Theatre Training & Research Programme renamed Intercultural Theatre Institute and restarts enrolment for 2012

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The Theatre Training & Research Programme (TTRP) has been renamed Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI) and is restarting its enrolment of students for the January 2012 intake. The three-year professional actor training programme of the same name is now known as the Professional Diploma in Intercultural Theatre (Acting), in line with the new regulations of the Council for Private Education.

Four new scholarships for Singaporeans and Singaporean Permanent Residents are now available for each of the intakes from 2012-2014, funded by the National Arts Council. In addition, two new scholarships are now open for the January 2012 intake. The Kuo Pao Kun Foundation-ITI Scholarship will be awarded to a talented student from Greater China, Malaysia or Singapore; and a private philanthropist who wishes to remain anonymous, is sponsoring a scholarship for a talented
student from India. The scholarships cover up to 80% of course fees over three years and include a stipend for living allowances for foreign students. The six scholarship awards range from S$43,200 to S$72,000 each. Applicants can email admin@iti.edu.sg.

Philip Jeyaretnam, Chairman of ITI notes that “Sponsorship support of scholarships is critical in enabling talented artists to enroll at ITI and take their craft to the highest level.”

The curriculum and approach of the acting programme remains fundamentally unchanged, founded on a rigorous, intercultural learning methodology with a view to producing original, contemporary theatre. The training encompasses exposure to a broad spectrum of cultures and languages, and immersion in traditional Asian theatre systems and
contemporary theatre forms.

T. Sasitharan, Director of ITI, says: “Our programme has been tested and refined over a decade and our graduates from all over the world are proving its worth everyday – through the work they do and the theatres they produce.”

Says Sasi: “We are confident that the ground is firm enough for us to move forward. For this, I am deeply grateful to the many people who have supported us – our Board, teachers, sponsors and donors, alumni, the Emily Hill group, members of the arts community and the National Arts Council. Their trust, belief, commitment and support is the vital plank upon which we will build a sustainable future for the organisation and programme.”