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Firmly established in Singapore
Being firmly established in Singapore, Toy Factory Productions strives in making its productions be known to wider audiences around the world. In its many years of theatre making, Toy Factory has toured internationally to countries such as China, Australia and Russia, bringing its unique productions of Titoudao, K, Spirits, The Crab Flower Club, PRISM, Glass Anatomy and Innamorati to other shores.
Titoudao, a play about Chinese street opera back in the olden times, had a prolific international run that impacted audiences from Shanghai, Beijing, Hang Zhou and Cairo. Having played to an unprecedented amount of diversified audience, the production has succeeded in spreading the Singapore culture to various parts of the world as one of the company’s most critically acclaimed masterpiece.
PRISM, a 2003 co-presentation between Toy Factory and Kageboushi Theatre Company for An ASEAN – JAPAN Collaboration Project, was a ground-breaking initiative, and was presented to 6 different countries – Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. It consisted of an international group of theatre makers and garnered the support of each country’s leading theatre companies, as well as their embassies.
Spirits, a commissioned collaboration between Toy Factory and Singapore Arts Festival, made its debut in the 2007 International Theater King festival in North-Western Russia, Velikiy Novgorod. The play drew tremendous attention due to the unique blend of traditional Chinese opera along with a mix of western and traditional music, which ended its performance to a full house audience and standing ovation from the Russian crowd.
Innamorati, an original musical, was featured at the Spring for Chinese Arts Festival in Beijing in 2017. It touched the hearts of local audiences with its dynamic storytelling and enjoyed sold-out performances.
As we continue to push boundaries, Toy Factory proudly launched plotSEA in 2024, a pioneering cross-cultural programme designed to reimagine Southeast Asian theatre. This initiative aims to foster artistic collaboration across the region, offering fresh interpretations of Southeast Asia’s rich cultural heritage. The inaugural season featured Sang Sinxay, an epic Lao poem brought to life on stage in collaboration with Thailand’s renowned Makhampom Arts Group. This powerful production captivated sold-out audiences with its tale of heroism, loyalty, and virtue, further showcasing Toy Factory’s commitment to storytelling that resonates across borders.
Based on the true story of Singaporean Wayang (Chinese Street Opera) star Madam Oon Ah Chiam, Titoudao portrays the struggles of this petite lady with big dreams, fighting against despairing personal states of poverty, gender inequality and shadowed marital vexations.
Above all, she takes these multiple hardships and challenges in life by the horns in order to realise her dreams and find her place in the world. This epic biography also parallels pivotal events in Singapore’s history to showcase how our lives have been transformed over the course of over 5 decades.
Set in the late Qing Dynasty, the respectable Wu household’s five daughters reunite on the eve of their father’s 60th birthday. The ladies’ twin mission is clear—to prepare an exquisite feast of crabs for the master of the household and set up a clandestine all-women poetry club in a highly patriarchal society, where women were still resigned to more traditional and conservative roles. Awakening the dormant poets within their souls, the Wu ladies leverage their talents for this exchange of emotions and quick-witted verse. Words are pickled, skewered and boiled; wit is seared and charred; expressions are stirred and steamed to perfection as each daughter reveals her menu of love. The lyrical exchanges in the Wu household’s kitchen herald the winds of change sweeping across the entire country.
Rooted in Lao epic tradition, Sang Sinxay narrates his heroic quest to rescue his aunt from the fearsome giant Nyak Koumphan. This story, exploring themes of morality, change, and the triumph of good over evil, remains highly relevant in the modern age.
To discuss sponsorship packages or simply to make an enquiry, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Toy Factory Productions Ltd
15A Smith Street
Singapore 058929
Tel: +65 6222 1526
Fax: +65 6221 6285
Email: [email protected]
Copyright © 2019 Toy Factory Productions Ltd
Reyn is a graduate of the LASALLE College of the Arts Diploma course in Theatre Production and Management.
Specialising in scenography and technical production, Reyn is a scenic and experiential designer with experience in long form television and visual merchandising. Their focus on immersive experiences and world building has driven their design style as a form of storytelling across various platforms.
TITOUDAO has been an incredible chance to be part of the collaborative effort in relating the heritage of the Wayang stage to new audiences.
Zennie Casann is the Founder of Zen Makeup Team. Zennie has been a Makeup Artist and Hairstylist for 20 years. She is highly experienced for stage, screen and TV productions as well as editorial, commercial and bridal. She is also known for her capability in makeup design and wig styling.
