Bookends

Nelson Chia (above) will be directing Red Demon by Japanese playwright Noda Hideki.
Nelson Chia (above) will be directing Red Demon by Japanese playwright Noda Hideki. PHOTO: NELSON CHIA

Who: Nelson Chia, 43, co-founder and artistic director of Nine Years Theatre Well versed in English and Mandarin productions, the artist has numerous acting and directing accolades under his belt.

Chia, who has a bachelor's degree in theatre studies from the National University of Singapore and a master's degree in directing from London's Goldsmiths College, has taught theatre studies at various Singapore tertiary institutions and universities.

He is married to Mia Chee, fellow co-founder of Nine Years Theatre. He will direct Red Demon by Japanese playwright Noda Hideki, which will run from March 3 to 13 at the Drama Centre Black Box in the National Library Building.

Tickets are available at www.nineyearstheatre.com.

What are you reading now?

Art Studio by Yeng Pway Ngon (2014, Math Paper Press, $32)

I am re-reading Art Studio, by home-grown writer and 2003 Cultural Medallion recipient Yeng Pway Ngon, for a project to adapt the Chinese novel into a stage production.

The Field Of Drama by Martin Esslin (1988, Methuen Drama, $35.02)

The book tells the stories of some artists who began painting together in an art studio and later went on different paths in search of their dreams. When I read it about two years ago, I was not able to put the book down until I reached the end of the story.

A Brief History Of Time by Stephen Hawkings (1998, Bantam Books, $15.65)

Yeng is an experienced writer who has the ability to captivate readers by focusing on the minute details of everyday lives and setting them against an epic historical background.

What books would you save from a burning house?

The first would be The Field Of Drama by Martin Esslin. This is purely for nostalgic reasons as it is the first theatre book I studied.

The second would be A Brief History Of Time by Stephen Hawking.

  • Art Studio by Yeng Pway Ngon (2014, Math Paper Press, $32) is available at selectbooks.com.sg. The Field Of Drama by Martin Esslin (1988, Methuen Drama, $35.02) and A Brief History Of Time by Stephen Hawkings (1998, Bantam Books, $15.65) are available at Amazon.com.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on February 21, 2016, with the headline Bookends. Subscribe