev & Alexandra De MelloMr Gerard Francis De SilvaMr Maurice De VazMs Nithia DevanDon & Purni FerrinMr. Foo Chwan Jye

Edgar FooMs Y.L. FooGao Lu & Kat LeeMaryanne GulMr Harry Goh Leck ChienSiva Govindasamy & Malini SitaramRoger L.F. and Gisella HarroldChristine Henderson& Chandran KukathasTom Ho & FamilyJudit HordaiHuang WanyiIT Lighthouse Distribution Pte LtdJohn

Kuan & SanjayKhoo Ai LinEugene, Emily & Elliot KhooDr Lana Y L KhongFarhana SharmeenMs Koay Su ChingKoh Kim SiahKoh Soon HeongMs Julie KohnKwok Hui Qi JasminesMs. Kwok Shuhui Lau Hiu FungNadav LehavyWan Ting LeeMdm Priscilla LeongJackie Leung Chin HaLi XiaowenMr. Lim Boon EngMs Carina Lim Jing TingJoyce LimWesley LimZoey Lim B PMs Linda LockeAlex Lou Lian ChungMr & Mrs Georg & Christine MechtlerKaren NgOliverMr Ong Beng TeckMr Stephen OngDr Ong Yong LockChris Panfil & David MungallMr JY PillayKamini RamchandaniNoah & Esme SeowNaoko ShimazuMs Sharon SngSoon Sze MengDr Cecilia Soong Ms Tan Bee LengMr Tan Chor YeanMs Crystal Tan HuilingMr Dennis Tan Wee DeanGerard & Heem Juay Tan

Gordon TanDr. Maybelle TanPhyllis P.L. TanSheryl TanJoseph Henderson-TangHazel TayJanet TayTay Man ZhiBG Michael TeoJessie Toh LH ThamTriciaWan Pei Ms Wee CathleenPeter White & Ong Yaw Hwee Emmett, Hazel & Emeric WongJamie WongJulie & Kevin WongMr Melvin YapMr Meyer Yves

AMBERAn Angel Chema AramburuArtbeatzA BarathanMr & Mrs Mario & Siang Goh BernasconiCharmaine ChanMr Chen JieDesmond ChewJason ChewHolman Chin Johnson ChongMs Diana Choo Yeow KhengMs Chua Yi WenMr. & Mrs. Basile CloutPaula CraigieDerrickMs Gee Miaw MiinCharlotte GohHanrongProf Thomas HechtHannes HentzeMr Bernard Ho Eng KiatMs. Rena HoElizabeth IpMichelle & Mariessa Yeo JamPeggy KekDr Lana KhongJames KohKoh ShixinProf Durreen Shahnaz & Mr Robert A. Kraybill Dr Jack Tsen-Ta LeeCedric LeungLim Seh Leng Serena LimLim Xiu YunEmily Liu AiminPeter LokeFei Low

Ms Mae Hoon Ann Yves MeyerMr William Neo Hock SengTina & Jeremy NixonMs Antoinette Renee PattersonMs Nathalie RibetteMiss Bee RogersMayumi SaitoSoon Sze MengSaw Cheng SuanMs Wendy SiewBetty SimKendra Gail SimSandra StonhamJason SunAlex TanFrancine Tan Law CorporationMrs Linda Soo-TanLJ TanTan Soh KengTan Sook YeeEdwina TangMr Kenny TayMary Ann TearMdm Jet TeongMs Jane Toh Hwee TiangJeremy WangAaron WeeWee TeckMichael Fisher & Susann WilkinsonEric WongJoanna WongKai WongYap WeiliangDatuk Margaret YeoKelvin YipYiyanMs Pat Young Siew Rang

We also wish to thank our anonymous donors and new Angels whom, due to printing deadlines, we have not been able to include.

THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO BE AN ANGELEnjoy special benefits and privileges during our most exciting and ambitious year yet!

2020 is a significant year for WILD RICE, as we are celebrating our 20th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, we have lined up more than 10 shows, including our greatest hits as well as new work by Singapore theatre’s most promising talents.

This would not be possible without our Angels, whose invaluable contributions provide crucial support for every aspect of our work - both on and off stage. This ranges from the artists and designers working tirelessly to produce WILD RICE’s award-winning shows, to our education programmes that spark conversations, ignite imaginations and inspire confidence for 10,000 young people every year.

By making a fully tax-deductible donation starting from just S$350 a year, you can help keep our shows inclusive, accessible and affordable, even as we continue presenting theatre of the highest quality.

WHAT'S MORE, YOU CAN ENJOY:

OTHER ANGEL BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES INCLUDE:Complimentary TicketsSpecial Discounts on all WILD RICE ShowsPriority Booking for the Best Seats in the House250% Tax Deduction… and much more!

Sign up now at wildrice.com.sg/angel or contact angels@wildrice.com.sg.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

MEETING THE ARTISTS SPECIAL EVENTS BACKSTAGE TOURS

FRASER SUITES SINGAPORE • FRASER PLACE ROBERTSON WALK, SINGAPORE FRASER RESIDENCE SINGAPORE • FRASER RESIDENCE ORCHARD, SINGAPORE • CAPRI BY FRASER, CHANGI CITY

Central Reservations (Singapore): +65 62 700 800 Email: reservations.singapore@frasershospitality.com

More me – IE Series

Find out more at sennheiser.com/moreme

Now available at Sennheiser Brand Stores at Marina Bay Sands and Marina Square, Sennheiser Online Store, and at all Authorised Retailer.

When the show is underway, your monitoring

others — but above all: with yourself. We have further developed dynamic drivers that fi t the smallest of spaces. Powerful monitoring sound for loud stages remains precise with solid bass whatever the sound level. Sounds like more — like much more.

IE 40 PRO

IE 400 PRO

IE 500 PRO

What you and your child can expect:

Learning Comes Alive through Drama and Storytelling!

Weekly drama classes for children aged 5 to 12

Learn to Perform

Fun-�lled lessons in drama skills like storytelling, role-playing, music and danceDevelop Social and Emotional Skills Self-awareness, empathy, and appreciating di�erences through working with othersThink Creatively and CriticallyAppreciating and relating to stories of people from di�erent cultures, backgrounds and ways of thinkingGrow Confidence in Expression and CommunicationPerform in front of a live audience of teachers, family and friends

Find our more about our programmes on our website or email us at academy@wildrice.com.sg

New

classes begin

in April!

Ignite your child’s imagination, inspire their con�dence and equip them with skills for life. WILD RICE is proud to present drama classes conducted by experienced teachers who are passionate about bringing out the best in your child.

GRANDMOTHERTONGUE

Written & Directed by THOMAS LIM

From 2 APR 2020

AN INSPECTOR CALLSWritten by J.B. PRIESTLEY

Directed by GLEN GOEI

From 7 MAY 2020

HOTELWritten by ALFIAN SA'AT

& MARCIA VANDERSTRAATEN Directed by IVAN HENG & GLEN GOEI

From 11 JUN 2020

wildrice.com.sg