Founding Artistic Director - KUO Pao Kun (1939)

Kuo Pao Kun was born into a poor farming village in Hubei, China. At a tender age, he moved to classical Peiping, then to cosmopolitan Hong Kong. In 1949, he moved south again, this time to the multi-ethnic Singapore. Subsequently, he explored the vastness of Australia as a young man before returning to call Singapore his home. This is the journey of one man’s life, where the inflections of his journey are not lost upon the influence of his work. Where the varied experience of diverse cultures has shaped and inspired a unique and inimitable vision of creativity.

In 1965, Kuo Pao Kun and dancer Goh Lay Kuan founded Practice Performing Arts School, introducing the idea of performing arts education in Singapore, laying the initial foundation for a future arts scene. In 1986, Kuo Pao Kun founded Singapore’s first bilingual theatre company, The Theatre Practice. In 1990, Kuo Pao Kun received the Cultural Medallion, the highest local award bestowed upon an artist. In 1993, he received the ASEAN Culture award; and in 1997, he was knighted Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from France. In 2002, he also received the Excellence for Singapore award.

Arguably the father of Singapore Theatre, Kuo’s 40 years of dedication and kindling of local theatre has been an influence to generations of artistes and practitioners. Aside from 26 years of script writing, Kuo has also written books, adapted scripts, and directed innumerable plays. In 1982, 14 local Chinese theatre groups assembled together to present a production of Kuo’s The Little White Sailing Boat.

Among his other works, The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole is most well known. Adapted and translated into various permutations and productions by local and international theatre groups, The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole has also been incorporated by schools as teaching material. Some of Kuo’s other well-known plays include the multi-lingual Mama Looking for Her Cat, The Silly Little Girl and The Funny Old Tree, and more mature works like Lao Jiu and Descendents of the Eunuch Admiral. Kuo also wrote an original screenplay for film entitled Grandpa’s Meat Bone Tea.

Kuo Pao Kun passed away in Singapore on 10th September 2002, creating an irreplaceable absence in the theatre scene, as well as in hearts of many who loved, admired and respected the man and his legacy.