Committed to Bringing Music and Theatre to Everyone

Committed to bringing music and theatre to everyone

Sing’theatre Annual Report 2018 Mission Performing for a better society

By producing musical By making music and By empowering youth revues and shows that theatre universally and the community as open social dialogues accessible especially a whole by sharing our in the Singaporean in hospitals, reaching passion for performing community and promote out in particular to and providing top -level multicultural interaction the most isolated musical theatre training and underprivileged patients Vision Our vision is to be a creative platform that uses music and theatre to create an inspiring future

CONTENTS

02 Mission & Values 10 Board of Directors and Advisors 03 Message from the Chair 13 Corporate Governance 04 Message from the Executive Director 17 Management & Staff

05 A Look into the Future 18 Policies

06 Our Three Pillars 19 Financial Statements

07 Production 24 Highlights

08 Community Outreach 26 Acknowledgements

09 Academy 27 Company Information

2 MESSAGE from the Chair

On behalf of the Board I would like to Sing’theatre stands for: Generosity, Perfection congratulate Sing’theatre for the year and Authenticity. We warmly thank our generous 2018 when Nathalie Ribette and her team donors for supporting us to accomplish our mission. have worked relentlessly at bringing joy We are very grateful to the Singapore Government and skills to the Singaporean Community for renewing our IPC status which gives our corporate though musical theatre. and private donors a 250% tax deduction. We thank the Cultural Matching fund for doubling the value of Sing’theatre has produced two excellent plays that qualifying cash donations we receive. required very talented actors. Moliere et Moi and Souvenir. The demand for TJ’s classes has been so The Board is committed to supporting Sing’theatre in popular that we had to hire a new teacher, Luka, to this new year, when we will launch, in collaboration double Sing’theatre’s teaching capacity. with SingHealth, the program “365 Days of music @ SingHealth”. This is an ambitious and worthwhile This year again, Syahindah and the whole team have venture where Sing’theatre will need to raise much brought so much joy to hundreds of Singaporean larger sums than in the past. patients and their families through Sing’theatre’s outreach programs: MusicFest@SGH, Sing Me A Story @ We warmly thank our volunteers, our donors, our NUH and Once Upon A Song @TTSH, while Take Them Out supporters, our board members and mostly Nathalie has brought music and theatre to those who probably and her team for building a better Society through needed it most. music and theatre.

The Johnny Hallyday Tribute, the fundraiser for the Sincerely, community outreach programs, embodied what Alexandra De Mello Mirjam

3 MESSAGE from the Executive Director

Sing’theatre Ltd. has grown in its vision Through its community outreach program, and reach since its inception in 2006. Sing’theatre has touched thousands of patients and visitors in hospitals such as Singapore General Though it was initially formed to promote Hospital, National University Hospital and Tan Tock French culture, performing arts and Seng Hospital and has plans to expand its programs to artistes in Singapore and to provide an all hospitals and clinics in the SingHealth group. avenue for cultural exchange between Likewise, the production pillar and Academy pillar also France and Singapore, Sing’theatre’s expanded in 2018 with 2 productions and a fund- mission evolved into being a platform that raising concert and increased enrolment and classes in uses music and theatre to help shape an the Academy. inspiring future.

The Board of Directors have strongly supported IPC status was first granted to Sing’theatre in May 2014, Sing’theatre and its mission and my vision. I would this was renewed for a further two years in 2018 till like to thank our Board, staff, donors, volunteers and August 2020. supporters without whom all of this would not have been possible.

Sincerely, Nathalie Durot Ribette

4 Committed to bringing music and theatre to everyone

A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE

Production In 2019 Sing’theatre will present a “A Spoonful of Sherman”, a family friendly musical revue featuring the songs of the Sherman Brothers who wrote the music scores of the all-time favourites Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Jungle Book and It’s A Small World.

