ISABELLA CHIAM
Actor / Puppeteer / Theatre-maker
Isabella Chiam is an actor, puppeteer & theatre-maker based in London & Singapore.
Trained at RADA, Isabella's recent theatre credits include Fantastic Mr Fox (SRT), Snow Queen (Polka Theatre), The Commuters (The Knotted Project), Merchant of Venice (SRT) & The Bride Always Knocks Twice (The Theatre Practice). She has performed internationally, having collaborated in cross-cultural productions in Japan, Hong Kong, Greece, Taiwan, London & Singapore. She is also an avid puppeteer, and was twice-nominated and won for 'Best Ensemble' at the Life! Theatre Awards.
Isabella also has a deep interest in movement, collaborative theatre-making & actor training. She has taught in various institutions such as Identity School of Acting (UK) and Singapore Polytechnic (SG), and is an adjunct lecturer at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (SG). She strongly believes that theatre is a powerful tool for empowerment and social change, and is proud be a part of theatre collective Five Stones Theatre (SG) & Arts for Action Ensemble (UK), creating work for children and communities.
CURRENT PROJECTS
DIRECTING - THREE FEATHERS
21 - 24 November 2019
Based on a tale by the Brothers Grimm, the opera for children presents a young female protagonist, Princess Dora, as its hero. A magic feathers leads the shy, self-doubting princess to an enchanted Underworld ruled by a giant Frog King. Here she summons her courage and compassion to face a series of mysterious and comic adventures that change her life and earns her the right to the crown.
Tickets here.
ACTING - CHAPTERS OF A FLOATING LIFE
4th October 2019
The story of two Chinese couples living in New York City during the Second World War. Their worlds, separated by a division of class and education, are disrupted when the two women meet in Central Park and fall in love.
A play read as part of Yellow Earth Theatre's Typhoon Festival. Tickets here.
IN DEVELOPMENT - ODDSOCKS
7th & 8th December 2019
Oddsocks is a fun and quirky physical theatre production about being just a little different! With a little magic, a dash of humour & lots of socks, we explore what it means to be the odd one out in the world of sameness. Get ready to spot the odd sock!
Work-In-Development at The Artground under the Groundbreakers Programme
IN DEVELOPMENT - THE REGIMENT
13 - 17 November 2019
“Ta’at Setia” - Loyal and True
These were the words that the brave soldiers of the Malay Regiment lived and died by. Up until the end, they fought tooth & nail to keep Singapore from falling to the Japanese invaders. And they did, to their dying breath. How did they come to this? Did they ever think to run? What were they fighting for?
Work-In-Development at Centre 42, The Guest Room