“We were so touched and so deeply moved by the show. As a 61-year-old man who just had a national medal given to me, I can say that I have never felt my Singaporeaness more deeply than I did tonight.”
Jeremy Monteiro (Cultural Medallion Winner, 2002, and Public Service Medal Recipient, 2021)
Thank you so much for wanting to support Wild Rice. Be among the first audiences in Singapore to watch Don’t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita! This spectacular musical tribute to Zubir Said takes the place of Wild Rice’s traditional Rice Ball, and serves as a critical fundraiser for us in these difficult times.
Why We Need Your Support
The past 18 months have been devastating for Singapore’s performing arts industry. Wild Rice was compelled to close its theatre for eight months during last year’s circuit-breaker, and twice again this year. This has resulted in the cancellation of 12 productions and a substantial loss of $1.5M in revenue.
In the face of these difficult times, Wild Rice has valiantly pressed on, even whilst operating at just 25% to 40% of our theatre’s capacity. With the aid of last year’s virtual Rice Ball, we have managed to achieve the following:
- Staged 190 performances across 14 productions.
- Entertained more than 18,000 audience members.
- Provided more than 500 jobs for freelancers in the performing arts industry.
- Engaged over 1,500 students and young people through our educational and community outreach programmes.
The support that we receive from the Rice Ball is a crucial lifeline that underpins the important work we do. It is therefore heartbreaking that we cannot come together as we have in years past, due to prevailing health and safety regulations.
In its place, this premiere of Don’t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita will be a crucial fundraiser for us. By bringing your friends and family to this event, you will be making a vital contribution to Wild Rice’s survival – literally our “Rice Bowl”. You will be helping to secure our future and the livelihoods of the many people who work with us, as we navigate the long and challenging road to recovery.
About The Event
Uplifting, thought-provoking and exhilarating in equal measure, Don’t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita celebrates the life and legacy of Zubir Said, the late, great composer of Singapore’s National Anthem and beloved classics such as Semoga Bahagia.
The show is written and performed by Julian Wong, one of the country’s leading music directors, and directed with keen insight and visual flair by Cultural Medallion winner Ivan Heng. Representing Wild Rice at its very best, Don’t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita is exciting theatre that brings together people from all walks of life, nurtures new talent, and leaves a legacy for future generations.
The dress code for this event is Orang Singapura (People of Singapore), so come in your best national dress!
How You Can Help
We would be so grateful for your support. Donation options from $500 to $10,000 are available for packages of 2, 5 and 10 seats.
All donations will be eligible for 250% tax deduction.
For visitor safety information, click here.
