Intercultural Theatre Institute

School in Singapore

Intercultural Theatre Institute

Location

11 Upper Wilkie Road

Singapore

Information
Former name| Theatre Training and Research Programme (TTRP)
Founded| 1 April 2000
Founder| Kuo Pao Kun (1939–2002) and T. Sasitharan
School board| Arun Mahizhnan (Chairman), Chew Kheng Chuan, Nazry Bahrawi, Winifred Loh, Andrew Nai, Jean Tay

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 11 Upper Wilkie Road, near The Istana within the city limits of Singapore.

## History[edit]

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 Asian Intercultural Conference 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[edit]

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[edit]

* Aarne Neeme
* Alberto Ruiz Lopez
* Bambang Besur Suryono
* Gopalan Nair Venu
* Jane Margaret Gilmer
* Kanze Yoshimasa (Japanese: 観世喜正)
* Kapila Venu
* Kuwata Takashi (Japanese: 桑田貴志)
* Lim Chin Huat
* Li Qiu Ping (simplified Chinese: 李秋萍)
* Phillip Zarrilli
* Guillermo Roberto Angelelli

## Notable alumni[edit]

* Yeo Yann Yann – Actor (Class of 2003)
* Peter Sau – Actor, director, educator (Class of 2003)
* Andy Ng Wai Shek – Actor, director, educator (Class of 2003)
* Miyuki Kamimura – 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[edit]

* Arun Mahizhnan (chairman) – Special research advisor, Institute of Policy Studies Members
* Chew Kheng Chuan – Independent consultant in philanthropy; Chairman, The Substation
* Winifred Loh – Director, LeadForte Consulting
* Nazry Bahrawi – Senior lecturer, Singapore University of Technology and Design
* Andrew Nai – Director at Aura Private Equity, Aura Group
* Jean Tay – Playwright

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* Class of its own: What makes Intercultural Theatre Institute different

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Oon, Clarissa (3 September 2011). "Theatre scene gets a boost". The Straits Times.
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ Zarrilli, Phillip (2012). Psychophysical Acting: An Intercultural Approach after Stanislavski. Routledge. p. 229\. ISBN 978-1134313358.
4. ^ Nayar, Parvathi (15 February 2002). "A commendable report card". The Business Times.
5. ^ Oon, Clarissa (13 May 2003). "Moving on to a new stage". The Straits Times. pp. 4–5.
6. ^ "他们把郭宝崑的种子撒向各地". Lian He Zao Bao. 28 November 2006.
7. ^ "History & Milestones". Intercultural Theatre Institute. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
8. ^ "Class of its own: What makes Intercultural Theatre Institute different". TODAYonline. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
9. ^ 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.

1°18′11″N 103°50′54″E﻿ / ﻿1.30307°N 103.84840°E﻿ / 1.30307; 103.84840