Latest news with #GraceRoberts
Vogue Singapore
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
Grace Roberts on growing up in Singapore and playing Christine Daaé in the ‘The Phantom of the Opera'
When The Phantom of the Opera arrived on our shores earlier this month, it was a homecoming for Grace Roberts. While the musical theatre performer is British, her family moved to Singapore when she was six weeks old, and she spent the first 18 years of her life growing up in the city. It was also here that she first started doing theatre. 'I started out doing choir when I was younger, and started to do plays and musicals when I was old enough to audition at school. I also took part in school concerts at the Victoria Concert Hall and the Esplanade when I was in junior and senior school. I honestly thought those amazing buildings were something else, and it was an incredible introduction to theatre,' she thinks back fondly. Grace Roberts plays Christine and Ben Forster plays the Phantom for the Singapore run of the musical. Courtesy of Base Entertainment Asia As she returns to Singapore this time, it is in one of the most beloved and iconic roles in musical theatre: Christine Daaé, the beautiful soprano that becomes the obsession of the mysterious musical genius that haunts the Paris Opera House. In the midst of the sheer grandeur of the musical—the swelling score, the magnificent costumes and the unbelievably spectacular sets—Christine is the show's tender heart, and it is a role that Roberts is absolutely magnetic in. From her quiet bravery to her deep compassion, Roberts brings a depth to Christine that turns an already technically brilliant performance into one that feels like a revelation. Here, she opens up on discovering her love for theatre, stepping into the role of Christine and what it has been like to perform in the place where she grew up. Grace Roberts as Christine Daaé. Courtesy of Base Entertainment Asia When did your love for theatre begin? Is there a particular production that inspired your decision to go into musical theatre? I've loved theatre since I was a little girl. My grandmother introduced me to films like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , Carousel , and Oklahoma! when I went to visit and we'd play everything on loop. I also vividly remember watching a taped version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on VCR and being totally enthralled when I was about five. So I was introduced to music and theatre through film pretty early, but I'd say the major turning point was seeing Wicked when I was around 11. I was just taken aback by the sheer scale of it all, and I knew I wanted to be involved with something as magical as that. What is it like to perform back here in the place where you grew up? I can't really describe how special it is. I've always wanted to perform in Marina Bay Sands, and being able to stand on that stage is quite incredible. It's also amazing to have my parents able to see me perform in such an iconic Singapore landmark. It's really a combination of things that makes this so incredibly special. 'Masquerade' in The Phantom of the Opera . Courtesy of Base Entertainment Asia What was your introduction to The Phantom of the Opera? I've known the music for years . I was introduced to the music when I was much younger, but I didn't see the show until it came to Singapore in 2013. I watched Claire Lyon as Christine and Brad Little as the Phantom, and I was just mesmerised by the production value and the incredible music. As soon as the chandelier rose, I just knew it was something I had to do one day. What about Christine's character were you most drawn to? I love how compassionate she is, but I also appreciate how brave the character is. Although she's a woman living in the Victorian era, she's incredibly headstrong and resilient. I like to think that she's seriously ahead of her time and is somewhat constricted by the period she's living in. What is the most challenging part about playing Christine? I'd say the sheer amount of stage time. I'm quite lucky that Christine is in my wheelhouse vocally, so I don't find the singing too challenging. However, Christine just doesn't really leave the stage, especially in act two. Having enough stamina and fitness to keep up with the role is something I had to find quite early on in my journey. Grace Roberts as Christine in 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again'. Courtesy of Base Entertainment Asia What has it been like to perform alongside Ben Forster as the Phantom and Matt Leisy as Raoul? It's wonderful, I absolutely adore them both! They bring such life and uniqueness to the roles, and it's truly a pleasure to work alongside them every night. We're having the time of our lives up there. Do you have a favourite scene or song to perform in the show? I love doing the graveyard scene—that's 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again' through to 'Wandering Child'. I find that it's incredibly layered, and it's the culmination of everything Christine has learned in the show so far. It gives her some resolution and direction to take her through the rest of the show. Do you have a dream role you would like to play in the future? I'd absolutely love to play Glinda from Wicked . It's the only other role on my theatre bucket list, aside from Christine. The Phantom of the Opera runs until 22 June 2025.
