use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| body_discovered =
| resting_place =
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| burial_place = <!-- may be used instead of resting_place and resting_place_coordinates (displays "Burial place" as label) -->
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| alma_mater = Anglo-Chinese School <br /> Temasek Junior College <br /> National University of Singapore <br /> Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
| occupation = Actor, theatre director
| spouse =
| parents = Nancy Ong (mother)
| relatives = Tan Kheng Hua
| awards = Cultural Medallion (2013)
| website =
| module =
Ivan Heng Ai Jin (born 20 September 1963) is a Singaporean actor and theatre director of Peranakan descent. He is the founding artistic director of W!LD RICE, a theatre company in Singapore, and an outspoken advocate for respect for diversity and freedom of expression.
Heng is the first male Singaporean actor to break into English-speaking roles in Hollywood films with his role in Luc Besson's The Fifth Element, the first female actress from Singapore being Lydia Look, who played a Fuzhou actress in a Jackie Chan Hollywood film.
Biography
A theatre director, actor, playwright and designer, Heng's productions are concerned with identity, migration and gender and sexual politics within intercultural contexts. They have played festivals and theatres in more than 20 cities around the world including Melbourne International Arts Festival, New Zealand International Arts Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, ICA International Festival of the Chinese Diaspora (London), Hong Kong City Festival, Royal Tropical Institute (Netherlands), SIETAR Congress (Munich), WOTM Conference (Belgium) and Re:Map Festival (Copenhagen). Heng was awarded the Cultural Medallion, Singapore's highest arts honour, in 2013.
Whilst studying for his law degree, Heng attended Kuo's directing workshop, acted with Singapore Theatre American Repertory Showcase (S*TARS), and directed and designed sets as a founding member of The Necessary Stage.
Heng made his UK directorial debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a Singaporean play – Ovidia Yu's The Woman in a Tree on the Hill. The production won the Scotsman Edinburgh Fringe First (Singapore's first and only), as well the Scottish Daily Express New Names of '93 Award. Thereafter, he moved to London where he worked in film, television and radio, and founded the Tripitaka Theatre Company to do touring productions with an Asian point of view, like his autobiographical solo Journey West (1995).
Return to Singapore
In 1998, after touring extensively throughout Europe, Heng decided to return to Singapore to contribute and make a difference to Singapore's nascent arts scene. In 2010, he was Creative Director for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore.
Heng's awards for excellence in theatre include the Edinburgh Fringe First, Scottish Daily Express New Names of '93 Award, Edinburgh Spirit of the Fringe 1995, Singapore Young Artist Award 1996, the Singapore Youth Award 1998, the Straits Times Life! Theatre Award for Best Director 2002, the Singapore Tatler Leadership Award for Culture (2006) and the Cultural Medallion in 2013.
Filmography
Films
- 2013: Sex.Violence.FamilyValues – Pole Dance Judge
- 1999: Rogue Trader – Singapore Bartender
- 1997: The Fifth Element (Le Cinquième élément) – Left Arm
Plays
- 2015: Public Enemy – Dr. Thomas Chee
- 2013: The Importance of Being Earnest – Lady Bracknell
- 2012: La Cage Aux Folles – Albin
- 2011: Emily of Emerald Hill – Emily
- 2011: The Weight of Silk on Skin – John Au Yong
- 2006: Jack and the Beansprout – Widow Neo
- 2004: For the Pleasure of Seeing You Again – Narrator
- 2002: Emily of Emerald Hill – Emily
- 2000: Emily of Emerald Hill – Emily
- 1999: Emily of Emerald Hill – Emily