Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular coming to Singapore in March 2026
Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular is part of a world tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of the musical. PHOTO: DANNY KAAN
Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular coming to Singapore in March 2026
SINGAPORE – Musical fans in Singapore are in for a treat as Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular is coming here.
The production will play at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, from March 24 to April 19, 2026. This is part of its world tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of one of the world's longest-running musicals.
Priority sale and pre-sale of the tickets have begun, with public and early-bird sales set to begin on June 26 at 10am.
Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular is based on French author Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name, a story of love, sacrifice and redemption set in France in the 1800s. It is expanded from Les Miserables The Staged Concert, which had more than 200 performances in London's West End.
The Arena Spectacular opened in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in September 2024, and is currently on tour in Taipei. It is set to head to other cities such as Tokyo in August, Osaka in September and Shanghai in November and December.
It features a new design created for larger venues and a company of over 65 cast and orchestra members.
The score of iconic songs includes I Dreamed A Dream, On My Own, Bring Him Home and One Day More.
The show is written by French musical theatre lyricist Alain Boublil and French musical theatre composer Claude-Michel Schonberg. It is produced by British theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh and Nick Grace Management.
The production is presented in Singapore by Base Entertainment Asia under the direction of Chantal Prudhomme.
Les Miserables - The Arena Spectacular World Tour
Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue
When: March 24 to April 19, 2026
Admission: $88 to $258 via Marina Bay Sands, Sistic and Klook.
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Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular coming to Singapore in March 2026
Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular is part of a world tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of the musical. PHOTO: DANNY KAAN Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular coming to Singapore in March 2026 SINGAPORE – Musical fans in Singapore are in for a treat as Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular is coming here. The production will play at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, from March 24 to April 19, 2026. This is part of its world tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of one of the world's longest-running musicals. Priority sale and pre-sale of the tickets have begun, with public and early-bird sales set to begin on June 26 at 10am. Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular is based on French author Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name, a story of love, sacrifice and redemption set in France in the 1800s. It is expanded from Les Miserables The Staged Concert, which had more than 200 performances in London's West End. The Arena Spectacular opened in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in September 2024, and is currently on tour in Taipei. It is set to head to other cities such as Tokyo in August, Osaka in September and Shanghai in November and December. It features a new design created for larger venues and a company of over 65 cast and orchestra members. The score of iconic songs includes I Dreamed A Dream, On My Own, Bring Him Home and One Day More. The show is written by French musical theatre lyricist Alain Boublil and French musical theatre composer Claude-Michel Schonberg. It is produced by British theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh and Nick Grace Management. The production is presented in Singapore by Base Entertainment Asia under the direction of Chantal Prudhomme. Les Miserables - The Arena Spectacular World Tour Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue When: March 24 to April 19, 2026 Admission: $88 to $258 via Marina Bay Sands, Sistic and Klook. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Straits Times
Return to Middle-earth with a musical spin on The Lord Of The Rings
The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale is told from the perspective of hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin as they set out on an adventure to destroy a powerful magical ring. PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD Return to Middle-earth with a musical spin on The Lord Of The Rings MELBOURNE – More than 20 years have passed since director Peter Jackson took moviegoers to Middle-earth with his Oscar-winning The Lord Of The Rings trilogy (2001 to 2003). The road goes on in August with the Asia debut of The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands. The theatrical production is based on English author J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved epic fantasy series (1954 to 1955), instead of Jackson's action-packed films. Told from the perspective of hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, the story follows the four friends' adventures as they seek to destroy a powerful magical ring. The three-hour show features original music by Indian music and film icon A.R. Rahman, Finnish folk band Varttina and Tony Award winner Christopher Nightingale. The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale made its debut at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Canada, in 2006. It then travelled to Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London in 2007, where it played until 2008, earning five nominations at that year's Laurence Olivier Awards. The production was revived in 2023 at The Watermill Theatre in Britain, followed by a staging at Chicago's Shakespeare Theatre in 2024 before making its way to New Zealand and Australia. The Straits Times met the principal cast members playing Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, as well as characters Gandalf, Gollum and Galadriel, at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne, who offer reasons their show is a must-watch. 