December 7th, 2006 - A new non-profit professional Singaporean theatre company with a French Touch has been founded by Nathalie Ribette. Created to promote cultural exchange, Sing'theatre is the first local company to produce English-language shows with Singapore-based artists drawing on the French cultural heritage and, in particular, on the Parisian entertainment scene. The company's inaugural show, No Regrets, a tribute to Edith Piaf, celebrates the extraordinary life of the most popular French singer of the 1950's, creator of the legendary song La Vie en rose.

 

"Since moving here in 1998, I have been observing how Singapore is establishing itself as a global city of the arts", said French director Nathalie Ribette, founder of Sing'theatre."Singapore's identity being based both on its unique ethnic blending and its global city character, it is well known for the constant interaction of traditional and new contemporary arts. Sing'theatre's mission to promote cultural exchange fits perfectly in this national context."

Sing'theatre brings plays, musicals, composers and singers from France to a wide Singaporean audience, showcasing Singapore-based artists performing in English. It promotes artistic and cultural exchange through collaboration between the French and the Singaporean multi-ethnic performing arts communities. Sing'theatre also aims to join together the English and French speaking communities through theatre and to contribute to Singapore's nationwide efforts to bring a new audience to theatre.

Sing'theatre was founded by Nathalie Ribette, a French national, who has been involved in the performing arts in Singapore since 1998 and is a member of the Alliance Française Board. Nathalie made her debut playing Stella Spotlight in Starmania, a rock musical. Since then she has been seen in about 20 productions and has worked for Wild Rice. In November 2002, she directed and produced a Franco-Singaporean version of Notre Dame de Paris. In 2003, Nathalie produced and directed No Regrets, a tribute to Edith Piaf. Supported by artists like Hossan Leong, Glen Goei, Alvin Tan and Haresh Sharma, she has drawn Sing'theatre's artistic guidelines and missions under the mentorship of Ivan Heng, Wild Rice founder and artistic director. "I am delighted that Nathalie has decided to launch her theatre company", said Ivan Heng, "Sing'theatre promises an exciting exchange between cultures and this augurs well for Singapore's diverse arts scene".

Sing'theatre's inaugural production will be a restaging of No Regrets, a tribute to Edith Piaf. This poignant musical was both an artistic and commercial success in 2003, playing to packed houses with a standing ovation every night. The original cast - Hossan Leong, Emma Yong, Leigh McDonald, Asha and the French soprano Aurore -, directed by Nathalie Ribette, will pay tribute in English and French to the Diva. The musical will be staged from March 27th to April 1st, 2007, during Francophone Month, aimed at promoting French culture worldwide.

"Edith Piaf sang timeless and universal songs expressing the human condition that have inspired many international artists with their emotional power", explains Nathalie Ribette, "Her destiny is truly extraordinary: she began as a child singing on the streets of Paris and became the highest paid singer in the world, topping the charts in France, the UK and the United-States, whilst enduring tragic misfortunes in her personal life". The show, combining elements of theatre and musical, will tell her poignant story in a nostalgic, intimate, black and white ambiance. As host and narrator, Hossan Leong will transport the audience together with live music and singing from La Vie en Rose to No Regrets via The Three Bells. No Regrets, a tribute to Edith Piaf is presented by Cortal Consors, the specialist of expatriates banking services of the BNP Paribas Group.