Zennie is the first Makeup Artist in Singapore who has worked for Luc Petit Creation for a major project – “8 Immortals” – in China. The show was broadcasted at the Oriental Movie Metropolis in Qingdao, China. She also worked for the British Theatre Playhouse’s production – “The Vortex” – starring Hollywood actress Jane Seymour.
Max started his eponymous label MAX.TAN upon his breakout collection at the Singapore Fashion Designers Contest in 2007, where he received an award recognition. What began as creating capsule collections to meet increasing interest, then became a full-fledged debut, with the S/S 2010 collection being featured as one of the top ten collections globally on premier trend forecasting report – Stylesight.com, alongside fashion powerhouses such as Alexander McQueen and Valentino.
Over the past decade, Max has been recognized for his innovative designs that challenge fashion trends while incorporating his Asian roots. Max also lectures at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Singapore), and enjoys partnering with theatre groups in Singapore to design costumes for their main stage productions.
MAX.TAN is represented by Boon showroom (Paris), and has started making inroads onto the international fashion design scene.
Vick, a Singapore-based sound designer, artist, and cellist, stands at the forefront of the contemporary intersection of technology and artistic expression. Graduating from Lasalle College of the Arts in 2015 with a specialization in Music Technology, Vick has since carved a unique niche for himself in the realm of sound design, earning accolades and praise for his innovative work.
In 2019, Vick was nominated for Best Sound Design at The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards for his contribution to Toy Factory Productions’ “The Watching.” This marked a significant milestone in his career, underlining his ability to weave sonic landscapes that enhance and elevate theatrical experiences.
Beyond his prowess in sound design, Vick is a classically trained cellist who seamlessly integrates his musical background into Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) productions. His journey as a performing musician has seen him collaborate with renowned entities such as The Kueh Tutus, MySuperFuture Theatrical Productions, and Sensorium Theatre in Perth. His contributions to these collaborations have added depth and richness to the artistic tapestry, demonstrating his versatility and commitment to pushing creative boundaries.
Some of his recent sound design works include Kwa Geok Choo (Toy Factory Productions), Everything For You (Nine Years Theatre), Windward Side Of The Mountain, a site-specific performance co-created by SAtheCollective, Nine Years Theatre and T.H.E Dance Company, Immortal Variables (Nine Years Theatre and Hsing Legend Youth Theatre from Taiwan) and Do Rhinos Feel Their Horns or Can They Not See Them Like How We Can’t See Our Noses (Gangguan! Theatre), which was presented at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023.
Tommy obtained his Master of Fine Arts degree in Lighting Design from Purchase College, State University of New York. He is the lecturer in Theatre & Production Management, LASALLE College of the Arts
Tommy was the production manager and the lighting designer for the Singapore Dance Theatre’s “Reminiscing the Moon” at Esplanade’s Opening Festival 2002. He designed lighting for Jackie Cheung’s Musical “ Snow, Wolf, Lake”, CCTV 4 Musical “ Song of the Light & Shadow”, Tan Dun’s Opera “ Tea” in the China National Theatre, and Contemporary Legend Theatre “King Lear”.
Tommy received the “Wen Hua Award” from the China Ministry of Culture for the set design of the dance-drama “Shenzhen Story” by the Shenzhen Song & Dance Troupe in 2000, and the best lighting design in “Hong Kong Dance Award 2001& 2008” for the Hong Kong Dance Company productions “ Yellow Earth, Yellow Earth” & “ Desperately Seeking Miss Blossom”
He worked with Toy Factory Productions on set and lighting design: “White Sail in the Blue Blue Sea”, “Titoudao”, “I have a date with Spring”, “Spirits”, “Mad Phoenix”.
As a theatre maker who differentiates himself as a trained marketer, Justin is an accomplished theatre producer with over decades worth of experience in producing musicals, plays, and creative works for local and overseas audiences.
With his extensive experience in project management in the conference and convention industry, he is groomed to be a firm believer that every project and theatrical production he oversees deserves proper packaging and publicity.
His experience has led him to have undertaken projects in China, Korea, India, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Recent international tour projects include: Spirits (Russia), The Crab Flower Club (Beijing), K (Shanghai), Glass Anatomy (Shanghai), and Innamorati Two (Beijing).
Clement Yeo is an actor that believes in the power of story-telling. Juggling his acting career with academic pursuits, Clement is also a psychology student at Nanyang Technological University infusing his roles with a distinctive perspective. His recent works include Sang Sinxay (Toy Factory), Who Are You? (Migrant Writers Of Singapore), My Invisible Life (Gateway Arts) and The Monster In The Mirror (Bitesize Productions). He is convinced that the arts can educate, provoke and spread fun; and he hopes to be part of that creation in the future.