New Paper
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Phantom Of The Opera's lead actress, who grew up in Singapore, excited about homecoming show
While stage actress Grace Roberts is British, she considers herself an honorary Singaporean. So, returning to the Lion City feels like a homecoming for the London-based performer, who plays the female lead role of Christine in the upcoming Singapore run of the popular musical The Phantom Of The Opera. Her family migrated to Singapore from Britain when she was a six-week-old baby, and she lived here until she was 18, attending local schools and eating local food. Even after leaving what she calls her home city, she returns quite often. Ahead of the show's opening night at Marina Bay Sands' Sands Theatre on May 9, Roberts tells The Straits Times: "It always feels great to be back. "I have so many fond memories here, from watching Imax movies at Science Centre Singapore to playing around the water fountains at Bugis Junction. I have visited the Singapore Zoo at least 50 times and loved its water play area when I was younger." She also enjoys her satay, chicken rice, char kway teow and Old Chang Kee curry puffs. Roberts, who is in her late 20s, has been playing the titular antagonist's love interest on The Phantom Of The Opera's international tour since 2024. She has performed in Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, and in Mumbai in India. This will be The Phantom Of The Opera's fifth run in Singapore. It was first performed here at the Kallang Theatre in 1995 and then at the Esplanade Theatre in 2007. Live entertainment company Base Entertainment Asia presented the musical at Sands Theatre in 2013 and 2019. In a full-circle moment, she first saw the 2013 production as a teenager, and fell in love with its story, music and costumes. With music by legendary British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the show premiered in London in 1986. It features some of the most iconic numbers in musical theatre, such as its haunting title track, the spellbinding The Music Of The Night and the operatic ballad All I Ask Of You. "The show was so grand," recalls Roberts. "Everyone has heard of it, and everyone knows the organ, the chandelier. As a young performer, you just aspire to be part of something so epic. Being able to sing Think Of Me and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again every night, it feels so amazing." She adds: "I think I have been practising for this role for more than five years in my bedroom." British actress Grace Roberts as Christine in The Phantom Of The Opera musical. PHOTO: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA SINGAPORE 2025 One of her character's defining moments is belting out the ending high note with no accompaniment at the title track's climax. She says: "I get a big chord from the orchestra, sing three Cs, and then I am on my own. I have to hit it well, because it is so exposed. Thankfully, the stage lighting is on me, so I can't see the audience that much. It removes some nerves because it is like there is nobody there. "I sometimes do get nervous, but I have done so many shows now that it feels like second nature." Her family members still live here and have links to Tanglin Trust School, a British international school located in Portsdown Road. Roberts moved here from Britain when she was only six weeks old, and she lived here until she was 18. PHOTO: JENNIE SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Her father, Mr David Roberts, still teaches English at the school. Her mother, Mrs Sian Roberts, who is retired, used to teach German there. Both are in their 50s. Her older sister Megan, now a director in a professional services firm in Singapore, also attended the school. Grace Roberts, who attended Parry Primary School (now known as Xinghua Primary School), was from Tanglin Trust School's 2014 cohort during her teen years. She played the female lead Audrey in its production of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors, and was awarded the Tanglin Alumni of the Year Award for Excellence in the Arts in February. Roberts (left) in a production of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors at Tanglin Trust School, located at Portsdown Road, in 2014. In the show, she played the female lead Audrey, opposite her schoolmate Kyle Portnoy (right), who acted in the role of Seymour. PHOTO: TANGLIN TRUST SCHOOL When she turned 18, she moved to London to train at the Royal Academy of Music and graduated in 2018. Roberts, who is engaged to fellow Britain-based theatre actor Simon Whitaker, played The Young Wife in the off-West End production of Hello Again in 2019, and appeared in a concert version of the musical Les Miserables in Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, in 2018. Roberts (front row, in front of cake) celebrating her seventh birthday at a McDonald's restaurant in Hougang with her schoolmates from Parry Primary School, and some family friends. Parry Primary School merged with Xinghua Primary School in 2007. PHOTO: COURTESY OF GRACE ROBERTS The soprano credits her classical training to her former singing teacher Hawk Liu, a Singaporean who gave her vocal lessons when she was 15 to 18. "He shaped my technique and artistry, introducing me to cantatas composed by Bach and works by Mozart. He really pushed me, and I would not have known I could do what I can do, had he not been my teacher. I genuinely believe he is responsible for my voice's trajectory, and we are still in touch." Singapore's melting pot of cultures and diverse arts scene were also instrumental in shaping her artistic journey, she adds. Roberts - who is also the writer and editor of Pixie Dust And Passports, a travel blog which focuses on theme park- and Disney-related content - says: "Growing up here, I saw ballet and opera shows, zitar performances, gospel choirs and Disney On Ice extravaganzas. There were small local shows as well as Wicked and Les Miserables. "There was so much available to me that would not necessarily have been the case had I been living in another country, and I am thankful for all of it." Book It/The Phantom Of The Opera Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue When: May 9 to June 22; 8pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 2pm (Saturdays), 1 and 6.30pm (Sundays) Admission: $93 to $298 via Marina Bay Sands ( and Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to
The Star
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Phantom Of The Opera's lead actress, who grew up in Singapore, excited about homecoming show
SINGAPORE: While stage actress Grace Roberts is British, she considers herself an honorary Singaporean. So, returning to the Lion City feels like a homecoming for the London-based performer, who plays the female lead role of Christine in the upcoming Singapore run of the popular musical The Phantom Of The Opera. Her family migrated to Singapore from Britain when she was a six-week-old baby, and she lived here until she was 18, attending local schools and eating local food. Even after leaving what she calls her home city, she returns quite often. Ahead of the show's opening night at Marina Bay Sands' Sands Theatre on May 9, Roberts tells The Straits Times: 'It always feels great to be back. 'I have so many fond memories here, from watching Imax movies at Science Centre Singapore to playing around the water fountains at Bugis Junction. I have visited the Singapore Zoo at least 50 times and loved its water play area when I was younger.' She also enjoys her satay, chicken rice, char kway teow and Old Chang Kee curry puffs. Roberts, who is in her late 20s, has been playing the titular antagonist's love interest on The Phantom Of The Opera's international tour since 2024. She has performed in Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, and in Mumbai in India. Roberts (left) in a production of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors at Tanglin Trust School, located at Portsdown Road, in 2014. In the show, she played the female lead Audrey, opposite her schoolmate Kyle Portnoy (right), who acted in the role of Seymour. - TANGLIN TRUST SCHOOL This will be The Phantom Of The Opera's fifth run in Singapore. It was first performed here at the Kallang Theatre in 1995 and then at the Esplanade Theatre in 2007. Live entertainment company Base Entertainment Asia presented the musical at Sands Theatre in 2013 and 2019. In a full-circle moment, she first saw the 2013 production as a teenager, and fell in love with its story, music and costumes. With music by legendary British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the show premiered in London in 1986. It features some of the most iconic numbers in musical theatre, such as its haunting title track, the spellbinding The Music Of The Night and the operatic ballad All I Ask Of You. 'The show was so grand,' recalls Roberts. 'Everyone has heard of it, and everyone knows the organ, the chandelier. As a young performer, you just aspire to be part of something so epic. Being able to sing Think Of Me and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again every night, it feels so amazing.' She adds: 'I think I have been practising for this role for more than five years in my bedroom.' One of her character's defining moments is belting out the ending high note with no accompaniment at the title track's climax. She says: 'I get a big chord from the orchestra, sing three Cs, and then I am on my own. I have to hit it well, because it is so exposed. Thankfully, the stage lighting is on me, so I can't see the audience that much. It removes some nerves because it is like there is nobody there. 