Presented by Intercultural Theatre Institute
2–4 May 2024
Drama Centre Black Box
Directed by Tan Beng Tian
Written by Kok Heng Leun & Tan Wei Ting
Performed by ITI’s 2024 graduating cohort
Synopsis
Harry and Mary live alone with their cat. Their son and granddaughter visit occasionally, coming and going, their lives shifting further from the family home. As Mary’s primary caregiver, Harry has shouldered his responsibilities with cheerfulness and optimism, but when his health reaches a critical point - he finds himself struggling. Can he still choose his life with Mary? Can he accept the reality of change? And will the cat ever help? Life continues to bring the unexpected, and the family must make their way.
Through devised movement and puppetry, with humour and gentle observation, And the Cats Dance by the Light invites audiences to reflect on the intricate tapestry of human connection. From the original script, The Wind Came Home (2014) written by Kok Heng Leun and adapted together with Tan Wei Ting, this reimagined play is directed by Tan Beng Tian and performed by the ITI graduating class of 2024.
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And the Cats Dance by the Light was adapted from The Wind Came Home (2014), written and staged as part of 'Both Sides, Now', originally co-presented by Drama Box and ArtsWok Collaborative
Director's Note
Death is something that takes place the moment a life is born. It is very much part and parcel of us and interestingly, we are connected to it and yet disconnected from it.
This show is not about death. It is about acceptance. Acceptance of our ailing body towards an impending death, acceptance of losses, and most importantly, the acceptance of changes and moving on. Working on such a heavy topic, I am hoping that the usage of puppets can cushion the heaviness, and bring some light moments into the story.
The 2024 cohort of young adults in ITI have taken on the uphill tasks of acting, manipulating a very difficult set of puppets, and making the props and puppets. Their hunger for learning and bettering their skillsets is amazing! Their openness in sharing has turned them into collaborators in directing. I have grown so much in the months spent with them. I thank faculty Wan Ching, Chin Huat, Simon and Andy for so generously guiding and supporting us.
– Tan Beng Tian
Credits
DIRECTOR
Tan Beng Tian
PLAYWRIGHTS
Kok Heng Leun
Tan Wei Ting
SET DESIGNER
Lim Chin Huat
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Tai Zi Feng
SOUND DESIGNER
Bennett Bay
COSTUME DESIGNER
Eve Tan
CAPTION DESIGNER
Joanna Ong
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Clarisse Ng
STAGE MANAGER
Cindy Sng
FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER
Ruzaimah Abuamin
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Max Yam
SPECIAL THANKS TO
AVEC Vision Pte Ltd
The Finger Players and Esther Tan
Wan
Vivi Agustina
ITI students work as a professional company in their third year, and undertake ticketed public performances.
These Final Year Productions are an integral part of the ITI curiculum.
Cast
Adam Guevarra Almeniana
Philippines
Adam Guevarra Almeniana is a theatre practitioner from Sorsogon-Bicol, Philippines. He is an alumnus of Sama-samang Tinig ng mga Aktor na Gumagalaw sa Entablado (S.T.A.G.E), which is a resident Theater Arts Company at University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi (formerly AUL-Legazpi City). He is also a Senior Member of Sining Banwa Albay Performance Collective Inc, a non-profit inter-disciplinary arts group and independent cultural organization based in the province of Albay in the Philippines.
He began his theatre journey in 2008 as a pioneer member of Teatro Pilarinyo, a Diocesan Performing Group and emerged as a cultural worker, performer, actor, choreographer, director, and theatre workshop facilitator for youth-oriented projects; cultural mapping workshops in towns across the Bicol Regions. Adam was one of 12 theatre practitioners selected to devise Likha-Lakbayan for Tanghal National University and College Theater Festival, touring five major cities in the Philippines. His recent roles and projects include Sining Banwa major-play productions Tatlong Libong Bayani Ng Ibalong (2011), Silang Maraming Pangalan (2012), Santo Agua (2013), SI Al Buda An Tsinelas (2014), GymGurls (2015-2016). He also played the role of Artemio Ricarte in Lav Diaz's film Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis (A Lullaby To The Sorrowful Mystery).
Adam is a beneficiary of the Möbius Fund, a revolving loan fund for actor-students.
Akshay Sharma
India
Akshay Sharma is an actor from India. His foray into theatre started with working in Unicorn Actor’s Studio, a group formed by the graduates of the National School of Drama (New Delhi). With that group he got a chance to be involved in all aspects of theatre. Following that, he performed in many prestigious festivals: Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM, 2017), Theatre Olympics (2018), North East India Theater Festival (2018), and Bharat Bhavan Theatre Festival (2019) - performing in plays all over India and exploring different styles of theatre.
