BACKGROUND
Born and raised in Singapore, I've had the joy of living in a multiracial country where being exposed to a diversity of cultures, religions and languages has contributed to the way I work with people and the way I conduct myself. I grew up in a family where western reasoning sat side by side with a conservative Chinese decorum. This has given me many lenses through which I observe and work with people, as well as an appreciation of every person I meet.
EXPERIENCE
I became a teacher when I left school but there came an opportunity to work on radio, spinning music and writing for women's programmes. I moved on to host children's shows and was offered acting roles on TV and stage. The same time I was acting, I was asked to teach drama to children and later, adults. Formal training in dramatic arts was limited in Singapore in the '80s and I picked up skills from visiting artists, peers and the mistakes I made in the classroom. I was delighted to be able to use my experience rather than my formal training to do my Masters in Pedagogy and Practice at LASALLE College of the Arts. I've gone on to present my work at conferences and enjoy very much, giving and taking professional development courses.
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I currently have three areas of work:
- Lead Artist and Programme Manager for the Theatre Arts Programme (TAP) in Changi Prison, something which I've been running since 2010
- Producer and Playwright for The Glowers Drama Group
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where I co-developed and co-teach the course, Theatre and Community Engagement
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Upcoming projects:
- Geragogy and the Arts Conference 2025
- Live It Up, the a second iteration of this Chinese-English jukebox musical
EDUCATION
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Master of Arts, Arts Pedagogy and Practice, Goldsmiths, University of London, 2016
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Social Service Institute (SSI) Certificate ‘Working and Facilitating the Learning of Children with Special Needs in the Arts,’ 2016
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Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA), 2014
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Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Professional Diploma in Creative Entrepreneurship, 2010
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LAMDA Certificate in Speech Education, 2007
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
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Presenter, Cognitive Encore: Drama’s Impact on the Ageing Brain, Creative Brain Week 2024
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Presenter, The Theatre Arts Programme (TAP) in Changi Prison:
Nurturing Rehabilitation through
Drama-Based Learning. International Corrections & Prisons Association (ICPA) Annual Conference 2024 -
Conference co-director and presenter - Geragogy and the Arts Conference 2024
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Presenter, Impact Case Study - Art and Social Change Forum, “Is it My Turn?” Co-creating with Seniors. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2022
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Presenter, Arrhythmia – Performance Pedagogy and Practice Conference, A New Pulse for Seniors in Community Theatre. LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore, 2021
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Presenter, Impact Case Study - Art and Social Change Forum, A case study on a bilingual radio play Chap Lau (10 Storey Flats). The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2021
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Presenter, The Fifth International Teaching Artist Conference (ITAC 5), Seoul, Korea, This is my Song. 2020
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Presenter, The Fourth International Teaching Artist Conference (ITAC 4), Lincoln Centre, New York, The Shifting Roles of an Artist Working in a Singapore Prison. 2018
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Speaker, NIE Care Forum Empathy and Dialogue- Arts and Marginalized Communities. Doors: A Look at a Drama Programme in a Women's Prison. 2015
Contact Me
I live in Singapore and being home based allows me thinking time for my various projects. I'd be happy to hear from you if you want to find out more about my work. If we've crossed paths before and you want to re-connect, I'd love to hear from you as well!