1. Actors are also orchestra members Unlike musicals, where actors sing to tunes performed by musicians in an orchestra pit, all 32 cast members in The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale play an instrument onstage. More than 20 instruments are used in the show. Merry (Jeremi Campese) and Pippin (Hannah Buckley) play the cello and violin respectively. Elves Elrond (Andrew Broadbent) and Legolas (Conor Neylon) are on the trombone and accordion, while dwarf Gimli (Connor Morel) plays the bouzouki, a long-necked string instrument. Actress Stefanie Caccamo, who plays elf Arwen, learnt to play the harp for the production. Wern Mak, as Sam, will play percussion when he does not have an acting scene. Cast members in The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale double as musicians, playing the songs live on stage. PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD It is no easy feat: The actors need to memorise not only their lines, but also the music score – all within the five-week rehearsal period. Says Buckley: 'I was very nervous in the beginning to play the violin and sing at the same time. I was badly out of tune during practice .' The 30-year-old adds that being a violin teacher helped, as she learnt how to play and speak to her students at the same time. Yet, the challenge remains, especially when some parts required her to play the melody on the violin while singing the harmony simultaneously. 'I tried to do that in the Sydney shows, but I was deeply out of tune,' she says, adding that she has since improved. Campese, 27, says: 'When you sing, you can't really hear what you're playing.' The actor-musician admits there is added pressure, as playing out of tune may affect the ensemble's singing. 'There are moments where I won't do the full dance choreography because it's more important to play in tune,' he says. Buckley adds: 'Jeremi and I have a lot of scenes. The priority is always storytelling, whether through acting, playing an instrument or dancing.' Terence Crawford, who plays the wizard Gandalf, says: 'There are some shows where they have people play the guitar or jump on a piano and sing a song. But this is such a sophisticated arrangement that requires real musicianship. 'We have people in the cast who are principally musicians. We have a drummer who has a doctorate in percussion.' 2. From books to stage Condensing three books – The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers and The Return Of The King – into three hours is an ambitious undertaking. Fans of Jackson's films may be disappointed that some major moments in The Two Towers, such as the battle at Helm's Deep, are not in the musical. 'We are telling a story from the hobbits' perspective, so a lot of the extraneous details and things that weren't witnessed by the hobbits are omitted,' says Mak, 26. Rarmian Newton, who plays Frodo, says that while the films 'had lots of cool, incredible action sequences', their show does not set out to replicate the movies, but to emphasise the universal themes of hope and community. Frodo (Rarmian Newton) has to destroy the powerful One Ring. PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD It is also not necessary to have read the books or watched the films to enjoy the musical, says Jemma Rix, who plays elf noble Galadriel. 'We have had so many people who have come not knowing anything, telling us they understood the story and could relate to it,' says Rix, who is in her 30s. Crawford, who is in his 60s, adds: ' The problem of adapting a famous book is you will have different camps of people who will either like the adaptation or hate it. Don't worry if you know the story or not. We'll tell you a crazy story that is poignant, spectacular, beautiful and full of fantastic music.' 3. Born to be Gollum To be cast as Gollum was a dream come true for Laurence Boxhall, who professed to be a 'Tolkien nerd'. The actor, who is in his late 20s, used to pretend to be Gollum – a monster with a distinctive style of speech – while growing up, having read the books and watched the films. His preparation for the role involved studying Tolkien's books even more closely and taking notes on how Gollum speaks in them. He says: 'I also listened to how Tolkien himself performed Gollum's voice – which I think Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in the films, had also done.' Laurence Boxhall as Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale. PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD Boxhall adds that he is aware audiences may expect a performance similar to the English actor's. Describing his approach as 'a third of Serkis, a third of Tolkien and a third of my own thing', Boxhall says he needs to find a 'comfortable and sustainable vocal placement that wouldn't tire my voice'. Physically, he