Kevin Spacey and Audi Lighting the Way for the Arts

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Kevin Spacey and Audi Lighting the Way for the Arts

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Dec 4, 2010

Singapore - Academy Award winning actor Kevin Spacey has just wrapped up a series of three dinner talks, part of Audi's  'Light Years Ahead' publicity campaign for the launch of the Audi A8 in Singapore. “My connection  [with Audi] is the one that they apparently saw which is that I’m light years ahead. I’m not sure I entirely see it myself, but I’m glad to be here,” said Spacey.

This was the actor’s second visit to the island nation, where he has close ties to the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT), which is a co-commissioning partner of  The Bridge Project, a transtlantic theatre partnership between The Old Vic, The Brooklyn Academy of Music and Neal Street prouctions, which has staged sold-out performances of  A Winter’s Tale and The Tempest over the last two years.

When asked if he actually drove an Audi or if he had been offered a free car, Spacey laughed. “That would be so inappropriate to tell you if it weren’t an Audi.  I haven’t got a free one but I think someone should bring it up.”

Members of the public were offered an opportunity to get up and close personal with the actor by registering for the talks online.  Those who scored invites by a balloting process were treated to cocktails and a buffet dinner in a specially erected Pavilion  before adjourning for the talk-show style interview conducted by Channel News Asia’s Steven Chia.

Spacey stressed that he’s not a commercial spokesperson for Audi. “ I’m here because it’s an opportunity to come and speak in the region about a lot of ideas and a lot things in the theatre that we’re going to do.”

And among the things he hopes to do is promote and encourage the performing arts within the region. What that includes is returning to the island nation for The Bridge Project’s production of Richard III next November, which will feature a strong educational component. Spacey noted, “We have seen the results of the belief that theatre and its tools and its artists can be used as remarkable educational tools for young people and so I’m looking forward to coming back and to be able to perform in this city.”

And in the spirit of being light years ahead, Gaurav Kripalani, SRT's artistic director announced the launch of the theatre’s Audi Classic Series, which will see Audi sponsoring all the SRT’s major arts events in Singapore for 2011.

“Audi has a  long tradition of  sponsoring cultural arts,” said Reinhold Carl, Audi Singapore Managing Director. “We’re  very happy and proud we are partners.”

Photos Ace Kindred Cheong/D Seow