Xris Li

An actor, director, and educator, Xris was the Artistic Director for World in Theatre and has served in more than 70 acting roles, directed over 15 productions, and undertaken at least 30 technical appointments through more than two and a half decades of artistic experience.

Xris’ screen acting work includes the lead for Living It, directed by David Lee, which was in the official selection of the Busan Film Festival 2010, in the Wide Angle, Asia Short Film category. He has also played the lead role in the Singaporean short film Ball is Round, directed by Matthew Lim, which was awarded 3rd Prize at the Ho Chi Minh Sports Film Festival 2006.

For his theatre work, Xris has taught acting, directed and co-performed Seed as part of a music-theatre collaboration at the Southeast Asia Regional Sonic Festival (2005). In 2007, he self-directed an original solo-performance in 3 Men Meet 3 Women by the Little Red Shop. A year later, Xris performed in Just Late by Magdalena Singapore at the Singapore Theatre Festival 2008. In that same year, Xris pursued further studies under Emeritus Prof. Phillip Zarrilli at the University of Exeter (UK), where he graduated with a MA in Theatre Practice (Merit), specialising in actor training, and directing.

Xris oversaw the Aesthetics Department (Teachers-in-span: six award-winning specialist arts teachers) and Pastoral Care Department (Teachers-in-span: 24 form teachers) at the Singapore International School in Shanghai, China (2005-2007). Shortly after joining the school, Xris attended the Playback Theatre Summer School, under Christian Penny (Head, New Zealand Drama School) and Bev Hosking (Executive Director, Wellington Psychodrama Training Institute), where he was exposed to deeper levels of Playback Theatre work at the international level. Following his work in Shanghai, Xris continued his theatre training in Kyoto. There, he spent one month at the School of Kanze to study Noh under several masters, including Katayama Shingo Sensei, Tamoi Hiromichi Sensei, and Oe Nobuyuki Sensei. 

Upon returning to Singapore in 2007, Xris was invited into a business partnership for the Music iLab-Theatre iLab where he served as Executive Director (2007-9), focusing on developing holistic and cross-disciplinary performing arts education. A member of the Tapestry Playback Theatre Company, Xris performed and taught movement at the first Asia Playback Gathering in 2009. In 2010, Xris commenced his research on the cross-cultural autonomous actor training work at ITI, exploring faith-based theatre practices, and facilitating (applied) theatre education work. Some of the organisations at which Xris has facilitated, lectured or taught include the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia (Amplified: Psalmist Generation), Church of our Saviour, City Harvest Church, Good Gifts City Church, Kaki Bukit Prison School, the Methodist Church in Singapore (TRAC), Nanyang Technological University - National Institute of Education, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Northlight School, Serangoon Junior College, Temasek Polytechnic, The Articulated Gallery Series, and various acting agencies.

Photo by Shin Lim

Last updated: 22 January 2024