Cover The Rice Ball 2025 company
The Rice Ball 2025 company
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On top of honouring the theatre company’s achievements over the past 25 years, the annual fundraising gala was held in support of Wild Rice as well as its Youth & Education initiatives
“Is this drama enough?” Ivan Heng, founding artistic director of Wild Rice, asked guests as he stepped onto the podium for his opening address, dressed in a sumptuous silver confection and a chandelier skirt, which earned him the moniker “Mr Chandelier” from the evening’s mistress of ceremonies, Pam Oei.
We were at the 23rd edition of the annual Rice Ball, which was held on February 22, at the Island Ballroom of Shangri-La Singapore. And as with every Rice Ball, enthusiastic guests came dressed to the theme of “Damn Drama: Go Big and Go Wild”.
This year’s fundraiser is even more special as the theatre company celebrates its 25th anniversary. Since its inception, Wild Rice has staged close to 180 productions to an audience of over 1.2 million.
Above Wild Rice founding artistic director Ivan Heng
Wild Rice founding artistic director Ivan Heng
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Theatre, however, is only as powerful as the voices that create it, according to Heng, which is why nurturing the next generation of artists and audiences is important to the theatre company. Furthermore, it seeks to ignite a love for theatre from an early age, shaping the storytellers and change-makers of tomorrow, through its Youth & Education programmes.
The highlight of the evening is the extravaganza that is The Damn Drama Rice Ball Concert, dreamt up by Heng, Oei and Wild Rice’s co-artistic director Glen Goei. A stellar line-up of stars, including Benjamin Chow, Hossan Leong, Oon Shu An, Ebi Shankara and Siti Khalijah Zainal, were accompanied by an 8-piece orchestra comprising Singapore’s best musicians, led by Julian Wong. Meanwhile, DJ Keith Colaco brought the evening to a climax into the early hours of the morning.
Nicky Fu, Kristy Tan, Lotus Soh, Sharmaine Han, Shirla Li, Lily Chan, Susanna Kang, Grace Wong, Norman Cham
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The Ball raised a total of SG$864,484, which will go entirely towards supporting Wild Rice and Singapore’s performing arts industry. The sum raised includes SG$138,026 for Wild Rice’s Youth & Education initiatives to enable it to keep inspiring children and young people through the magic of theatre.
As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