Community Outreach Academy Since 2013 Sing’theatre has been bringing music to Our Academy has been providing musical theatre hospitals around Singapore on a regular basis through its training and inspiring passion for musical theatre and community outreach programs. performing arts since 2014. It has grown from strength to strength and aims to achieve a 90% enrolment rate In keeping with our mission of making music and thea- in 2019. tre universally accessible and because we believe that it is vital to provide cultural exposure to all, in 2019 Our training and workshops have been receiving we are aiming at launching a very ambitious program increasing attention and demand and to keep up with “365 Days of Music @SingHealth” – which will bring this a third teacher will be hired in 2019. The number music to hospitals and clinics of the SingHealth group of classes offered will be increased as well. every day of the year. The monthly Open Mic nights have been so popular We are on track to launch it in September 2019. that we have decided to have open mic afternoons for children as well. Our other outreach programs, Once Upon A Song @ TTSH, MusicFest@SGH and Sing Me A Story @NUH shall be ongoing. OUR THREE PILLARS

Production Community Academy 1 We use the musical 2 Outreach 3 We provide an opportunity theatre genre and music Sing’theatre is committed to theatre enthusiasts to produce shows that to bringing music to from all walks of life to bring social conversations everyone through its learn from and practice and personal struggles outreach programmes with professionals through to the stage. in hospitals our classes.

6 Committed to bringing music and theatre to everyone

PRODUCTION

Through our productions we take current issues in society, give them a unique perspective and make them resonate with Singaporeans.

2018 was a busy year, we produced 2 shows and organized a musical fund-raising concert. We conveyed our message to an audience of approximately 3,160 people in total.

Moliere et Moi Johnny A tribute – Fund raising concert In early 2018 we presented Moliere et Moi, a poignant and humorous homage to the great French playwright, actor and poet Moliere, written Sing’theatre organised a concert in and performed by Jean - Vincent Brisa. The show was a perfect showcase tribute to Johnny Hallyday, one of the for French culture and philosophy. most legendary French singers of all time, on the first anniversary of his It played for 5 performances to a total audience of approximately 600 persons. passing. It featured performances by members of the French speaking and learning community in Singapore and Souvenir offered real stage experience to these very talented amateur performers. This was our biggest production of the year, a play with music based on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, a singer who filled Carnegie Hall to More than 80 volunteers (70 performers capacity despite lacking the capacity to actually sing! and 10 team assistants) donated their time to this cause, and an audience of The play was directed by award winning Singaporean director Samantha 480 persons enjoyed this show! Scott Blackhall and starred British actress Leigh McDonald and Hossan Leong, Singapore’s beloved thespian. All the funds raised from the concert are going to be used to support our Souvenir was about passion and fulfilling your dreams against all odds! musical programmes in hospitals.

The play ran 11 public performances and one VIP night, and although ticket sales were disappointing it received great acclaim from media and audiences alike! “Such a large and diverse group of musicians and singers (to me, they are nothing short of professional!) on this magical “Play about off-key singer hits the right notes” journey in memory of an artiste Akshita Nanda who was a French legend.” The Straits Times Kamini Ramachandran Supporter of Sing’theatre

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Through our community outreach programs, we bring music and theatre to those who have limited access to it. Our outreach programs that ran in 2018 were MusicFest@SGH, Sing Me A Story @NUH, Once Upon A Song @TTSH and Take Them Out.

MusicFest@SGH Sing Me A Story @NUH

The 6th edition of MusicFest@SGH was held on 11 May 2018 on the Every two weeks all year long in 2018, Singapore General Hospital campus. Sing Me A Story brought joy, happiness and magic to children in the paediatric 260 performers including household names like Chua Enlai and Benjamin wards of National University Hospital Kheng presented over 50 hours of music and 100 performances at 20 through talented artists dressed up as locations all across the SGH campus. The day culminated in a concert which fairy tale characters. was attended by over 400 persons including patients, a number never reached before! Once Upon A Song @TTSH Since its inception in 2013 MusicFest has brought approximately 2,000 artists and musicians and 218 hours of live music to over 32,000 patients Since its launch in March 2017, Once and caregivers! Upon A Song has presented an hour- long concert on the first Monday of every month in the atrium at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

“Thank you once again for bringing music to SGH through An estimated 3,000 people have MusicFest@SGH. Even more than the music MusicFest brings watched one or more of the concerts! joy, comfort, healing and friendship to us all. Congratulations on a hugely successful event. MusicFest is a hugely important event on SGH’s calendar. I truly treasure the partnership, collaboration Take Them Out and friendship forged and we are committed to developing this enduring partnership even further” To be faithful to our mission of giving back to Singaporean society, Kenneth Kwek CEO of SGH Sing’theatre reserves seats for an under-privileged group for at least “Music for a day to keep the hospital blues away”” one show of each of its productions, followed by a meet and greet with the The Straits Times director and cast.