He also attended various residential workshops including Navarasa Sadhana by G Venu (Natana Kairali, Kerala), Ashram Perafin by Rajendra Panchal (Kota, Rajasthan), and the National School of Drama extension workshop (Tumari, Karnataka) to deepen his knowledge of different pedagogies in acting training.
In the future he plans to develop original works in theatre and explore different mediums for his expression.
Akshay is a recipient of the Tan Chay Bing Education Fund Scholarship and a beneficiary of the Möbius Fund, a revolving loan fund for actor-students.
Karthik S
India
Karthik S is a multifaceted artist from Bangalore, India, whose talents span various domains. Trained at the prestigious National School of Drama, Karthik has excelled as an actor, model, and former speech and drama facilitator.
Karthik initially ventured into the Kannada film industry where he honed his skills as an assistant director. He also made notable appearances on regional television programs. In 2019, he was awarded the title of Mr. Confident at the Best Icon of India Awards, representing his home state of Karnataka at the National Beauty Pageant.
Karthik's credits include on-screen roles in Ekachakram (2021), One Hit Wonder (2024), along with major stage performances in productions like The Crossroad Inn (2023), Anthithottam (2024), Animal Farm (2020), and Kusumbale (2020).
Karthik is an avid explorer of physical expression, delving into forms such as Kalaripayattu, pole Mallakhamb, rope Mallakhamb, Silambam, Yakshagana, Kathakali, Parai, Theyyam, and Acrobatics. With over two years of experience instructing students in speech, movement, and drama at International Schools in Bangalore, Karthik also channels his passion into nurturing budding talents. Currently, he is training in Indian classical dance (Odissi). Karthik believes in a continuous journey of learning and growth. He aspires to collaborate with artists worldwide and craft performances that resonate deeply with audiences.
Karthik is a recipient of the Tan Chay Bing Education Fund Scholarship and a beneficiary of the Möbius Fund, a revolving loan fund for actor-students.
Krys Yuan
Singapore
Krys Yuan (she/her) is a theatre artist, actor and playwright from Singapore. Her artistic journey started in an all-girls drama club and led her to graduate from School of the Arts, Singapore (SOTA) majoring in theatre. She holds a BA in Anthropology through which she explored her curiosity about culture and societies. She lives and plays in liminal spaces, embracing themes of environmentalism, speculative fantasies and human fallibility.
Prior to ITI, she was working in youth non-profit, freelance theatre producing and writing on Coast Salish territories (aka Vancouver, Canada). She also trained in self-defense and Bel Canto style of singing. During her time in Canada she acquired skills in facilitation, de-escalation and mental health first aid, in addition to building a commitment to anti-capitalist decolonial social justice.
She is an alumnus of PuSh Festival Youth Academy, Playwrights’ Theatre Centre’s Block A with Elaine Avila, Arts Club’s LEAP Playwrighting Intensive, and Vines Emerging Creatives with Vines Art Festival.
After ITI, she hopes to continue writing, performing and creating meaningful work in Singapore and internationally, rooted in the principles of intercultural theatre.
Krys is a recipient of the ITI Scholarship and Tan Chay Bing Education Fund Scholarship.
Lam Man Yik
Hong Kong
Lam Man Yik is a theatre practitioner from Hong Kong.
Prior to ITI, she trained at the Tang Shu-Wing Theatre Studio (2014-2015) and participated in 'The Vibrated Self' acting training programme from 2016-2021, conducted by ITI Acting teacher Andy Ng Wai-Shek in Hong Kong. Her credits span both theatre and screen; she performed in Hello Beckett (2017) and《溯吧！香港》(2019 Golden Sugarcane Film Festival).
To expand her knowledge she came to ITI. In 2022, she conducted the FUN! theatre workshop in collaboration with alumni Cheng Kam Yiu (Yolanda) and Sandeep Yadav at the Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, India.
Man Yik will continue her journey in exploring the different possibilities of artistic creation and developing her understanding of the world and oneself.
Man Yik is a recipient of the Tan Chay Bing Education Fund Scholarship and a beneficiary of the Möbius Fund, a revolving loan fund for actor-students.
ITI Graduands' Headshots by Bernie Ng
Creative Team
Tan Beng Tian
Director
Tan Beng Tian is a disciple of the late renowned traditional hand puppet master Li Bofen. She is a recipient of the JCCI Singapore Foundation Culture Award in 2005 and also the Straits Times Life! Award 2019.
A co-founder of The Finger Players and a member of SDEA (Singapore Drama Educators Association), major companies she has worked with in her thirty-year career are Drama Box, Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, The Necessary Stage, The Theatre Practice, Toy Factory Productions, Wild Rice and Zuni Icosahedron (Hong Kong).
