Nelson Chia


Nelson Chia is a Singaporean theatre director, actor and lecturer. He is the co-founder of Nine Years Theatre.

Early life and education

Chia studied at The Chinese High School and Hwa Chong Junior College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from National University of Singapore and a master's degree in Theatre Arts from Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Career

Chia has been working in theatre both as an actor and director since 1994. Chia's first major TV role in the drama Together Whenever, which was aired on SPH MediaWorks Channel U, alongside Erica Lee. He briefly headed the Department of Theatre in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, but later left the post in order to devote more time to his craft. He is currently an adjunct lecturer with the Department of Theatre in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts as well as the Theatre Studies Program in National University of Singapore. He is the associate artistic director at Toy Factory Productions, an Associate Artist with The Substation and the founding member of a collaborative ensemble A Group Of People.
Chia founded Mandarin theatre company Nine Years Theatre in 2012.

Personal life

Chia is married to fellow theatre practitioner and co-founder of Nine Years Theatre Mia Chee, and has two twin daughters.

Theatre

As director

  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Goldsmiths College, London, 2000
  • Animal Farm, The Theatre Practice, Victoria Theatre, Singapore, 2002
  • Oleanna, The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 2002
  • Mergers And Wills,, Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 2004
  • First Light, Toy Factory Productions, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Singapore, 2008
  • LIV - Full Frontal, A Group of People, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Singapore Arts Festival, Singapore, 2009
  • Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Nine Years Theatre, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Huayi Festival 2012, Singapore 2012
  • Twelve Angry Men, Nine Years Theatre, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Huayi Festival 2013, Singapore 2013
  • Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Nine Years Theatre, Dom Pedro V Theatre, Macau Arts Festival 2013, Singapore 2013

    As an actor

  • Lao Jiu, The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 1990
  • Titoudao, Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 1994
  • The Coffin is Too Big For The Hole, The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 1995
  • The Soldier and His Wife, The Theatre Practice, Fort Canning Drama Centre, Singapore, 1996
  • Love A La Zen, The Theatre Practice, Victoria Theatre, Singapore, 1999
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 1999
  • Hundred Years In Waiting, The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 2001
  • The Island,, The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 2002
  • Animal Farm, The Theatre Practice, Victoria Theatre, Singapore, 2002
  • Mad Phoenix,, Toy Factory Productions, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Huayi Festival, Singapore, 2003
  • Porcelain,, Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 2005
  • Big Fool Lee, Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 2005
  • Nanjing: 1937, The Substation, The Substation SeptFest, Singapore, 2007
  • Nanjing: 1937 Phase II, The Substation, The Substation SeptFest, Singapore, 2008
  • Own Time Own Target, W!LD RICE, Drama Centre Theatre, Singapore, 2009

    Filmography

;Film
YearTitleRoleNotesRef
1996Agong Bak Kut Teh 阿公肉骨茶AlanCameo, telemovie

;Television
YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2003Together Whenever 天倫Zhengbei
2007Like Father, Like Daughter 寶貝父女兵Akirah
2007Live Again 天堂鸟Sayang
2008Just in Singapore 一房半厅一水缸Robert
2009Table of Glory 乒乓圆Richard
2010Happy Family 过好年bread skin

;2006