In 2018 in collaboration with AIDHA we offered 32 complimentary tickets to Foreign Domestic Workers for Souvenir. Committed to bringing music and theatre to everyone

ACADEMY

As part of our mission to provide top level musical theatre training, Sing’theatre Academy offers classes that focus on developing skills in singing, dancing and acting. Our teachers challenge students to improve their skills through class activities and show preparation. Students get a chance to perform in the Academy musicals and showcases as well as external performances such as MusicFest, throughout the year.

The classes and workshops provide an opportunity to 9 open mic nights were organized by our Academy in • Develop knowledge and appreciation of the musical 2018. Open mic nights offer an opportunity for musical theatre genre theatre lovers from different walks of life to try out • Develop skills and techniques in singing, dancing their vocal skills in the company of likeminded persons and acting accompanied by our teachers and a professional pianist for a very nominal entry fee. The aim is to create a • Develop creativity, self-confidence, empathy, inter community of musical theatre lovers in Singapore. From personal communication skills, and its inception on 2017 nearly 1400 people have attended • Most of all, have fun! these fun nights. The Academy provides unique avenues to companies to In addition to all of the above our teachers conduct bring performing arts to their employees by customizing musical theatre coaching in various schools around workshops for them. Singapore such as Lasalle, Greenridge Primary, Tanglin In 2018 various workshops conducted by local and Trust etc. international (West End) industry professionals were 2018 was a big year for the Academy. The total enrolment organized giving students an opportunity to learn from increased from 82 in 2017 Term 1 to 160 in 2018 Term 1. the best in the business. To keep up with this a second full-time teacher was hired in August 2018.

“High quality, fun and a positive learning environment is guaranteed with this professional, charity based, provider of musical theatre training for any age group. Sing’theatre’s wonderful coaches will help to boost your confidence, whilst accepting who you are. If you feel more comfortable in the audience, come and watch their shows. Proceeds go to charity and they are excellent!” Simone Rolfe student and parent at the Academy Sing’theatre | Annual Report 2018

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ADVISORS

Alexandra De Mello Nathalie Durot Ribette Stephan Repkow Jacques Rene Chair of the Board and of the Finance Artistic & Executive Director, Member Director, Chair Nomination Committee, Member of the Remuneration Finance & Nomination committees. committee, Member Remuneration and the Nomination Committees. Nathalie is a founding member of and Finance committees. Alexandra is the founder of Alceda, Sing’theatre Ltd and a vice president Stephan has extensive experience a business management and board of the Board of Alliance Française de in banking and financial services in advisory company in Singapore. Singapour. She was awarded the Knight Singapore and has worked in Singapore She is a member of the Board of in the Order of Arts and Letters by for more than two decades and has SwissCham Singapore and is currently the French government in 2010. After made it his home. He is the Founder the Ambassador for the International starting her stage career in 1998, she and CEO of Wealth Management Directorship Network at INSEAD in moved on to producing and directing in Alliance, a financial services company Singapore. She has also served on the 2002 and founded Sing’theatre in 2006. in Singapore. He is also a generous Board of UWCSEA and as a member Nathalie is a strong advocate of the supporter of arts and culture. of the INSEAD council for South East healing power of music and is committed Asia and the President of the INSEAD to bring music to the hospitals through Alumni Association. Sing’theatre.