A multifaceted theatre practitioner involved in performing, directing, coaching, designing and making, she is deeply passionate about ensuring accessibility in the performing arts.
Kok Heng Leun
Playwright
Kok Heng Leun is a prominent figure in the Singapore arts scene, having built his career as a theatre director, playwright, dramaturg and educator. As artist and founder of Drama Box, he is known for engaging the community through the arts and championing civic discourse across different segments of society. For his invaluable contributions, Heng Leun has been recognised with the Young Artist Award (2000), Cultural Fellowship (2014), and Singapore’s highest arts accolade, the Cultural Medallion (2022). He also represented the arts sector as a Nominated Member of Parliament (2016–2018).
Tan Wei Ting
Playwright
Tan Wei Ting was first trained in theatre, and later went to film school. Her debut short film CA$H was selected for International Competition at the 41st Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France, and later screened in 20 different countries. Film magazine Sight and Sound listed it as 7 of the best shorts in Clermont-Ferrand that year. Her latest short Love at Fifty was in competition at the 33rd Singapore International Film Festival, PÖFF Shorts, and crossed half a million views on Our Grandfather Story. Wei Ting is from the pioneer batch of ARTivate (Youth Wing of Drama Box). She is also a graduated fellow of the Busan Asian Film Academy 2023.
Lim Chin Huat
Set Designer
Lim Chin Huat is a cross-disciplinary artist who has over two decades of experience as a visual artist, performer, dancer, choreographer, costume designer, facilitator and educator. In particular, Chin Huat is known for his stunning visual creative works which are cross-disciplinary, site-specific, outreach and non-conventional in nature. Chin Huat has worked with Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble (1990-1996), and later, as co-founder and artistic director of ECNAD (1996-2013).
A prolific creator, he has more than 70 works to his credit, mainly full-length dance, since 1993. Some of his signature and collaborative works were seen and presented in Singapore Arts Festival, Belgrade International Theatre Festival, Vienna Arts Festival’s Asia Village, Festival of Asia (New Zealand), Asia Interaction (Indonesia), The Actors Studio (Kuala Lumpur), Chaoyang Cultural Centre (Beijing), Esplanade Raw Series, Gardens by The Bay Opening, Mercedes-Benz Asia Fashion Award, Artwine Festival, Singapore River Festival, MediaCorp Star Awards, Asian Civilisation Museum and others. Chin Huat is a recipient of the Young Artist Award (2000), and a nominee for the Spirit of Enterprise Award (2004). Chin Huat holds double Diplomas in Dance and Fine Arts from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
Tai Zi Feng
Lighting Designer
Tai Zi Feng graduated with BA Hons in Theatre Arts from the University of Essex, East 15. His work ranges from dance, musicals to theatre performance.
As a Theatre Practitioner, He was always drawn to the connection between light and other mediums in our daily life, believing that light can help invoke emotions and accentuate moments.
Some of his recent work includes : Thom Pain (M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024), God is a Woman by Wild Rice, Ignite the Sun by Toy Factory, Pompeii (SIFA 2023), Quasimodo by Sing Theatre.
Bennett Bay
Sound Designer
Bennett Bay is a Singaporean-born musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist whose sound is inspired by everyday occurrences, personal values and pastoral imagery. Since 2015, he has been writing and performing original music written by himself, and has released three albums, Compass (2017), In Memory Of (2018), and For Better Tomorrows (2023), as well as an EP titled Little Old Town (2020). His music has taken him to various festival grounds across the globe, most notably Neon Lights (Singapore, 2015), Electric Picnic (Ireland, 2017), and LUCFest (Taiwan, 2022).
Over the years as a composer and sound designer, Bennett has worked closely with local theatre company Patch and Punnet, and has composed music as well as provided sound design for various projects such as The Adventures of Abhijeet (2019), Fika and Fishy (2020), Lil Shake Vol. 1 & 2 (2021 & 2022), The Secret Life of Haw Par Villa (2022) and McBeat and The Lil’ Shake Crew (2022). He has worked with The Finger Players providing music and sound design for their project Scam On You (2022). And most recently, he is the composer for the original musical The Paiseh Pieces (2023) produced by The Second Breakfast Company in February 2023.
Eve Tan
Costume Designer
Eve Tan has been working in the art industry for the past 3 decades and has participated in several art projects and exhibitions.
As a designer, she specializes in design for theatre festivals such as 0600 (SIFA 2018), It’s a Happy Happy World (Silver Arts 2018) and The Rubbish Prince. As a wardrobe styling for local films, such as 7 Letters, Blood Ties, Kallang Roar the movie and Singapore Dreaming. As a multi- disciplinary artist, her works were featured at Gajah Gallery, 791 Museum at Nanchang, China, National Museum, The Substation, Your Mother Gallery and online overseas.
