On 6 June 2022, His Excellency Mr Marc Abensour, Ambassador of France to Singapore, conferred the title of « Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres » on Ms Janice Koh.
In his speech during the ceremony, HE Mr Marc Abensour said: “Your friendship to France is also very special. Beyond your recent roles in two of the three plays written by Florian Zeller and staged in Singapore by Pangdemonium, you have been present at every step of the way of the very fruitful collaboration France and Singapore had in performing arts these past few years”.
In 2018, Janice Koh participated to the French-Singaporean co-production “The Reunification of the Two Korea” by T:>Works, from Joël Pommerat’s play, directed by Jacques Vincey and translated in English by Marc Goldberg. After being stage in Singapore, this production was presented in France, at the Centre National Dramatique / Olympia Theatre in Tours and at the MC93 theatre in Bobigny, Paris Region.
Janice Koh was the patron of the 2019 edition of the vOilah! France Singapore Festival. In 2020, she performed in the Singaporean adaptation of Georges Clemenceau’s play “The Veil of Happiness” created for the opening of the 2020 edition of the vOilah! France Singapore Festival on the commemoration of the centenary of the visit to Singapore of the former President of the Council.
Janice Koh studied drama at Victoria Junior College and then at the National University of Singapore, before moving to Goldsmith’s College, University of London, where she completed a Master’s degree in Theatre Administration on scholarship in 1996.
Janice Koh have performed in over 50 productions in Singapore and abroad, winning numerous awards. She was part of productions by Singaporean theatre companies such as Wild Rice, Pangdemonium, Singapore Repertory Theatre and TheatreWorks. Internationally, she has had the opportunity to perform at major venues and festivals in Europe and Asia.
She also have appeared in many movies like “Unlucky Plaza”, “Hitman: Agent 47”, “The Offer” and of course the world renowned “Crazy Rich Asians”. On television, Janice Koh is best known for your role among many others as the ambitious lawyer Angela Ang in the series “The Pupil” and you also presented “The Art of Conversation” on Channel News Asia, a documentary series that charts Singapore’s creative talents.
Her work and interest in the arts extends beyond the stage and screen. Trained in arts management and administration, Janice Koh worked at the National Arts Council of Singapore from 1997 to 2002 before joining Parliament as a nominated member from 2011 to 2014, passionately championing the arts and creative sectors. In a speech in Parliament, she highlighted the importance and potential of the arts and the arts community in Singapore, advocating for the central role they play in projecting Singapore’s identity, history and creativity onto the international stage.
Janice Koh also sit on various boards in the arts and education sector, including Wild Rice Ltd and the Victoria Advisory Committee.
