Original works conceived and performed by ITI’s graduands.

25–27 May 2023

Intercultural Theatre Institute, 11 Upper Wilkie Road

The Final Year Individual Project (FYiP) is a critical and integral aspect of Intercultural Theatre Institute’s actor training programme. Students are prompted to think about it from the very first day of school, and given a few weeks in their final year to focus solely on it. FYiP is student-driven and teachers act only as mentors and guides. It combines the technical skills and objectives of performance making with the exploratory freedom of a creative platform.

燎原 The Fiery Land

— by Cheng Kam Yiu (Yolanda) —

Who has power over our lives? As the old saying goes, ‘我命由我不由天’: our destiny is not written for us but by us, but when an inevitable force exerts itself, how does one resist fate? With all these questions in her mind, Miu, an old Feng-Shui consultant, revives enduring memories and reveals the brutal truth about her hometown.

Performed in Cantonese with English surtitles.

Advisory: Strong language

A few words from Yolanda...

The work is inspired by the Anti-Hong Kong Express Rail Link Movement (2009-11) and "Goodbye" Wang Chau Jackfruit Festival (2017-20). I would like to acknowledge the photographers in Hong Kong who documented land protests from 2009 to 2021.

I dedicate this work to my beloved homeland, Hong Kong. I am eternally grateful for the wonderful opportunity to create with all the support from ITI and our genius PSM, Clarisse. Thank you all for coming and I hope you have a good time here.

Thank you to all faculty members, especially Andy, Chin and Wan Ching for always supporting and inspiring me throughout the creative process. Shout out to my classmates, especially Mika for her firm support and generous sharing. And lastly, my deepest gratitude to my mother and brother, Eli (as my life consultant and trashbin) for being my strongest backers.

THE PUNISHMENT

— by Swathilakshmi Perumal —

We reap what we sow.

This is a story of loss, memories, waiting and penance. On earth and in the afterlife.

But what is the crime? And at what cost?

A few words from Swathilakshmi...

I would like to thank my teachers: Sasi, Simon, Li Xie, Wan Ching, Chin Huat, Karen and Andy. Special thanks to Oliver S.K. Wu, Surabhi Vashist, Sonu Pilania and Uncle Chan. Finally, thanks to my classmates and our production/stage manager Clarisse.

PIECES OF US 【我 - 们】

— by Choy Chee Yew —

爸, 吃。[Pa, eat])

你要吗？[Do you want it?]

我给你。 [I'll give it to you.]

Across multiple attempts to have a peaceful meal with his father, a man finds himself grappling with issues of suppressed desires, conflicting values, and abject guilt.

What does it mean to be a man?

What does it mean to be filial?

What does it mean to be “me”?

Performed in English and Mandarin.

Advisory: Strong language

A few words from Chee Yew...

For me, creating has always been about questioning, articulating and making sense of matters deep in my heart, be it the unresolved issues in my life or fractured relationships with loved ones. I would like to thank all of my mentors - Li Xie, Wan Ching, Simon, Sasi, Andy, Chin Huat - for providing a safe and non-judgemental space that allows me to continue developing this deeply personal, flawed and imperfect piece of work.

The Reticent Goddess

— by Abinaya Jothi —

A “village girl” and “god child”. All Leela wants is to dance and live happily. Her life changes when she falls in love. There is strong resistance from religious, casteist and patriarchal pressures. Leela leaves home, and returns.

How can Leela use superstition for her own benefit?

What do the village people expect from her?

How does her mother react to her unexpected return?

Performed in English with some Tamil.

A few words from Abinaya...

Thanks to my mother and Imayam, a Tamil writer whose short story “Pethavan” was a source of inspiration for this piece. Thanks to all my teachers and mentors in ITI for their guidance and support.

SONGS FROM EARTH
a one-woman comedy musical with a Faustian twist

— by Mika Oskarson Kindstrand —

SONGS FROM EARTH – a one-woman musical with a Faustian twist is a theatrical exposé of our times: our nihilism and dreams (or the lack thereof). Accompanied by the devil no less, we embark on a rollercoaster ride where good and evil, high and low, laughter and despair, fiction and reality all come crashing together.