Joanna Ong
Caption Designer
Joanna Ong is a caption designer, arts manager and disability advocate. She adopts the “aesthetics of access” approach to integrate captions into the design and aesthetic of live performances, enabling the Hearing and Deaf communities to enjoy live performances together. Her recent works include Open the Curtains: An exploration of 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane (2023) by Singapore Theatre Company’s Inclusive Young Company and SmartyPants and the Swordfish (2024) by ART:DIS. Outside of her design work, she manages the Singapore Drama Educators Association’s professional development projects; and is involved in various community engagement projects, such as the Esplanade’s Songwriting for Hope programme.
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About ITI
Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI), based in Singapore, is a three-year, practice-based, professional actor training programme founded on a rigorous, intercultural learning methodology with a view to producing original, contemporary theatre.
The school began as the Theatre Training & Research Programme (TTRP), founded in 2000 by renowned dramatist Kuo Pao Kun (1939–2002) and current Director T. Sasitharan – both Cultural Medallion recipients. It is shaped by Kuo Pao Kun’s vision of intercultural learning that draws from a matrix of traditional theatre systems and modern theatre-making.
ITI’s distinguished alumni include Yeo Yann Yann, winner of two Golden Horse Awards for her performances in Wet Season and Ilo Ilo and International Emmy Award nominee for her role in Invisible Stories; Peter Sau, recipient of the 2011 Young Artist Award and several Life! Theatre Awards; Felimon Blanco, recipient of the 2013 Most Outstanding Zambosurian Award (Philippines); and Sankar Venkateswaran, recipient of the 2019 Shankar Nag Theatre Award, presented to theatre all-rounders under the age of 40 who embody the spirit of service to theatre in India.
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- Denise Mordeno Aguilar ‘14
Regina Foo ('17, Singapore) is a Singaporean artist-educator and associate artist at Access Path, an organisation that produces theatrical and cultural experiences that centre the narratives and talents of the marginalised. Her practice focuses on young children and adults with disabilities. She is also currently exploring projected play through puppetry. Regina leads the Participatory Drama programme under Access Path’s education and outreach platform, creating and conducting weekly workshops with the disabled community.
Lakshmana KP ('18, India) is a theatre and performance-maker whose work centres around events, people, and stories from the Dalit community, who are marginalised and stigmatised on the basis of caste in Karnataka, India. In March 2023, his play Daklakatha Devikavya, an original script written and performed in the Kannada language, was nominated for several categories including Best Original Script, Best Director and Best Production in the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) in New Delhi, India. He is a recipient of the Shankar Nag Theatre Award 2023.
Aaron Kaiser Garcia ('21, Philippines) is a performance-maker from the Philippines with a background in folk, contemporary dance, and theatre. His work explores the potentiality of the body to process and reveal the layered landscapes of the Filipino socio-political psyche, or actively counter political revisionism via choreography. Aaron is a member of the Executive Council of the National Committee on Dramatic Arts representing Eastern Visayas, and a contributing member of InITIate PH - a collective of ITI alumni offering theatre training, access to resources and knowledge to underserved communities in Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro and other areas.
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Director at Aura Private Equity, Aura Group
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Special Research Adviser, Institute of Policy Studies
Mr Chew Kheng Chuan
Independent consultant in philanthropy
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Director, LeadForte Consulting
Dr Nazry Bahrawi
Assistant Professor of Southeast Asian Literature and Culture, University of Washington
Ms Jean Tay
Playwright
Academic Board 2023-2026
Dr Frances Barbe
Lecturer and Associate Dean of Discipline: Performance, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Prof Tadashi Uchino
Vice President and Professor, Department of Japanese Studies, Faculty of Intercultural Studies, Gakushuin Women’s College
Prof Richard Gough
Professor of Music and Performance, Faculty of Business and Creative Industries, University of South Wales
Artistic Director, Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth, Wales
Dr Nazry Bahrawi
Assistant Professor of Southeast Asian Literature and Culture, University of Washington
Examination Board 2023-2026
Mr Aarne Neeme, AM (Order of Australia)
Director and Educator
Assoc Prof Paul Rae
Head of School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne
Assoc Prof Noushad Mohamed Kunju
Faculty, Department of Theatre Arts, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication, University of Hyderabad
Mr Peter Sau
Head of Artistic Development, Performing Arts, ARTDIS Singapore
Mr Nelson Chia
Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Nine Years Theatre, Singapore
Dr Jane Gilmer
Independent theatre practitioner
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