Back in the 90s, actress Koh Chieng Mun became a household name in every Singaporean family for her iconic role as Dolly Tan on Mediacorp’s hit sitcom Under One Roof. Ever since that star turn, Koh has remained mostly booked and busy, continuing with television and film work (including 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians), and even venturing into stand-up comedy at one point. Now, at the age of 64, Koh remains as adventurous and daring as ever, and makes a triumphant return to stage as a leading lady, in brand new theatre show Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding.

Presented by Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT), Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding stars Koh as a 70 year-old matriarch who’s about to get married. Beyond subverting the stereotypes of a young blushing bride, much to her family’s horror, nobody has any idea who she’s about to marry, having never met the groom. There’s dread emanating from her immediate family that it may all be an elaborate scam, and as for the rest of the guests in attendance, there’s plenty of excitement over the mystery man, whose identity will only be revealed at the end of the show.

This isn’t just your ordinary theatre show however, and for one, Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding will take us out of the usual venue to a site-specific, purpose-built performance space at One Farrer Hotel. As the audience, your role is to play an excited invited guest, belonging to one of the countless interest groups and clubs Por Por’s found herself in, from forest bathing to synchronised swimming, napkin folding to gourmet eaters. But beyond the comedy and beyond the mystery, Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding promises to be a celebratory story about family, about passion and of course, about love, not just romantic, but for life itself.

“I’m so grateful to get a main role like this at my age, because many actresses never get the chance to ever play the lead across their careers,” says Koh on being cast. “There are so many parallels between Por Por and my own life, where not only is she close to my age, but also someone who’s gone through all these rites of passage and responsibilities of raising her family, and in a way, is finding that new lease on life again as she aggressively pursues her interests and goes from being this obedient housewife to finding herself and her passions again.”

Koh thinks back to her own responsibilities as a daughter, taking time out to care for her mother for most of the last decade before she passed, similar to how Por Por too looked after her late husband. “In a post-pandemic world, we just want to eat, laugh and relax with our friends to enjoy yourselves and have a good time, so why not come for a party like this, getting dressed to the nines for this wonderful celebration of life?” she says. “That’s why I said yes when I was invited to audition, because I’m grateful to be able to play such a role, and I trust the creative team behind it, who I call some of my dearest friends.”

Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding is written by Jo Tan, who previously wrote Koh’s segment in Dream Academy’s Happy Ever Laughter (2018), and directed by ‘Mad Chinaman’ Dick Lee, associate artist at SRT and one of Koh’s oldest friends since childhood, and also gave her a starring role back in 1988, in Beauty World. “While I haven’t done a lot of directing, I love throwing parties, and to me, this is basically a party with a story, and when I was asked, I knew this was a show I could really sink my teeth into,” says Dick. “This is a sophisticated comedy that I know I can bring to life, and I’m excited for how we’re going to engage all 200 audience members at each show, where I’ll be making it as believable as possible, while also holding plenty of surprises.”

Besides being known for throwing incredible parties, according to Koh, Dick had previously also helmed SRT’s production Ah Kong’s Birthday Party back in 1998, to which Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding is a spiritual successor to. Held at Orchard Parade Hotel (now the Orchard Rendezvous Hotel) as a pop-up restaurant, the show featured 20 actors performing to 20 tables of audiences, each revealing a secret that added to birthday boy Ah Kong’s identity, as the audience periodically got up to take food from the buffet line and were simultaneously entertained by the performance. As odd as it sounds, it was a formula that worked, and the production went on to extend for a whopping six months, becoming one of Singapore’s longest running productions of all time.

Coinciding with SRT’s 30th anniversary, which has already seen critically-acclaimed productions in the form of 2:22 – A Ghost Story and the triumphant return of Shakespeare in the Park, Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding is only testament to SRT’s commitment to continue producing new and exciting theatre. Not only do they boast a proven track record of other unique site-specific productions such as Caught (2019) and C-O-N-T-A-C-T (2022), but they’ve also proven time and time again a dedication to family, with continued collaborations and partnerships with those they’ve formed bonds with over the years.

One such person is playwright Jo Tan, who also doubles up as an actor in the role of Por Por’s hapless daughter-in-law. Jo’s history with SRT dates all the way back to 2005, when as a teen, she was a member of SRT’s The Young Company. With multiple high profile projects this year alone, Jo seems to be living proof of what hard work and good training can do for an artist. “I was an early adopter of The Young Company and I still have a lot of friends who also graduated from there that I continue to work with in a professional capacity, but this really is my first main season production with SRT,” says Jo.

“I’m pleasantly surprised that I was invited to pitch an idea for their dinner theatre production, and it’s been very different from my usual writing. With just seven actors going around the 20 tables, I wanted to create an intimate story amidst the entertainment, and really drive home the idea of a gathering of friends for this wonderful lady who found her second spring in full bloom. Everyone wants to eat, drink and be merry after the pandemic, and I think this style will be emotional and affecting,” she adds.

It wouldn’t be a wedding without food, and the play’s fictional ‘Tandoor is the Night’ catering company will be fulfilled by a four-course culinary experience curated by Michelin Star Chef Manjunath Mural, formerly of Song of India, and now the co-owner of ADDA Singapore. The restaurant’s name is also rather coincidental, as it means to chat, and ties in nicely with the show’s intent to also encourage audience members to have a convivial conversation over a spectacular meal.

Bringing classic Indian cuisine into the contemporary, Chef Mural speaks of his love for Singapore that inspired the menu. “I arrived here in 2005 from India, and at that point I was best at cooking up Indian cuisine,” says Mural. “But looking around me, I kept being amazed by the diverse food culture, the vibrance of Singaporeans, and the modern technology, and decided to bring my cuisine into the contemporary as a result.”

Expect innovative appetisers such as their unique take on the kebab, with the vegetarian mustard tandoor portobello mushroom and cheese, along with a tasty lentil broccoli almond soup packing a slight spicy kick for the entrée. Mains include the flavour bomb that is the spinach kofta dumpling in a rich fennel cashew sauce, or chargrilled chicken in honey makhani sauce, giving it a lightly sweet finish, and of course, dessert, in the form of a light Lychee & Longan Kulfi. It may not be your typical wedding fare, but you’ll certainly have your tastebuds tantalised, as well as be wowed by the elegant presentation of the dishes and plating.

Expect an evening filled with joy and laughter at this unusual wedding celebration, where the performances of Koh and her cast, Chef Mural’s menu and the gorgeous setting of One Farrer Hotel are set to enthral you. This is storytelling at its most unique, perfect for a relaxing and entertaining evening out, and you won’t want to miss out on Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding, when you’ll learn to believe again in family, life and the power of love.

Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding runs from 8th November to 3rd December 2023 at One Farrer Hotel. Tickets and more information available here