Dig into real food in SRT's reboot of Dick Lee's hit musical Fried Rice Paradise
Thomas Lim (right), playwright of Fried Rice Paradise – The Makan Party, and chef Jeffrey Phua will serve up story and sambal fried rice in a dinner theatre update of singer-songwriter Dick Lee's beloved 1991 musical.
SINGAPORE – Singer-songwriter Dick Lee's beloved 1991 musical of feuding heiresses to Fried Rice Paradise restaurant is getting an update for 2025's cut-throat food and beverage scene.
In this new version, the titular heritage business charts its succession plans in the face of stiff competition from Chinese mega-chain restaurants.

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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
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ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG But unlike Ernest, many children do not have access to books. A recent study in 2025 by NLB and the National Institute of Education found that most low-income families own fewer than 20 English books. Of the 37 families surveyed, 43 per cent never visit public libraries, citing time constraints, fear of damaging books, or unfamiliarity with borrowing rules. Associate Professor Loh Chin Ee, principal investigator of the study, said: 'A lack of familiarity with library procedures and resources was another potential gap.' To close this gap, NLB's mobile library Molly is visiting more primary schools with children on financial aid, and nursing homes. Mr Ki, 18, a student at SJI International, was a volunteer in Heartland Literature's reading initiative, which ran its first four-session cycle in 2024. This first run, which was done together with youth shelter Boys' Town, involved 13 participants. Volunteers guided the youth through reading excerpts of Percy Jackson in small groups. Non-profit group Heartland Literature held its first reading mentorship programme in 2024, where volunteers read with youth from Boys' Town to help cultivate a love for reading. PHOTO: HEARTLAND LITERATURE One boy was initially uninterested and hesitant to read aloud, often glossing over difficult words, said Mr Ki. But by the end of the programme, with help from Mr Ki, the boy's confidence had grown, and he could read complex sentences on his own. 'We are not only providing these kids with a space to freely express and enjoy, we are also providing them with tools to make their voices heard,' he said. Heartland Literature's founder David Ezra said the programme has since expanded into a public run at Bishan Public Library, which starts on Aug 10. Thirty children will be matched with reading mentors to read Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone. 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Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
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Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Stella Rimington, Britain's first female spy chief, dies aged 90
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