'I sometimes do get nervous, but I have done so many shows now that it feels like second nature.' Her family members still live here and have links to Tanglin Trust School, a British international school located in Portsdown Road. Roberts (front row, in front of cake) celebrating her seventh birthday at a McDonald's restaurant in Hougang with her schoolmates from Parry Primary School, and some family friends. Parry Primary School merged with Xinghua Primary School in 2007. - COURTESY OF GRACE ROBERTS Her father, David Roberts, still teaches English at the school. Her mother, Sian Roberts, who is retired, used to teach German there. Both are in their 50s. Her older sister Megan, now a director in a professional services firm in Singapore, also attended the school. Grace Roberts, who attended Parry Primary School (now known as Xinghua Primary School), was from Tanglin Trust School's 2014 cohort during her teen years. She played the female lead Audrey in its production of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors, and was awarded the Tanglin Alumni of the Year Award for Excellence in the Arts in February. The soprano credits her classical training to her former singing teacher Hawk Liu, a Singaporean who gave her vocal lessons when she was 15 to 18. 'He shaped my technique and artistry, introducing me to cantatas composed by Bach and works by Mozart. He really pushed me, and I would not have known I could do what I can do, had he not been my teacher. I genuinely believe he is responsible for my voice's trajectory, and we are still in touch.' Singapore's melting pot of cultures and diverse arts scene were also instrumental in shaping her artistic journey, she adds. Roberts – who is also the writer and editor of Pixie Dust And Passports, a travel blog which focuses on theme park- and Disney-related content – says: 'Growing up here, I saw ballet and opera shows, zitar performances, gospel choirs and Disney On Ice extravaganzas. There were small local shows as well as Wicked and Les Miserables. 'There was so much available to me that would not necessarily have been the case had I been living in another country, and I am thankful for all of it.' Book It/The Phantom Of The Opera Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue When: May 9 to June 22; 8pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 2pm (Saturdays), 1 and 6.30pm (Sundays) Admission: $93 to $298 via Marina Bay Sands ( and Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Phantom Of The Opera's lead actress, who grew up in Singapore, excited about homecoming show
Grace Roberts (foreground) as Christine in The Phantom Of The Opera musical, with Jonathan Roxmouth as the Phantom. PHOTO: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA SINGAPORE 2025 Phantom Of The Opera's lead actress, who grew up in Singapore, excited about homecoming show SINGAPORE – While stage actress Grace Roberts is British, she considers herself an honorary Singaporean. So, returning to the Lion City feels like a homecoming for the London-based performer, who plays the female lead role of Christine in the upcoming Singapore run of the popular musical The Phantom Of The Opera. Her family migrated to Singapore from Britain when she was a six-week-old baby, and she lived here until she was 18, attending local schools and eating local food. Even after leaving what she calls her home city, she returns quite oft en. Ahead of the show's opening night at Marina Bay Sands' Sands Theatre on May 9, Roberts tells The Straits Times: 'It always feels great to be back. 'I have so many fond memories here, from watching Imax movies at Science Centre Singapore to playing around the water fountains at Bugis Junction. I have visited the Singapore Zoo at least 50 times and loved its water play area when I was younger.' She also enjoys her satay, chicken rice, char kway teow and Old Chang Kee curry puffs. Roberts, who is in her late 20s, has been playing the titular antagonist's love interest on The Phantom Of The Opera's international tour since 2024. She has performed in Chinese cities such as Shangh ai, Bei jing and Guangzhou, and in Mumb ai in India. This will be The Phantom Of The Opera's fifth run in Singapore. It was first performed here at the Kallang Theatre in 1995 and then at the Esplanade Theatre in 2007. Live entertainment company Base Entertainment Asia presented the musical at Sands Theatre in 2013 and 2019. In a full-circle moment, she first saw the 2013 production as a teenager , and fell in love with its story, music and costumes. With music by legendary British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the show premiered in London in 1986. It features some of the most iconic numbers in musical theatre, such as its haunting title track, the spellbinding The Music Of The Night and the operatic ballad All I Ask Of You. 