Q&A with Choy Chee Yew

Choy Chee Yew is a Singaporean theatre performer, playwright and arts manager. As a performer, he has been involved with youth theatre organisations such as Buds Youth Theatre and The Second Breakfast Company in Singapore. He also has extensive working experience in fundraising and marketing communications with The Theatre Practice, Singapore's longest-standing professional bilingual theatre institution.

He aspires to continue creating original Singaporean works that speak for the voiceless and question cultural norms in society. He also intends to deepen his training, particularly in the fields of Biomechanics (Meyerhold), Suzuki Method of Acting, Viewpoints and Lecoq.

Chee Yew is a recipient of the Tan Chay Bing Education Fund Scholarship.

What were you doing before coming to ITI?

I was working at The Theatre Practice as part of the Communications and Partnership team.

What made you choose to come to ITI?

I was an amateur actor who had dabbled in youth theatre productions, and my decision to enrol came from a desire to polish my techniques. I also had a keen interest in creation and I felt that the breadth and scope of the programme here would broaden my perspectives in this regard.

Think back to your first day here: what were some of your thoughts and emotions then?

Honestly, I was questioning if I made the right choice and wondered if this was what I truly wanted to do with my life. It's hard to shake off mindsets that you have been conditioned to while growing up … Unemployment! Money! Social Status!

But I kept an open mind and bore in mind that whatever routes I take in life aren't cast in stone. If choice A doesn't go as expected, there's still B, C and D! Go with the flow and experience and see what comes with it. And if all things fail, just be a monk or something I guess.

What is it like to train here at ITI?

Humbling and empowering.
Tiring and refreshing.
Joyous and disappointing (in yourself, mostly, if you have a neurotic personality like me).

Every single day brings sharply contrasting moments that really peel off the layers of "self" that you have put on. I have come out understanding myself better than I ever did, more aware of my fears and strengths. How I choose to confront them or use them is something I will have to figure out for the rest of my life.

… every moment in school, however nerve-wracking, inspiring, devastating or exhilarating, holds something special for me. There's always something to take away.

Any reflections on the experience of working with classmates from different countries?

Our different backgrounds and cultures are reflected not just in the choices we make in our work, but also in our personalities and the way we communicate. It's not an easy thing to navigate as all of us hold such different values and belief systems. Some are more outspoken, some are more reserved, some are bursting with energy, some are more laid back ... and the list goes on.

I think the key is to always be patient, empathetic and LISTEN without judgement. Always try to understand why a person behaves a certain way, and what is the baggage that an individual carries with them.

What are the most memorable experiences you’ve had at ITI?

I'd like to call them my daily scheduled mental breakdowns where I wail in the most dramatic way and collapse onto the ground, much to the annoyance of my classmates.

All kidding aside, every moment in school, however nerve-wracking, inspiring, devastating or exhilarating, holds something special for me. There's always something to take away.

How has what you’ve learnt here shaped or changed you as an actor?

It made me realise that I still have a lot to learn! To be more relaxed (anxiety, low self-esteem, neuroticism, self-doubt, BOO!), to be specific and clear in the way I communicate as a character and actor, to LISTEN and stay in the moment without anticipating.

It's a work-in-progress, frankly. My experience here has made me astutely, sometimes painfully, aware of these issues that I need to work on. I think I have improved, but undoing 30 years of such traits would take ... a while. I've also come away with a greater acceptance of my body and its strengths and limitations.

What are your plans after graduation?

Sink into utter despair as unemployment hits me full-on like a tsunami.
Oh sorry, I mean, take a break, go on a holiday and deepen my yoga practice.

Oh, you meant artistic career wise? Well, if opportunities for auditions come along, I'll jump at them. Otherwise, I also intend to continue developing my playwriting and creation skills. Maybe develop my FYiP (Final Year Individual Project) further. Write a full-length play. The learning would continue as well — attend workshops and classes related to creation and devising.

It would be nice to do short films and commercials too. Hey I'd love to play the guy who talks too loudly in the cinema, only to be pelted with popcorn and thrown out as tears trickle down his cheeks in complete humiliation!

What would you say to a new student or someone considering joining ITI?

Be kind to yourself and others. Seriously! If things go smoothly as planned, and you can deliver the best performance ever in the first run, you don't need to be in this school. What is "best" or "good" anyway? It's all subjective, determined by how well we justify our choices.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank?

The faculty — especially Sasi, Wan Ching, Simon, Chin Huat, Karen, Li Xie for their Patience with a capital P. Yes, I'm still working on the nervous laughter, the self-judgement and lack of confidence. I will get over it one day ... one day ... ONE DAY!!! But I really love all of you lah! Thank you for being such supportive mentors and friends.

Also, my immense appreciation to the Tan Chay Bing Education Fund for their support of my scholarship.

Profile photo and The Chair production shot by Bernie Ng