Ivan Heng

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.

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