10 Loke Jee Kwun Judy Bruno Alen-Lebon Director, Chair Remuneration committee, Advisor Member Nomination committee. Bruno has been teaching Drama Judy is an instructional assistant, & languages at ISS International Learning support at the Canadian School, Singapore for the last 18 International School Singapore and years. He has a master’s degree in an Assistant Brigade Commissioner – Elizabethan drama and linguistics The Girls’ Brigade Singapore. and has worked for the French Ministry of Education and the Alliance Française in Sydney and Singapore. He is also a member of MTI Broadway teachers’ group that promotes Musical Theatre for education in secondary schools. He is also a presenter for the Earcos group, specialising in the healing power of musical theatre towards the underprivileged communities in the region.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Board of Directors is committed to advancing Sing’theatre’s mission and guiding it towards achieving high standards of governance and accountability. FINANCE COMMITTEE No Board member is remunerated for their time and service. Nathalie Ribette, who is the Artistic & Executive Director is NOMINATION a full-time employee of Sing’theatre and her remuneration is recommended by the COMMITTEE Remuneration Committee and decided by the Board. She abstains from the discussion and decision making to avoid any conflict of interest. REMUNERATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD COMMITTEE The Board meets regularly, and the following table indicates the meetings held by the Board and its committees and the attendance by members.

Board Meetings The Board of Directors held 3 meetings in 2018., including the Annual General meeting.

Board Meeting Board Member Designation Date Appointed Attendance

Alexandra De Mello Mirjam Board Chair 15 January 2018 3/3

Nathalie Durot Ribette Artistic & Executive Director 10 October 2006 3/3

Loke Jee Kwun Judy Director 1 June 2014 3/3

Stephan Repkow Jacques Rene Director 22 February 2018 3/3 Code of Governance Recognising our duty to the public and our stakeholders, as a charity that has been conferred the status of an Institution of Public Character (IPC), Sing’theatre is committed to complying with the following code of governance to ensure greater transparency and accountability.

S/ Code guideline Code ID Response Explanation N (select (if Code whichever is guideline is applicable) not complied with) Board Governance 1 Induction and orientation are provided to 1.1.2 Complied incoming governing board members upon joining the Board. Are there governing board members holding Yes staff1 appointments? (skip items 2 and 3 if “No”)

2 Staff does not chair the Board and does not 1.1.3 Complied comprise more than one third of the Board.

3 There are written job descriptions for the staff’s 1.1.5 Complied executive functions and operational duties, which are distinct from the staff’s Board role. 4 The Treasurer of the charity (or any person 1.1.7 Complied holding an equivalent position in the charity, e.g. Finance Committee Chairman or a governing board member responsible for overseeing the finances of the charity) can only serve a maximum of 4 consecutive years.

If the charity has not appointed any governing board member to oversee its finances, it will be presumed that the Chairman oversees the finances of the charity. 5 All governing board members must submit 1.1.8 Complied themselves for re-nomination and re- appointment, at least once every 3 years. 6 The Board conducts self evaluation to assess its 1.1.12 Complied We do not performance and effectiveness once during its have a formal term or every 3 years, whichever is shorter. self evaluation procedure but this is done by the Board annually Is there any governing board member who has Yes served for more than 10 consecutive years? (skip item 7 if “No”) 7 The charity discloses in its annual report the 1.1.13 Complied reasons for retaining the governing board member who has served for more than 10 consecutive years. 8 There are documented terms of reference for 1.2.1 Not Complied We are the Board and each of its committees. working on creating the required documentatio n Conflict of Interest

13 S/ Code guideline Code ID Response Explanation N (select (if Code whichever is guideline is applicable) not complied with) 9 There are documented procedures for governing 2.1 Complied board members and staff to declare actual or potential conflicts of interest to the Board at the earliest opportunity. 10 Governing board members do not vote or 2.4 Complied participate in decision making on matters where they have a conflict of interest. Strategic Planning 11 The Board periodically reviews and approves the 3.2.2 Complied strategic plan for the charity to ensure that the charity’s activities are in line with the charity’s objectives. Human Resource and Volunteer2 Management 12 The Board approves documented human resource 5.1 Complied policies for staff. 13 There is a documented Code of Conduct for 5.3 Complied governing board members, staff and volunteers (where applicable) which is approved by the Board. 14 There are processes for regular supervision, 5.5 Not Complied We have appraisal and professional development of staff. informal procedures in place and are working on documentation Are there volunteers serving in the charity? (skip Yes item 15 if “No”) 15 There are volunteer management policies in place 5.7 Complied for volunteers. Financial Management and Internal Controls 16 There is a documented policy to seek the Board’s 6.1.1 Complied approval for any loans, donations, grants or financial assistance provided by the charity which are not part of the charity’s core charitable programmes. 17 The Board ensures that internal controls for 6.1.2 Complied financial matters in key areas are in place with documented procedures. 18 The Board ensures that reviews on the charity’s 6.1.3 Complied internal controls, processes, key programmes and events are regularly conducted. 19 The Board ensures that there is a process to 6.1.4 Complied identify, and regularly monitor and review the charity’s key risks. 20 The Board approves an annual budget for the 6.2.1 Complied charity’s plans and regularly monitors the charity’s expenditure.

