Ms Carol Chia, who won a hotel staycation for participating in the online poll for the Production of the Year (Readers' Choice) award at the M1- The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards 2016, took part with no expectation of winning.

The 34-year-old, who works in retail, has tried her hand at acting. She voted for the Wild Rice production, Hotel, as her friends acted in the show and she wanted to show her support for them.

"Honestly, I didn't watch the show last year, but the reviews were so great all around and it seemed like a fun production. I've already bought my tickets for the re-staging this year," she says.

Hotel snagged four wins at yesterday's awards, including Best Director and Best Ensemble. It will be staged again at the Singapore Theatre Festival in July.

The Production of the Year (Readers' Choice) went to The LKY Musical, which garnered about half of the 2,542 unique votes cast in the poll.

Ms Chia, who is single, was chosen from 10 readers who voted in the poll. She won a two-day, one-night weekend stay for two at the Caroline Astor Suite in the six-star luxury hotel, The St Regis Singapore, inclusive of breakfast. The prize is sponsored by Hong Leong Group.

She intends to take her mother along for the staycation as a treat.

"I really needed this staycation because I've been working so hard," she says.

Lee Jian Xuan