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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.
Time Out
02-05-2025
- Science
- Time Out
The brilliant Eta Aquariids meteor shower peaks on May 6 and 7 – here's how to catch it
It's not every day that you get to see shooting stars, but there's a dazzling one coming right up that we think is worth the effort of seeing. The Eta Aquariids meteor shower is set to peak on May 6 and 7. It's tipped to be one of the best – if not the best – meteor showers of the year, with up to 60 meteors per hour visible under clear conditions during peak night. You can thank Halley's Comet for the show, which leaves a train of debris as it sweeps through the solar system. The Earth occasionally crosses paths with this "rubble", which burns up spectacularly in our atmosphere, leaving long, glowing trains that we see as shooting stars. If you're an avid stargazer or just keen for some celestial excitement here in Asia, then here's a guide to catching the Eta Aquariids this May. What is the Eta Aquariids meteor shower? It's an annual meteor shower that occurs when Earth crosses the trail of debris left by Halley's Comet. It's considered a strong meteor shower, with up to 60 meteors per hour visible under ideal conditions during peak night. These meteors enter our atmosphere at around 65 kilometres per second, producing streaks of light in the sky. These meteors appear to originate from the constellation Aquarius, specifically from the star Eta Aquarii, hence the name Eta Aquariids. When is the 2025 Eta Aquariids meteor shower? The meteor shower is already active! This year, it occurs between April 20 and May 21. When does the 2025 Eta Aquariids meteor shower peak? The Eta Aquariids are expected to peak from May 6 to 7. When is the best time to watch the 2025 Eta Aquariids meteor shower? Science Centre Singapore recommends watching the meteor shower at 3 am. This is when the radiant point of the meteor shower is higher in the night sky. It's also after the bright gibbous moon sets, so there's no need to worry about its glow drowning out the meteor shower. How can I see the Eta Aquariid meteor shower? First, make sure you're in a dark location away from blinding city lights and other sources of light pollution. There's no need for binoculars or a telescope, but give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Locate the Aquarius constellation, but don't stare directly at it. Instead, scan the area around the constellation and look out for stars with long trains shooting across the sky.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SG60 deals: Up to 60% off local attraction tickets
SG60 deals have been rolled out as part of Singapore's celebration of its 60th birthday. The SG60 deals, offered by 23 local attractions, such as the Bird Paradise and Science Centre Singapore, are meant for Singaporeans and permanent residents. The deals were announced by Minister of State for Trade and Industry Mr Alvin Tan on 6 Mar (Thu) in the debate over his ministry's 2025 budget. Check out these highlights. Celebrate Easter at Asia's biggest bird park, the Bird Paradise Singapore. Between 15 Mar and 20 Apr, children enter free with every full-paying adult, exclusively for residents. Kids Enter Free (1 Adult + 1 Child) – WildPass Rate from S$49 at 20 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729825 +65 6100 0694 Daily: 9am – 6pm | | Redeem SG60 deals at the Gardens by the Bay by enjoying more than 60 percent off on unlimited visits to 6 gorgeous floral displays, including Sakura and Tulipmania at the Flower Dome at just S$22 from 8 Mar to 12 Oct. Adult Ticket from S$22 and Child (Aged 3-12) Ticket from S$15 at 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953 +65 6420 6848 Daily: 5am – 2am | | Celebrate SG60 at SuperPark Singapore, a family-oriented indoor recreation complex with tube slides, pedal cars and obstacle courses. Buy 2 tickets and enjoy 60 percent off the 3rd ticket. Also, seniors above the age of 60 get 60 percent off admission. Only available for online bookings, use the promo code SG60 at checkout. Regular Off-Peak Ticket from S$30.90 and Senior Ticket from S$12.36 at 3 Temasek Boulevard, #02-477, Singapore 038983 +65 6239 5360 Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 8pm Sat & Sun: 9am – 9pm | | Budget 2025: $800 CDC vouchers, $500 in LifeSG credits and thousands more announced The post SG60 deals: Up to 60% off local attraction tickets appeared first on