prepares by getting his body used to moving as a quadruped, as performing eight shows a week on all fours is 'taxing on the muscles'. He stretches and exercises with resistance bands while getting his body painted. Transforming into Gollum takes about 45 minutes, with some parts completed before the show and the rest finished during the interva l. 4. Be early for Bilbo's 111th birthday party Audiences are encouraged to take their seats as early as possible. There is an interactive pre-show segment where they are transported to the Shire, home of the hobbits, as partygoers at hobbit Bilbo Baggins' 111th birthday celebration. Bilbo is Frodo's uncle and the hobbit who found the One Ring. His story is told in Tolkien's other book The Hobbit (1937), a prequel to The Lord Of The Rings. The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale starts with the celebration of Bilbo Baggins' birthday. PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD The cast members , as hobbits, will mingle with the audience , playing games such as ring toss with them and posing for photos. Says Mak: 'The birthday party scene brings everyone together as a family. It also acts as a gathering point for the characters and the audience, emphasising the sense of community and shared storytelling that runs throughout the show.' 5. A tale of hope and resilience Tolkien's relatable characters are the reasons his stories have remained popular for over 70 years. 'There's this sense of hope where the story tells of overcoming animosity, like Legolas and Gimli, two characters who initially hated each other, yet became best friends,' says Newton. The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale starring (from left) Rarmian Newton as Frodo, Wern Mak as Sam and Terence Crawford as Gandalf. PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD Crawford agrees, saying the show emphasises the power of people coming together, respect, kindness and a sense of community – both onstage and with the audience. 'What I love is that Frodo is an unlikely person to conquer such a big thing,' says Rix, adding that the story inspires audiences to believe that even small people can do amazing things by facing their fears and challenges. Says Boxhall: 'Frodo is changed at the end of his hero's journey, but it doesn't mean he's failed. 'In the crazy world we live in today, it's okay to not be okay, as long as there is hope.' Book It/ The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue When: Aug 12 to 31, 8pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 2pm (Saturdays), 1 and 6.30pm (Sundays) Admission: $68 to $238 via Marina Bay Sands ( Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to and Klook ( Joanne Soh is a lifestyle correspondent at The Straits Times, with a special interest in entertainment and pop culture. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.


Vogue Singapore
2 days ago
- Vogue Singapore
The Longchamp X Constantin collab presents a new house emblem
For decades, the family-owned house of Longchamp has been the epitome of quiet luxury—a brand that has not just embraced the term but defined it long before it became a fashion buzzword. What began as a humble family business crafting leather-covered pipes has now evolved into a powerhouse of French craftsmanship. Since its inception in 1948, the maison has consistently championed artisanal excellence, with the hand—both of the artisan and the designer remaining central to its one-of-a-kind story and heritage. This commitment to true craftsmanship carries through to each new range, including the house's latest fall 2025 collection, curated in a poetic collaboration with Parisian artist and ceramist Constantin Riant. Courtesy of Longchamp Known for his work rooted in graphic simplicity and manual gestures across illustrations, paintings, and ceramics, Riant draws inspiration from the 'Paris' of local artisans—the upholsterer shops and booksellers that line neighbourhood streets to the luthier and the picture framers. This collection is an ode to the ones that keep the city's creative heart beating. One that feels like a quiet walk through the very soul of Paris—unlike the polished, postcard-perfect version, but the layered, lived-in city one, where art is tucked into every nook and cranny, and there is a certain beauty in the ordinary. The collection comprises of six exclusive pieces, each rendered in a classic palette of cobalt blue and white—a nod to Riant's ceramic roots and the utilitarian charm of traditional workwear. A standout is the 'Les Artisans de Paris' silk scarf, adorned with Riant's hand-drawn illustrations of local shopfronts—from booksellers to florists—each a love letter to the hidden artistic corners of the city. The collection features an array of sturdy cotton jackets and painter-style overalls, graphic T-shirts, and an updated version of the iconic Le Pliage tote bag. And if you look closer, you'll spot the maison's new emblem designed by Riant—a visual story blending symbols of Longchamp's legacy and dedication to craft, from leatherworking tools and the first leather-covered pipes to ships and planes. This emblem appears throughout the collection as a modern seal of craftsmanship and creativity. In an interview with Vogue Singapore , Riant and Longchamp's general manager and creative director Sophie Delafontaine open up about their creative process, shared appreciation for craftsmanship and the making of the fall 2025 collection. Courtesy of Longchamp How did you encounter Constantin's work? What is it about his vision that made him the perfect collaborator for this collection? Sophie Delafontaine: I've known Constantin for several years and have followed his work since the beginning. Our shared passion for craftsmanship and artistry field made this collaboration a natural fit, as our two worlds align perfectly. I wanted to illustrate the beauty of artisans through the eye of a native artist who could capture the city atmosphere and its artisanal heritage. Constantin imagined a poetic universe while celebrating those who bring the capital to life. How does this collaboration reflect Maison's commitment to supporting emerging artists, while also honoring the dynamism of cultural creativity beyond fashion? SD: Maison Longchamp always had a close relationship with art. Supporting emerging artists is a continuation of that bond, allowing us to maintain a kind of freshness in creativity. Our aim is to act as a springboard for these up-and-coming artists—a catalyst for their visibility—helping their talent and work reach the broadest possible audience. Each new collaboration is both a discovery and a challenge—entering the artist's world, understanding their aspirations, and transforming it all into a Longchamp product that is both aspirational and respectful of our heritage and DNA. For this collection, Constantin Riant—as Parisian, young artist and a highly creative spirit—embodied many values reflecting Longchamp's spirit. Courtesy of Longchamp Let's talk about the emblem—given that it's such a crucial part of the house. What were the guidelines given to Riant with the new design? SD: Constantin did a great work translating Longchamp's codes into a single emblem—from the first leather-covered pipes to the iconic 'Le Pliage' bag, leatherworker's tools as well as a plane and a boat symbolising the brand's international expansion. The idea was to use these symbols to express the connection between past and present in a very visual way—with placed on pieces inspired by artisans' workwear wardrobe such as a painter vest. This emblem truly finds its meaning and brings a more authentic twist to the collection. The scarf is described as the 'star piece' of the collection. Why did you decide to spotlight such a classic accessory, and what does it symbolise? SD: The collaboration is meant as a complete set of six exclusive pieces (bags and ready-to-wear) all reflecting Constantin's universe with his very distinctive blue and white colour palette. The scarf 'Les Artisans de Paris' holds great meaning as it embodies the quintessential Parisian 'flâneur' spirit. It pays tribute to the artisans and their charming shopfronts found throughout the city—an upholsterer, a bookseller, a florist, among others. I love the idea of taking time to explore the city and neighbourhood, and rediscovering the details that make Paris such a unique and inspiring destination. Courtesy of Longchamp Constantin, you've have described this project as exploring Paris like a tourist. What parts of the city inspired you the most during this creative journey? Constantin Riant : I'm often most inspired by the hidden or secluded corners of the city, though I also love the historical centre of Paris like all Parisians. What makes Paris truly remarkable is that each neighbourhood has its own distinct identity, aesthetic, and community. It's this diversity that gives the city its unique charm and richness. Walking along the river Seine banks, whatever the weather is one of my favourites. Courtesy of Longchamp The colours cobalt and white have become your signature as an artist. What do they symbolise to you? CR: Cobalt blue and white are closely tied to my ceramic practice. When I first began working with ceramics, I wanted to use a recognisable colour palette that echoed the tradition of ceramic arts, from Chinese and Japanese vases to Portuguese azulejos and classic French tableware. I found inspiration from traditional slip glazes such as Delft blue and the Bleu de Sèvres, as well as the bright white of porcelain and faience. These tones have since become an integral part of my artistic identity. Longchamp is known for heritage and craftsmanship. How did reimagining the Le Pliage bag for this collection allow you to merge tradition with innovation? CR: I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to create a new version of the Le Pliage bag by preserving its iconic shape and silhouette, while infusing it with my colour codes, illustrations, and aesthetic. This fusion allowed us a balance between tradition and creative innovation, that resonates with my work. Courtesy of Longchamp You've designed a new logo for the maison. Can you share the story and inspiration behind its design? CR: I loved looking into Longchamp's archives, savoir-faire and craftsmanship to identify key visual elements that would reflect the brand's rich heritage. From there, I created a design that pays tribute to that legacy, reinterpreted with my visual language. Fashion and art have a symbiotic relationship. What kind of dialogue did you and Longchamp aim to create between these two overarching disciplines? CR: I believe that artists offer fashion a fresh perspective, a unique vision and universe to explore. Fashion allows artists to work within new formats and constraints, pushing their creativity in different directions. I think these two disciplines constantly inspire one another and often serve as powerful indicators of future trends and creative movements. It was an incredible opportunity to work on fashion pieces that reflect my own vision, pieces that not only embody my artistic language but also exist within a wearable, living format. Longchamp X Constantin fall 2025 capsule collection is now available in stores.