14 S/ Code guideline Code ID Response Explanation N (select (if Code whichever is guideline is applicable) not complied with) Does the charity invest its reserves (e.g. in fixed No deposits)? (skip item 21 if “No”) 21 The charity has a documented investment policy 6.4.3 approved by the Board. Fundraising Practices Did the charity receive cash donations (solicited or Yes unsolicited) during the financial year? (skip item 22 if “No”) 22 All collections received (solicited or unsolicited) are 7.2.2 Complied properly accounted for and promptly deposited by the charity. Did the charity receive donations in kind during the Yes financial year? (skip item 23 if “No”) 23 All donations in kind received are properly recorded 7.2.3 Complied and accounted for by the charity. Disclosure and Transparency 24 The charity discloses in its annual report — 8.2 Complied (a) the number of Board meetings in the financial year; and

(b) the attendance of every governing board member at those meetings. Are governing board members remunerated for No their services to the Board? (skip items 25 and 26 if “No”) 25 No governing board member is involved in setting 2.2 his own remuneration. 26 The charity discloses the exact remuneration and 8.3 benefits received by each governing board member in its annual report. OR The charity discloses that no governing board member is remunerated. Does the charity employ paid staff? (skip items 27, Yes 28 and 29 if “No”) 27 No staff is involved in setting his own remuneration. 2.2 Complied

15 S/ Code guideline Code ID Response Explanation N (select (if Code whichever is guideline is applicable) not complied with) 28 The charity discloses in its annual report — 8.4 Complied (a) the total annual remuneration for each of its 3 highest paid staff who each has received remuneration (including remuneration received from the charity’s subsidiaries) exceeding $100,000 during the financial year; and

(b) whether any of the 3 highest paid staff also serves as a governing board member of the charity.

The information relating to the remuneration of the staff must be presented in bands of $100,000. OR The charity discloses that none of its paid staff receives more than $100,000 each in annual remuneration. 29 The charity discloses the number of paid staff who 8.5 Complied satisfies all of the following criteria: (a) the staff is a close member of the family3 belonging to the Executive Head4 or a governing board member of the charity;

(b) the staff has received remuneration exceeding $50,000 during the financial year.

The information relating to the remuneration of the staff must be presented in bands of $100,000. OR The charity discloses that there is no paid staff, being a close member of the family belonging to the Executive Head or a governing board member of the charity, who has received remuneration exceeding $50,000 during the financial year. Public Image 30 The charity has a documented communication 9.2 Not Complied We are policy on the release of information about the working on charity and its activities across all media platforms. creating the required policy

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MANAGEMENT & STAFF

Nathalie Ribette Artistic & Executive Director

Syahindah Rosley TJ Taylor Company Manager Associate Artistic Director

Alice Billy Sunditta Chopra Luka Bjelis Community & Accountant & Musical Theatre Teacher Project Manager Office Manager

The Sing’theatre team is headed by its Founder Nathalie Ribette who is in charge of all three pillars of Sing’theatre namely: Production, Community Outreach and Academy. Nathalie is responsible for the artistic direction of Sing’theatre, fundraising, company development and team management. She is also the Executive Director of Sing’theatre from the time it was formed in October 2006. The Articles of Association of Sing’theatre provide that Nathalie Durot Ribette shall be appointed as Managing Director for life unless she is unable to assume the position due to various reasons.