'T he show was so grand,' recalls Roberts . 'Everyone has heard of it, and eve ryone knows the organ, the chandelier. As a young performer, you ju st aspire to be part of something so epic. Being able to sing Think Of Me and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again every night, it feels so amazing.' She adds: 'I think I have been practising for this role for more than five years in my bedroom.' British actress Grace Roberts as Christine in The Phantom Of The Opera musical. PHOTO: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA SINGAPORE 2025 One of her character's defining moments is belting out the ending high not e with no accompaniment at the title track's climax. She says : 'I get a big chord from the orchestra, sing three Cs, and then I am on my own. I have to hit it well, because it is so exposed. Thankfully, the stage lighting is on me, so I can't see the audience that muc h. I t removes som e nerves because it is like there is nobody there. 'I sometimes do get nervous, but I have done so many shows now that it feels like second nature.' Her family members still live here an d have links to Tanglin Trust School, a British international school located in Portsdown Road. Roberts moved here from Britain when she was only six weeks old, and she lived here until she was 18. PHOTO: JENNIE SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Her father, Mr David Roberts, still teaches English at the school. Her mother, Mrs Sian Roberts, who is retired, used to teach German there. Both are in their 50s. Her older sister Megan, now a director in a professional services firm in Singapore, also attended the school. Grace Roberts, who attended Parry Primary School (now known as Xinghua Primary School), was from Tanglin Trust School's 2014 cohort during her teen years. She played the female lead Audrey in its production of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors, and was awarded the Tanglin Alumni of the Year Award for Excellence in the Arts in Februa ry. Roberts (left) in a production of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors at Tanglin Trust School, located at Portsdown Road, in 2014. In the show, she played the female lead Audrey, opposite her schoolmate Kyle Portnoy (right), who acted in the role of Seymour. PHOTO: TANGLIN TRUST SCHOOL When she turned 18, she moved to London to train at the Royal Academy of Music and graduated in 2018. Roberts, who is engaged to fellow Britain-based theatre actor Simon Whitaker, played The Young Wife in the off-West End production of Hello Again in 2019, an d appeared in a concert version of the musical Les Miserables in Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, in 2018. Roberts (front row, in front of cake) celebrating her seventh birthday at a McDonald's restaurant in Hougang with her schoolmates from Parry Primary School, and some family friends. Parry Primary School merged with Xinghua Primary School in 2007. PHOTO: COURTESY OF GRACE ROBERTS The soprano credi ts h er classical training to her former singing teacher Hawk Liu, a Singaporean who gave her vocal lessons when she was 15 to 18. 'He shaped my technique and artistry, introducing me to cantatas composed by Bach and works by Mozart. He really pushed me, an d I would not have known I could do what I can do, had he not been my teacher. I genuinely believe he is responsible for my voice's trajectory, and we are still in touch.' Singapore's melting pot of cultures and diverse arts scene were also instrumental in shaping her artistic journey, she adds. Roberts – who is also the writer and editor of Pixie Dust And Passports, a travel blog which focuses on theme park- and Disney-related conte nt – says: 'Growing up here, I saw ballet and opera shows, zitar performances, gospel choirs and Disney On Ice extravaganzas. There were small local shows as well as Wicked and Les Miserables. 'There was so much available to me that would not necessarily have been the case had I been living in another country, and I am thankful for all of it.' Book It/The Phantom Of The Opera Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue When: May 9 to June 22; 8pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 2pm (Saturdays), 1 and 6.30pm (Sundays) Admission: $93 to $298 via Marina Bay Sands ( and Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to Benson Ang is lifestyle correspondent at The Straits Times. He writes lifestyle and entertainment features, as well as concert and theatre reviews. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
