Disney's Beauty And The Beast

The tale of Beauty And The Beast, about the unlikely romance between a female villager and a cursed prince, might be as old as time.

- Eddino Abdul Hadi

PERTH -

But for Indian-Australian actress Shubshri Kandiah, who plays Belle in the reimagined musical adaptation, it is a story that continues to resonate with many today.

"At the core of it, messages like not judging a book by its cover, and themes like love and friendship, are still relevant," she tells The Straits Times in an interview at Crown Theatre in Perth, Australia, where the stage production is currently running.

Australian actor Brendan Xavier, who is of Indian and Dutch descent, portrays the Beast.

Based on the Oscar-winning 1991 animated film of the same name, Disney's Beauty And The Beast will head to Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands from Dec 11, its only stop in Asia.

The original 1994 Beauty And The Beast musical played for more than 13 years on Broadway and toured 37 countries.

The updated version, which launched in 2021, still showcases beloved songs like Be Our Guest and the title track, but has been refreshed to feature new sets, choreography and state-of-the-art technology.

The Singapore run will also include home-grown talents in roles such as Chip, the young boy who turned into a teacup.

Says the musical's American director and choreographer Matt West in a Zoom interview: "I think it's really important to include people from the region where we're playing to create a unique and authentic experience."

He was the choreographer on the original production, which was Disney's first Broadway venture.

Disney's Beauty And The Beast's cast and creatives tell ST why the musical has such broad appeal and something for everyone, from fans of musicals and Disney to couples and families.

FOR MUSICAL FANS: THE CLASSIC BROADWAY EXPERIENCE

The show's musical director Luke Hunter says it offers the classic Broadway experience. "It's spectacular, ornate and vibrant. It has these huge production numbers and a classic Broadway score," the Australian tells ST.