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]

Intercultural Theatre Institute
Location
11 Upper Wilkie Road

Singapore
Information
Former nameTheatre Training and Research Programme (TTRP)
Founded1 April 2000
FounderKuo Pao Kun (1939–2002) and T. Sasitharan
School boardArun Mahizhnan (Chairman), Chew Kheng Chuan, Nazry Bahrawi, Winifred Loh, Andrew Nai, Jean Tay

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

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

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

References
  1. Oon, Clarissa (3 September 2011). "Theatre scene gets a boost". The Straits Times.
  2. 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.

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