Big Ball ’15: Performers
Photos by Invertigo Studios
THE HOSTS
IVAN HENG
Ivan Heng is the founding artistic director of Wild Rice and recipient of the Cultural Medallion in 2013. Heng’s pioneering career spans various local and international productions, as well as award-winning films. He has been awarded numerous accolades for his excellence in theatre, like the Singapore Youth Award in 1998 and The Straits Times Life! Theatre Award for Best Director in 2002.
OON SHU AN
Oon Shu An started acting when she was 14 and starred in her first feature film, Becoming Royston, at 19. A graduate of the BA Acting programmed at LASALLE College of the Arts, she was also one of the founding members of physical theatre group TheatreStrays, and is an Associate Artist with Checkpoint Theatre.
Shu An most recently wrote and performed in a sold out run of the cross media production, #UnicornMoment, which was nominated for Best Original Script at the 2015 Life! Theatre Awards. #UnicornMoment was described as honest, funny and powerful, the latest accolade in an eventful stage career. Other notable theatre credits include City Night Songs with Checkpoint Theatre and Ho Tzu Nyen’s The King Lear Project, which was presented at the Singapore Arts Festival 2008, and the kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels.
THE ENTERTAINERS
THE CHESTNUTS
Singapore’s very first and longest running parody show
CHESTNUTS has spoofed movies, TV, current affairs, popular music and the theatre scene, always with a loving sense of nonsense and a sharp sting of social commentary. Since 1996, their unique brand of parody have made fans of audiences and critics alike, and Chestnuts is now a must-see staple in many a Singapore satire-lover’s calendar.
Songs we know and love receive twisted new lyrics from the comic genius of creator (writer & actor) Jonathan Lim, while local musical theatre icon Elaine Chan weaves them into a musical mash-up to remember! Together with performers Dwayne Lau and Candice De Rozario, Chestnuts will have you rolling in the aisles and cheering till you’re hoarse as they skewer the past years most outrageous sexist instances – the nominees for AWARE’s infamous Alamak! Awards.
ELAINE W CHAN
Best known for the LTA jingle Love Your Ride, NDP 2005 theme song Reach Out for the Skies and 2013 One Singapore, Elaine Chan is a popular theatre composer-arranger-director.
She garnered songwriting awards in her teens, wrote and directed her 1st full length musical score at 18, toured the south of New Zealand, received the Wong Yee Hua Memorial Music Excellence Award, music directed NDP 2005 and together with Selena Tan, and was nominated in 2011s Life Theatre Awards for Cinderellah!
Her prolific portfolio encompass musical direction, original writing & arrangements for all Dream Academy Productions of Dim Sum Dollies, SingDollar, Hossan Leong & Broadway Beng Shows, the 1st Crazy Christmas, Wild Rices Pantomimes : Hansel & Gretel, CinderellaH! Jack and the Beansprout!, Aladdin, Snow White, Beauty & the Beast and a musical adaptation of the Bawds Romeo and Juliet.
VOCALUPTUOUS
Vocaluptuous is Singapores favourite a cappella group. Formed in 1997, it has continually entertained international audiences in its illustrious history. With three critically-acclaimed albums, All Wrapped Up, Notes from an Island and Tis the Season, Vocaluptuous is known for its signature lush sound, varied and complex musical arrangements, warm humour and refreshing style.
Vocaluptuous has performed for many prestigious events both locally and internationally. These include the 2015 SEA games opening ceremony, 2009 and 2013 National Day Parades, APEC and ASEAN conventions, a 9-day tour of New Caledonia as the invited artistes of Le Voix du Sud 2014, and gigs in Japan, Australia and Korea, acting as singing ambassadors promoting Singapore music and culture. In addition, the group has opened for international acts such as Elton John, New York Voices, Diana Ross and more. Over the years, it has produced several sell-out concerts to stellar reviews.
