GWOT 2015 Beatrice Chia
Beatrice Chia-Richmond, Creative Director, NDP 2016 Show, Great Women Of Our 2015 Arts & Media winner

She is already an award-winning actress, director and producer, and the Creative Director of the National Day Parade back in 2011. And in June last year, Beatrice Chia-Richmond completed her biggest theatrical production – as Creative Director of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. This year, the 42-year-old returns once again to helm the NDP 2016 Show as Creative Director. We find out what drives Beatrice, a mum-of-one, forward to handle these huge roles:

On the challenge of the SEA Games
“We have been working on this for one and a half years, which is a very long time to sustain a steady focus. So I had to find ways to consistently recharge myself, and find new ways to solve problems. Because a creative director is the heart and soul of a production. How can you inspire others when you are not motivated yourself?”

“Motherhood keeps me balanced”
“When you work on a major project like the SEA Games, your life gets out of whack. So I spend time with my seven-year-old son. I take him for a swim or a bike ride, have a meal or just talk… the simple stuff we do together gets me back on an even keel.”

“Learn to look at the big picture”
“The bigger the show, the less it is about you. The creative director provides artistic vision that everybody works towards. A show is everybody’s show, and the faster you figure that out, the better it is for everyone.”

“I know how to pick my battles now”
“It is impossible to please everyone and produce a great show. The bigger the production, the more people are involved, and their needs and inconveniences surface. So pick your battles wisely; you can’t fight every single thing, or win every single thing. Just focus on your priorities – then you can overcome obstacles.”

What we can expect in this year’s NDP
“Because it’s the year after our Golden Jubilee, …this (show) is the first show of the next 50 years. One of the key things is to look forward, as opposed to being too retrospective. That means we have to work harder because… there are no crystal balls to look into the future to say exactly what is going to happen. So a lot of it is our hopes and our dreams.”

Which performance or prop is your favourite?
“The unicorn! It can be seen in Act 3: Dare to dream, It’s an impressive prop which weighs 175 kg and is 2.75 metres tall.”

What do you hope to achieve with this NDP?
“I hope that everything goes smoothly as planned after so much rehearsals and planning. The NDP 2016 Show is a culmination of a one-year long prep, and I hope when the audience arrives and while they’re watching it, they will be moved and engaged. It’s a special parade for Singapore’s 51st birthday.”

Additional Reporting: NDP 2016 Official Website, Sean Tan, Natalya Molok