Advisory: Mature themes

A few words from Mika...

Credits:

Music written and performed by: Mika Oskarson Kindstrand
Music director and orchestrator: Winston Koh Jia Hui
Accordion Duet - The Raymond Chukchuk Scottish Dance Band
Lucky, Lucky, Lucky Me - Evelyn Knight with The Ray Charleston Singers
Main Title from Jaws - John Williams

Thank you:

Winston, for agreeing to do this with me. Your enormous talent, knowledge, grit, humour and friendship was absolutely crucial for this piece and for me. An honour to have you onboard.

Simon, for your continuous support, sharp eyes and ears, and your humour. Always a pleasure to work with you!

Sasi, for helping me deepen and ground the themes of this story.

Chin for making the puppets come to life, and helping me problem-solve over beer and saffron pudding.

My classmates, for patiently carrying my set every day.

Also a big thank you to Yolanda, Clarisse, Khalid, Wan Ching, Max, Ruz, Yazid, Andy, and Gro, who have all contributed to this process!

Acknowledgements & Credits

PRODUCTION & STAGE MANAGER
Clarisse Ng

GRADUANDS' HEADSHOTS
Bernie Ng

Graduands

Abinaya Jothi (India)

Abinaya Jothi is a theatre practitioner and dancer from Tamil Nadu, India. Her passion for the performing arts started in 2013, during her time at PSG College of Arts and Science.

Abinaya worked with various theatre groups in Tamil Nadu before she began her Professional Diploma in Acting at the Intercultural Theatre Institute. One of her performance highlights was taking part in the play Chandala (the Impure), a Tamil adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, in which she played multiple characters (2018). This performance travelled across India and to Europe for the 20th Bharath Rang Mahotsav, New Delhi (2019), Saarang Theatre Festival, Pune (2019), META Theatre Fest, New Delhi (2019) and Francophonie Festival in Limoges, France (2018). Recently, she wrote and performed a solo piece in Tamil named Who is to be Sacrificed? as a part of Solo/Orayaal, a production by Singapore Indian Theatre & Film Explorers (SITFE) that was staged at Esplanade Theatre Studio.

Her hope is to demonstrate theatre's ability to positively impact our world. She also hopes to encourage more women and children to explore the world of theatre, particularly those without access to formal education.

Abinaya is a recipient of a scholarship sponsored by a private philanthropist and a beneficiary of the Möbius Fund*.

Cheng Kam Yiu (Yolanda) (Hong Kong)

Cheng Kam Yiu (Yolanda) is a bilingual theatre practitioner from Hong Kong. She believes that theatre is a vessel revealing the truth of life, and has dedicated her life to it.

Prior to ITI, she completed the Professional Physical Theatre Youth Training Programme (PTI) at Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio in Hong Kong from 2018–2020. She also interned in the Artistic Team (Theatre), at the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority from 2019–2020.

Her past credits include Nanyang Collective’s Life (2023) and T:>Works’ The Swimming Pool Library Exhibition (2022). She conducted FUN! theatre workshop, collaborating with ITI student Man Yik Lam and alumnus Sandeep Yadav at the Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, India. She was also actively involved in theatre and music performances at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

After graduation, Yolanda will continue her research and practice in immersing Asian traditional forms into contemporary theatre. She also intends to establish an ensemble creating contemporary work with social impact. Currently, Yolanda is part of the devised theatrical work Travellers of a Floating World 浮世旅人 [1.0], led by Ranice Tay in close collaboration with Ang Gey Pin, Mika Oskarson Kindstrand, Julian Low, and Johanna Van.

Yolanda is a recipient of the Tan Chay Bing Education Fund Scholarship and a beneficiary of the Möbius Fund*.

Choy Chee Yew (Singapore)

Choy Chee Yew is a Singaporean theatre performer, playwright, and arts manager who trains professionally at the Intercultural Theatre Institute. As a performer, he has been involved with youth theatre organisations such as Buds Youth Theatre and The Second Breakfast Company in Singapore. He also has extensive working experience in fundraising and marketing communications with The Theatre Practice, Singapore's longest-standing professional bilingual theatre institution.

