My Perfect Weekend with Australian theatre actress Jemma Rix
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Australian stage actress Jemma Rix's weekend starts with good coffee. She plays elf queen Galadriel in The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF JEMMA RIX
Follow topic:
Who: Jemma Rix, 40, is one of Australian musical theatre’s prominent leading ladies.
Her musical career began in 2006 when she was cast as Elphaba, the green-skinned witch from the musical Wicked, in a condensed version of the Broadway show when she was working at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.
Following that, Rix returned to Melbourne and subsequently won the part of Elphaba in 2008 for the Australian production of Wicked, which ended its run in 2015 and included a Singapore stop from December 2011 to April 2012.
In 2020, Rix was handpicked to play Elsa in the Australian production of Disney’s Frozen The Hit Broadway Musical, which had a limited run in the Lion City in 2023.
The talented performer is back in town, taking on another iconic character – elf queen Galadriel in The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale, which is based on English author J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved epic fantasy series (1954 to 1955).
Told from the perspective of hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, the story follows the four friends’ adventures as they seek to destroy a powerful magical ring.
The three-hour show features original music by Indian music and film icon A.R. Rahman, Finnish folk band Varttina and Tony Award winner Christopher Nightingale.
Rix lives in Melbourne with her husband, Josh, and their two-year-old son, Bray.
“Weekends are quite busy, with two shows on both Saturday and Sunday for The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale.
Even though I miss out on traditional weekends, it brings me so much joy knowing I’m part of something that makes our audiences’ weekends special.
It’s a mix of little things that makes a weekend perfect.
Back home, it always starts with good coffee. Our local cafe serves the most deliciously strong brew.
Then we usually head to the markets for fresh produce for dinner. I love the energy there.
We’ll take our dog Cherry to a nearby park, which has a playground that Bray loves.
Catching up with friends over a glass of wine and cooking a fresh meal at home rounds it all out beautifully.
Bray has travelled with me to all the cities in Australia on tour. We’ve explored countless playgrounds and beaches. He’s also here with me in Singapore.
Most of our shows are at night, which gives me precious daytime hours with Bray, making work-life balance ideal.
This is my third time in Singapore; it honestly feels like a second home. I love the food, culture, gardens and architecture. It’s such a special place, and I’m so grateful to be back.
I plan to visit Gardens by the Bay with Bray. Jurassic World: The Experience at the Cloud Forest is perfect for a dinosaur-obsessed toddler.
We’ll also check out the Singapore Zoo, and maybe the Night Safari, visit Sentosa and take a cruise to see the Merlion.”
Australian actress Jemma Rix as elf queen Galadriel in The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale.
PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD
Book It/The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale
Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue str.sg/tz7b str.sg/gC5q str.sg/a3Jj
When: Until Aug 31, 8pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 2pm (Saturdays), 1 and 6.30pm (Sundays)
Admission: $68 to $238 via Marina Bay Sands (