Isabella Chiam is an actor & theatre-maker.
Trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts with a Masters in Theatre, Isabella’s recent acting credits include Oo-woo (The Necessary Stage), Four Horse Road (Practice) and The Fourth Trimester (Checkpoint). She has performed in international productions across UK & Asia and was twice-nominated and won for ‘Best Ensemble’ at the Life! Theatre Awards.
Isabella also has an interest in actor training & collaborative theatre-making. She is an adjunct lecturer at NAFA & Lasalle, and her most recent creations include The Dog Who Wasn’t Useful (Dramabox) , The Last Gardener (Practice) and A Collection of Things: Serangoon (Issy x Cher). Isabella is an Associate Artist with The Theatre Practice, and a founding member of theatre collective Five Stones Theatre.
Xuan Ong is a screen and stage actor.
She graduated from LASALLE College of the Arts with a First Class Honours in Acting. She is perhaps most fondly known for her leading role as Mui Ee in Teenage Textbook: The Series (August Pictures), her debut TV Series. Her other notable screen credits include If They Can’t Be Loved (Hattie Lee) which won her a best actress award, Kisses From Death (August Pictures), Titoudao Season 2 (Oak3), Soul Detective/灵探 ( MediaCorp), One Take the Webseries (NSFTV). She most notably had her feature film debut in 7 days (七天), which was also the opening film for Singapore Chinese Film Festival 2023.
Her notable stage credits include A Dream Under The Southern Bough – Existence (SIFA, Toy Factory), I Have Something To Say (March On Children’s Festival at the Esplanade), Fika and Fishy (Patch and Punnet), CATalysts (SRT), The Singapore Trilogy (The Secondbreakfast Company). In a world so fractured, she remains unabashedly hopeful at the heart of her art-making. Xuan believes in being a fiercely unapologetic conduit for all lives whom she is tasked to represent onstage and onscreen.
Tan Rui Shan is an actress, choreographer, and theatre-maker. Her portfolio includes a range of noteworthy productions, but she is perhaps best known for her outstanding performance as Mrs Lee Kuan Yew in “Kwa Geok Choo” by Toy Factory Productions (dir. Goh Boon Teck). She has also starred in several other theatre productions and events, such as the Flower Fairy in 2024’s “Chingay: Blossom” (dir. Fan Dong Kai), “The Amazing Celestial Race” by Wild Rice (dir. Glen Goei) and “Three Years in the Life and Death of Land” by The Necessary Stage (dir. Haresh Sharma).
In addition to her acting career, Rui Shan’s choreography has also been featured in numerous productions, including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Singapore Repertory Theatre, and in the upcoming “The Wizard of Oz” by Wild Rice. Rui Shan is also a co-founder of Bitesize Theatre Productions, a young and exciting theatre collective. During Covid, they created their first original musical film titled “The Monster in the Mirror Musical” in collaboration with Gateway Arts, that has reached more than 11,500 students and youths-at-risk at Singapore Girls’ Home and Trybe. Rui Shan believes in the power of theatre and hopes to continue using her craft to heal and inspire.
Alvin Chiam has been actively involved in the Singapore theatre scene for more than 25 years.
A recipient of both the NAC Grant and the NAC Arts Scholarship, Alvin took on many different roles in the theatre scene after training with the master Philippe Gaulier in Paris.
Alvin’s theatre productions, performances, and training travelled to many different places, including cities in Europe, the United Kingdom, China, Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Alvin is currently full-time lecturing at Lasalle College of the Arts.
Sharon is a bilingual actor, singer and dancer who graduated with a BA(First Class Honours) degree in Musical Theatre from LASALLE College of the Arts and has since performed in various musicals and theatre productions. Some of her theatre credits include W!ld Rice’s Momotaro and the Magnificent Peach; Toy Factory’s Crab Flower Club and A Dream Under the Southern Bough: Existence; Bitesize Theatre Production’s The Monster in the Mirror Musical; Esplanade’s PLAYtime! Fatimah and her Magic Socks; Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s Infinite Island; Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Goldilocks & the Three Bears, Gretel & Hansel, Fantastic Mr Fox and Red Riding Hood; The Theatre Practice’s Liao Zhai Rocks! and Four Horse Road; Tiny Feat’s Annie Ting and the Dragon; and Dream Academy’s Detention Katong.
She has also lent her voice to productions such as Double Confirm Production’s Hossan-AH 50! and sung for The Theatre Practice’s Nursery Rhymes Project. She enjoys how theatre has allowed her to expand the human experience and looks to bring that experience to her audience.
