A Public Conversation: “The people cultures of a national theatre”

Synopsis

“The people cultures of a national theatre” is a collaborative public conversation. From exploring the role of artistic leadership to addressing issues of diversity, accessibility, and representation, the conversation will provide a fascinating exploration of the complexities and possibilities inherent in fostering vibrant and coexisting people cultures within a national theatre endeavour. What constitutes a national theatre project and what is expected of it? Who are ‘the people’ and who determines which people are represented in a national theatre project?

The conversation marks the launch of the Season of Thought Leadership: in the Arts, by the Arts, with the Arts.

About the Panelists

Alfian Sa’at is the Resident Playwright of Wild Rice. In 2001, he won the National Arts Council Young Artist Award for Literature. He has been nominated 12 times for Best Original Script at the Life! Theatre Awards, winning for “Landmarks” (2005), “Nadirah” (2010), “Kakak Kau Punya Laki” (Your Sister’s Husband, 2014) and “Hotel” (with Marcia Vanderstraaten, 2016). Alfian has also been awarded the Boh-Cameronian Award in Malaysia for Best Book and Lyrics for “The Secret Life of Nora” (2011) and for Best Original Script for “Parah” (Wounded, 2013). His plays have been performed in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Melbourne and Berlin.

Medli Dorothea Loo, a 20-year-old actress and theatre-maker, began her professional acting career at age 7 in Ken Kwek’s “Cartoons.” She has since starred in numerous television shows, movies, and theatre productions. Recently, she appeared in “Old Gaze” (2023), “Snow White and The Seven Dwarves” (2023), and “trans:mission” (2024), where she also served as director. Medli is an advocate for the transgender community in Singapore, speaking at Pink Dot 2023 and various other pride and diversity engagements.

Kavitha Krishnan’s career encompasses her achievements as a dancer and her advocacy for social causes, diversity, and inclusion. As co-founder of Maya Dance Theatre (MDT), she leads a non-profit dedicated to leveraging the arts for social change. In 2018, with her occupational therapy training, she established the Diverse Abilities Dance Collective (DADC), providing a platform for dancers with diverse abilities to collaborate with professionals. Since 2020, she has worked with filmmakers and mixed media artists on immersive DanceXR projects to highlight poignant social narratives. In 2022, she was awarded the Natya Nipuna by Bhaskar’s Arts Academy for her extensive contributions to the arts. Kavitha views dance as a powerful tool for communication and connection, amplifying her impact on communities worldwide.

About the Respondents

Ho Tzu Nyen is a visual artist, theatre-maker and filmmaker whose work often explores the structure and power of myths and questions the construction of history. Since his first solo exhibition at The Substation in 2003, Ho has exhibited widely within Singapore and internationally. He has held residencies at the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program and at the Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong. Ho has also been featured in film, theatre and performance festivals such as Sundance Film Festival; Locarno International Film Festival; Cannes International Film Festival; The Kampnagel, Hamburg; TPAM, Yokohama and Theatre der Welt, Germany.

Deborah Arunditha Emmanuel is a performance artist and writer working between poetry, sound, movement, and the dramatic arts. She has performed at many events and festivals locally and worldwide, winning poetry slams in Singapore, New Zealand, Germany and Australia. She has been resident writer/artist at the Watermill Center in New York, Literarisches Colloquium in Berlin, and The Marpha Foundation in Mustang. She makes neo-shamanic tribal funk music with Mantravine and co-organises Opens, a para-academic forum based in Singapore. Theatre der Welt, Germany.