Intercultural Theatre Institute
The Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI), formerly known as Theatre Training & Research Programme (TTRP), is a specialised, independent actor-training school in Singapore that offers a three-year full-time programme that trains actors through contemporary approaches and classical Asian theatre training. It is currently under the aegis of Singapore's Committee for Private Education.[1]
Founded by dramatist Kuo Pao Kun and current director, T. Sasitharan in 2000, the school takes in a maximum of 12 students every year from all over the world.[2] The institute is currently located at Emily Hill, near The Istana within the city limits of Singapore.
History[]
TTRP was founded in 2000 by the internationally known director, playwright and father of contemporary theatre in Singapore, Kuo Pao Kun,[3] and T. Sasitharan. It started operations as a division of arts charity Practice Performing Arts Centre Ltd (renamed The Theatre Practice Ltd in 2010), with seed funding from the Lee Foundation and Sim Wong Hoo.[4] It was located at the Creative Technology building in International Business Park and was later awarded a grant from the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts for the years 2001 to 2003.[1]
In 2003, the pioneering cohort of students graduated.[5]
In 2008, TTRP moved to 11 Upper Wilkie Road as an anchor tenant and co-founded Emily Hill Enterprise Ltd, together with four other artists and organisations.[6] As part of its research work, TTRP also organised the inaugural with the theme “Theatre Today: Seeking New Paradigms”.
The same year, TTRP suspended teaching and training activity.[1]
In 2011, TTRP relaunched with a new name, Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI).[1]
In 2015, ITI was named a recipient of the National Arts Council Major Grant award.[7]
Approach and objectives[]
ITI's acting programme is characterised by its performer-centred, practice-oriented training that emphasises intercultural work and original creation.[8] It immerses students in classical theatre forms from Asia — such as Beijing Opera, Kutiyattam, Noh Theatre and Wayang Wong — and juxtaposes these intense interactions with Stanislavskian and post-Stanislavskian actor training techniques. The process of skills acquisition and recombination takes place in a plural, intercultural environment with a variety of languages, multiple cultures and a broad, inclusive theatrical palette.[9]
Its aim is to train professional actors and performers capable of working in a variety of contemporary theatre genres and forms as well as the creation of original, critically aware and socially engaging works.[2]
Notable faculty members[]
- Alberto Ruiz Lopez
- Gopalan Nair Venu
- (Japanese: 観世喜正)
- Kapila Venu
- Kuwata Takashi (Japanese: 桑田貴志)
- Li Qiu Ping (simplified Chinese: 李秋萍)
Notable alumni[]
- Yeo Yann Yann — Actor (Class of 2003)
- Peter Sau — Actor, director, educator (Class of 2003)
- — Actor, director, educator (Class of 2003)
- — Actor, educator (Class of 2005)
- Sreejith Ramanan — Actor, director, researcher (Class of 2006)
- Sankar Venkateswaran — Actor, director, producer, dramaturge and composer (Class of 2008)
Board Members[]
- (Chairman) — Special Research Advisor, Institute of Policy Studies Members
- — Associate Provost (Student Life), Nanyang Technological University
- Chew Kheng Chuan — Independent consultant in philanthropy; Chairman, The Substation
- Tan Tarn How — Playwright; Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies
- Winifred Loh — Director, LeadForte Consulting
- Nazry Bahrawi — Senior Lecturer, Singapore University of Technology and Design
External links[]
References[]
- ^ a b c d Oon, Clarissa (3 September 2011). "Theatre scene gets a boost". The Straits Times.
- ^ a b Sasitharan, Thirunalan (26 June 2017). "Capturing the World — sub specie aeternitatis". Philosophy of Management. 16 (3): 211–216. doi:10.1007/s40926-017-0064-z.
- ^ Zarrilli, Phillip (2012). Psychophysical Acting: An Intercultural Approach after Stanislavski. Routledge. p. 229. ISBN 978-1134313358.
- ^ Nayar, Parvathi (15 February 2002). "A commendable report card". The Business Times.
- ^ Oon, Clarissa (13 May 2003). "Moving on to a new stage". The Straits Times. pp. 4–5.
- ^ "他们把郭宝崑的种子撒向各地". Lian He Zao Bao. 28 November 2006.
- ^ "History & Milestones". Intercultural Theatre Institute. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ^ "Class of its own: What makes Intercultural Theatre Institute different". TODAYonline. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
- ^ Ciampi Tsolaki, Giorgia (October 2016). "Actor training at the Intercultural Theatre Institute". Theatre, Dance and Performance Training. 7 (3): 340–361. doi:10.1080/19443927.2016.1217267.
Coordinates: 1°18′11″N 103°50′54″E / 1.30307°N 103.84840°E
- Drama schools in Singapore
- Educational institutions
- Higher education in Singapore