Singapore - Local theatre company W!LD RICE celebrated its 12th edition of their annual fundraising gala at Shangri-La Hotel with a glitzy evening of 'royalties' and rock stars on Oct 4.
Called 'The (Very) Royal Ball', the guestlist boasted an attendance of Singapore's high society with socialites such as Susanna Kang and Sharel Ho, and former Miss Singapore Universe Rachel Kum, who were glammed up in their most creative gowns and costumes for the theme of 'Rock and Royalty'. Founder and artistic director Ivan Heng wanted the fully-sponsored gala to be 'fit for a King, Queen, Maharani or Sultan'. Some of the guests came in different forms of 'royal' costumes from rock princesses, Chinese emperors to maharajahs.
The purpose for the gala was to raise funds for W!LD RICE's productions for the new year and also for their new home in Kallang where renovations will begin in 2014. One of the new plays which theatre lovers can look forward to is a popular Spanish play called the 'House of Bernarda Alba', which will be interpreted with a local nyonya twist in 2014. Enticing the audience, artistic director of W!LD RICE Ivan Heng said the play will feature ten of Singapore's best female actresses.
The festivities began with an 'Alice in Wonderland' mash up of rock favourite, 'We will rock you', sang by emcee of the evening, actress Pam Oei. Dressed in a seductive short version of the 'Queen of hearts', Oei got the crowd pumped up for the evening as she cheekily sashayed together with dancers dressed as characters from the popular children's story.
Click here to view the gallery.
Chairman of luxury Swiss timepiece company Hublot Jean-Claude Biver flew in from Switzerland for the gala and gave the opening speech. Hublot, which is the presenting sponsor for the second year, specially designed a timepiece named the King Power Royal which was auctioned off at a whooping $43,000 bid by an anonymous donor.
At the event, W!LD RICE founder Ivan Heng, who was dressed as a maharajah in a white coat embellished with gems, spoke about the achievements of the past productions and the artistes in the company, which was founded in 2000. He highlighted how hostess Pam Oei marked her directorial debut in 2012's 'Hansel and Gretel', a children's play featuring Sebastian Tan and Denise Tan, and also revealed that the all male cast of Shakespeare's 'The importance of being earnest' was set to perform at the Macau Arts Festival in 2014.
The evening celebrations then followed by a feast designed by the chef of Michelin-starred restaurant Pollen, Colin Buchan, and the Shangri-La Hotel's own executive chef. The menu featured appetisers of Boston lobster and black truffle brioche, and an entree of challandaise duck breast. Dessert was a decadent chocolate nutty bar dotted with passion fruit mango gel, and a scoop of raspberry yuzu sorbet.
Performances of the night included a raunchy number by local comedian Hossan Leong. Dressed as Marie Antoinette, the fallen queen of France, he gave a saucy rendition of 'Lady Marmalade' together with three long-legged 'ladies in waiting'. The Pipa Quartet, a group of musicians with traditional Chinese instruments, gave a resounding performance of 'The Bumble Bee'.
The most exhilarating performance was by nine-year-old Lauren Yeo, who sang opera classic, 'O Mio Babbino Caro'. Yeo, who won first place in the prestigious American Progete International Vocal competition, was given the chance to sing at the famed Carnegie Hall in New York earlier this year. Her emotional and resounding performance of the Italian piece received a standing ovation.
The gala continued well into the night as the stage was turned into a dance floor and an opportunity for more photo-sessions.
Photos: Plush, Solomon Woo
Click here to view the gallery.