She is supported by Syahindah and TJ. Syahindah oversees the community outreach and production pillars, all marketing and communications and the Academy in conjunction with TJ who is the head musical theatre teacher, writer and director of Academy shows and in charge of Academy development and client servicing.

In addition to its full-time staff Sing’theatre employs interns during busy times and is assisted by volunteers as and when the need arises.

None of the staff members receives more than $100,000 in annual remuneration. Sing’theatre | Annual Report 2018

POLICIES

Conflict of Interest Donations Sing’theatre has a conflict of interest policy for Board Sing’theatre receives donations through its own web- members, management and staff, whereby they are site, through NVPC’s Giving.sg platform, from corporate required to disclose to the Board or senior management donors and occasionally cash donations from custom- any situations of actual or perceived conflict of interest. ers. Receipts are issued for all donations. Tax deduction receipts are issued for donations of $10 or more that Reserves and Investments qualify for IRAS tax deduction if the donor’s particulars Sing’theatre aims to build up reserves to meet up to are available. one year of operating expenditure. Funding Sources There are no restricted or endowment funds, or invest- Sing’theatre’s community outreach programs and ments. Sing’theatre maintains a current account for productions are funded by donations from the public, operational expenditures and deposits and a separate corporate donors and sponsors, grants from founda- account for funds received from the CMF grant. tions and the government, most importantly the Cultural Matching Fund. The income from the Academy also con- Loans tributes to our operational costs and outreach activities. Sing’theatre does not make loans to any Director or staff member. Human Resource Policies and Procedures The Board approved the human resource policies and procedures in 2018. These will be reviewed each year to update as necessary.

Whistle – blowing policy Sing’theatre does not have a whistle- blowing policy at the moment but is working on one.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Income

$400,000 $350,000 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000

Income in SGD Income $100,000 $50,000 $0 Donations Government Sponsorship Sale of Academy Others Grant Ticket

2018 2017 2016 2015

Expenditure

$500,000 458,680 423,576 412,426 408,427

$400,000 352,114 333,897 306,852

$300,000 288,857

$200,000

$100,000 Expenditure in SGD Expenditure

$0 2018 2017 2016 2015 Financial Year

Cost of charitable activities Governance and Administrative costs

24 Committed to bringing music and theatre to everyone

Reserves and expenditure

900,000 836,002

800,000 747,537 715,279 700,000 686,011 600,000 500,000

400,000 328,004 300,000 207,287 190,813 173,012

Amount in SGD 200,000 100,000 0 2018 2017 2016 2015

Financial Year

Reserves Annual Expenditure

Reserves to Expenditure ratio

0.50 0.45 0.40 0.35 0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05

Reserves to expenditure ratio expenditure Reserves to - 2018 2017 2016 2015 Financial Year

Reserves refers to unrestricted funds. The reserves ratio is expressed as reserves/total annual expenditure.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Supported • Bollore Logistics Singapore Pte Ltd. • JCDecaux Asia (S) Pte Ltd • Cultural Matching Fund • The Lee Foundation • Hong Leong Foundation • National Arts Council, Singapore • Interparfums Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. • Novartis Singapore Pte Ltd. • Bachy Soletanche Singapore Pte Ltd • Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd. • Arts Fund

Friends of EXCELLENT FRIEND SPECIAL FRIENDS Sing’theatre • Henri and Nathalie Nejade • 222 Queen Street Pte Ltd. • Wealth Management Alliance GOOD FRIENDS • WEY Technology Singapore Pte Ltd • Michel Andre Sion • ABN AMRO Bank N.V • Rajgopal Rajkumar

• Ravina Kirpalani VERY GOOD FRIENDS • Mainsh & Michelle Bhatia • Bruno Alen-Lebon • Charmayne Highfield • Judy and Francois Valleteau de Moulliac • Stephan Repkow • Rajeev & Alexandra De Mello • Olivia Dissescou • Alex and Veronique Foucault • Evelyn Quek • Mathieu and Heather Pelier • Yueh Hung Lin • Willem & Arianne Nabarro • Jacqueline Deromedi Committed to bringing music and theatre to everyone