Chong Tze Chien to helm SIFA as Festival Director from 2026 to 2028. Photo credit: Tuckys Photography

SINGAPORE, 5 February 2025 — Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA), Singapore’s annual pinnacle performing arts festival organised by Arts House Limited (AHL), and commissioned by the National Arts Council (NAC), welcomes Chong Tze Chien as its Festival Director from 2026 to 2028. Chong succeeds Natalie Hennedige, who will conclude her four-year tenure this year with the 48th edition of SIFA, which runs from 16 May to 1 June 2025.

Known for his compelling and boundary-pushing productions, Chong is an award-winning playwright, director, and educator whose works have profoundly shaped Singapore’s theatre scene. As a core member of The Finger Players, he has helmed multidisciplinary productions such as Turn By Turn We Turn and Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Chong has created works for a wide range of audiences from all walks of life, including children (The Finger Players Reach Out Season [2004-2018], Esplanade’s FYI series etc.) and the community, efforts to bring the arts everywhere and foster a Singapore that is engaged with the arts. Under Chong’s leadership, the theatre company has garnered widespread acclaim, cementing itself as one of Singapore’s leading theatre companies and a key voice in contemporary Southeast Asian theatre. 

Chong’s sharp storytelling and inventive approaches have earned him numerous accolades, including the Young Artist Award 2006 for his contributions to Singapore theatre, and multiple Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards. His plays have been celebrated at home and abroad, with productions staged in Taiwan, Japan, Hungary, and the UK. He has also directed notable SIFA commissions, including The Prose and The Passion in 2024 with playwright and Cultural Medallion recipient Haresh Sharma, and Oiwa – The Ghost of Yotsuya in 2021. 

Chong has also served as a co-conceptualist and writer for Singapore’s National Day Parade, and is Creative Director at Sight Lines Entertainment, a theatrical entertainment company that produces immersive experiences. Beyond his artistic achievements, Chong is deeply committed to arts education, enabling Singaporeans to develop into culturally confident individuals. Since 2001, he has conducted workshops and masterclasses for tertiary institutions and schools across Singapore. He currently serves on the Curriculum Development Assessment Committee at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and has been an adjunct lecturer at various institutions in Singapore.

AHL selected Chong for his deep understanding of SIFA’s mission and vision to expand its impact. Appointed for three editions, his role reflects SIFA’s commitment to showcasing both local and international works while nurturing distinct artistic voices. Chong will build on these values, bringing his perspectives and creative excellence to further elevate SIFA’s standing as a premier global arts destination.

Sharon Tan, Executive Director of Arts House Limited, shared, “At every stage of its journey, SIFA has flourished under the unique vision of each Festival Director, whose contributions continue to expand the possibilities of performing arts and spark critical dialogue. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Natalie Hennedige for her remarkable leadership over the four years of her tenure, elevating the Festival to greater heights. As Chong prepares to take over the reins, we look ahead to a new chapter that boldly inspires cultural exchanges, forges meaningful connections, and further strengthens Singapore’s presence on an international stage.”

Chong Tze Chien said, “I am honoured to be appointed as the new Festival Director of SIFA, succeeding Festival Directors of previous editions, particularly Natalie Hennedige, who has guided the Festival with her signature stamp and success over the past four years. My aspiration is to carry on the legacy and infuse the Festival anew with a vibrant spirit and captivating surprises, ensuring its continued reputation as a cherished event among both local and international audiences. I eagerly anticipate sharing my vision as we embark on this exciting new chapter of SIFA.”

Current SIFA Festival Director Natalie Hennedige shared, “I believe that Tze Chien will confidently navigate the role of SIFA Festival Director, sparking new facets of Festival delivery and surfacing fresh vision in his brilliant and wonderful way. As he takes up the mantle, I know that he will arrive at the furthest reaches of his imagination and artistic conviction to add great new dimensions to the Festival locally and internationally.”

Mr. Low Eng Teong, CEO of the National Arts Council, remarked, “Under the stewardship of AHL and past Festival Directors, SIFA has grown as a creative platform that showcases the best of Singapore’s arts and fosters cultural dialogue internationally. NAC remains committed to supporting SIFA, Singapore’s pinnacle performing arts festival that champions artistic excellence and innovation. As we welcome Chong Tze Chien to lead SIFA into its next chapter, we are excited to see the fresh perspectives and creative vision he will bring to further enrich our arts and culture landscape. Building on the robust foundations laid by past directors, SIFA will continue to connect audiences from diverse communities through compelling narratives, spotlight homegrown talent, and position Singapore as a vibrant hub for artistic exchange in the years to come.”

Chong officially assumes the role of Festival Director Designate in February 2025, and will work closely with Hennedige and the AHL team to facilitate a smooth transition. During this period, he will develop his vision for SIFA 2026 and onwards, setting his plans and building new relationships.