He aspires to continue creating original Singaporean works that speak for the voiceless and question cultural norms in society. He also intends to deepen his training, particularly in the fields of Biomechanics (Meyerhold), Suzuki Method of Acting, Viewpoints, and Lecoq.

Chee Yew is a recipient of the Tan Chay Bing Education Fund Scholarship.

Mika Oskarson Kindstrand (Sweden)

Mika Oskarson Kindstrand is an actor and assistant director from Sweden.

Exposed to both Asian and Western theatre training from an early age, via the World Theatre Project (Sweden, India, Mozambique, China), Mika started performing at the age of 5. Since then she has performed in numerous roles in various theatrical productions at regional and national institutions in Sweden, such as Folkteatern Gävleborg, Hälsinglands Träteater, Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, Stockholm Stadsteater and Orionteatern. She has also worked as an assistant director in major productions for several prominent Swedish directors, such as Stina Oscarson, Natalie Ringler, Lars Rudolfsson and Peter Oskarson.

Mika has trained in Noh Theatre with the Kita School since 2017 and is a company member of the international theatre ensemble Theatre Nohgaku. In recent years she has performed with various groups around the world, such as Theatre Nohgaku (GB), Theatre of Yugen (US) and Dairakudakan (JP).

Mika is currently part of the devised theatrical work Travellers of a Floating World 浮世旅人 [1.0], led by Ranice Tay in close collaboration with Ang Gey Pin, Yolanda Cheng, Julian Low, and Johanna Van.

Swathilakshmi Perumal (India)

Swathilakshmi Perumal is an actor and theatre-maker from Tamil Nadu, India. Swathi holds a Master of Arts (MA) in English Literature. During her studies, she developed an interest in theatre and went on to pursue a Diploma in Acting (Folk and Traditional Forms) from the National School of Drama, Bangalore. Her interest in bridging traditional forms and contemporary theatre led her to ITI.

Swathi has trained in Bharatanatyam and several other South Indian forms such as Yakshagana, Kalaripayattu, Dollu, Parai, Mudiyettu, and more. She enjoys sketching as part of her creative process.

Her notable works include Mallegalalli Madumagalu (a nine-hour play, 2020); Uuru Bhanga (Yakshagana dance-drama, 2019); Kariya Devara Huduki (2019); Beral Ge Koral (2019); The Duchess of Malfi (2018) and Hamlet (2017). In Singapore, she collaborated as a stage manager and lighting designer for Romei (2022), a collaborative work with six ITI alumni at 42 Waterloo Street.

After graduation, she intends to write, act and direct works that are interdisciplinary, multilingual and intercultural. She hopes to create art that gives voice to the voiceless.

Swathi is a beneficiary of the Möbius Fund*.

* The Möbius Fund is a revolving loan fund for actor-students.

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, Head of Performing Arts and Artistic Development of ART:DIS; 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.

Support ITI

ITI is an independent theatre school founded on the belief that theatre has little meaning if it is not connected to life and society. Through the years, ITI has developed critically and socially engaged artists who are capable of working across cultural, linguistic, social and national boundaries, and who have contributed meaningfully to their cultures and communities.

ITI is a registered charity and an approved Institution of Public Character (IPC), and more than 60% of its income has to come from fundraising. Donations to ITI are eligible for 250% tax exemption and dollar-to-dollar matching by the government’s Cultural Matching Fund.

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“I was trained to be not only a good actor but also a better person. So to those who want to make a difference, please consider supporting a student in ITI and we will make this world a better place using the arts”

~ 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 program 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.

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.

Board of Directors

CHAIRMAN

Mr Arun Mahizhnan
Special Research Adviser, Institute of Policy Studies

MEMBERS

Mr Chew Kheng Chuan
Independent consultant in philanthropy

Ms Winifred Loh
Director, LeadForte Consulting

Dr Nazry Bahrawi
Assistant Professor of Southeast Asian Literature and Culture, University of Washington
Mr Andrew Nai
Director at Aura Private Equity, Aura Group
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
Mr Noushad Mohamed Kunju
Associate Professor, 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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