Ivan
Heng is the founding Artistic Director of Wild Rice, a contemporary
Asian theatre company which takes its inspiration from Singapore's
multicultural society and modern Asia, furthering his distinctive
vision of presenting works that are provocative, innovative and vividly
theatrical.
As
a Singapore-based theatre practitioner who is involved in all aspects
of the theatre - directing, acting, writing, designing and producing,
his productions have been concerned with exploring identity, racial
stereotyping, migration, and gender and sexual politics in the context
of inter-cultural negotiations. They have been seen in 17 cities throughout
Europe, North America and South East Asia.
As the first recipient of the BAT Arts Scholarship, Heng trained at
the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He graduated with top
honours including the Royal Lyceum Theatre Award for Best Shakespearean
Performance (Richard III), the Margaret Gordon Award for Best Final
Year Performance, and the Dorothy Innes Prize for Best Studentship.
His many awards for excellence in theatre include: Singapore Youth
Award '98 (the Highest Youth Accolade in Singapore) and the National
Arts Council's Young Artist Award '96, the Spirit of the Fringe Award
(Journey West; Edinburgh '95), the Scotsman Fringe First and the Scottish
Daily Express New Names of '93 Award (The Woman in a Tree on the Hill;
Edinburgh '93).
Heng's has directed more than 30 theatre productions and highlights
include Phua Chu Kang - the Musical, a command performance for the
President of Singapore's Star Charity, Ah Kong's Birthday Party (Singapore's
longest running play, co-author and director), An Occasional Orchid
(Institute of Contemporary Art London, Royal Tropical Institute, Netherlands),
and Art (All-Asian Premiere). He has also held various Artistic Directorships
including: Singapore Repertory Theatre (Associate Artistic Director
1997-98, Artistic Director 1999), Tripitaka Theatre Company (London,
1995-97), Wayang Wayang Theatre Company (London, 1993-4), and the
Singapore Armed Forces Music and Drama Company (1988-90).
Acting credits include Emily of Emerald Hill (solo; Best Actor 2000,
Klue.com), Journey West (solo; Critic's Choice, London Time Out, Edinburgh
Spirit of the Fringe Award'95), M. Butterfly (Song; All-Asian Premiere
- India tour, Canadian Premier, Singapore Festival of Arts '90), Richard
III (Richard III, Royal Lyceum Theatre Award), and original cast productions
of seminal productions like Beauty World (Frankie Wong) and Army Daze
(Malcolm Png) and The Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral.
Heng shares his practice by giving workshops internationally, and
has taught at the Central School of Speech and Drama (London), Tramway
(Glasgow), Intercult (Stockholm), Kannonhallen (Denmark), Dramalab
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), and La Salle-SIA College of the Arts in
Singapore. He also attended London's Royal Court Theatre 10th International
Summer Residency.
Heng has received support for his work in the form of grants from
local and international funding bodies including: National Arts Council,
The Arts Fund, Singapore International Foundation, Lee Foundation
and British Council (Singapore); London Arts Board, Arts Council of
England, Baring Foundation, City of Westminster Arts Council, London
Boroughs Grants Committee in Great Britain; Svenska Institutet, Statens
Kulturrad and Kultur Stockholm in Sweden; Kulturfonden (Denmark);
and Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta Theatre Projects, and Canada
Council.
Corporate sponsors who have supported his vision include American
Express, Astro Televison, DBS Bank, DBS Card Centre, Far East Organisation,
Glaxo Wellcome, Raffles International Hotels and Resorts, Sotheby's
(Singapore), Star Alliance, United Overseas Bank and Westin Hotels.
