The Invitation Program for Professionals in Performing Arts 2024 (ASEAN)

Ratri Anindyajati is an Experienced Producer and Cultural Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the performing arts, global arts festivals, and non-profit cultural organizations. Her main interest is to lead, produce, and engage in local and international collaboration as well as multilateral exchange and cooperation for arts and culture projects of sustaining significance.

Sopheak Soung has been a theater director for 15 years, having studied Drama Directing at the Royal University of Fine Arts. His work focuses on highlighting social issues through theater, with one of his most notable productions, Daytime's Darkness, depicting the hardships faced by children living near Phnom Penh's Stung Meanchey dumpsite.

In 2012, Sopheak participated in the International Theatre Festival in Hannover, Germany, and in 2014, he contributed to a media and production event in Australia. The following year, he founded Khmer Art Action, an organization dedicated to revitalizing Lakhorn Niyeay (spoken theater) and emphasizing its importance in portraying often-overlooked narratives.

Through collaboration with local and international writers, in May 2019 Sopheak addressed over 200 artists from 40 countries at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. This was followed by another international event, this time hosted in Cambodia in 2022, the Asian Youth Theatre Festival which involved around 200 young artists from 13 regional countries.

Sopheak has directed numerous performances for both Cambodian and global audiences, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Cambodia's rich cultural heritage.

Daniel Kok is an artist focused on the politics of Spectatorship and Audienceship through ‘figures of performance’, such as the bondage master to explore audience relationships. As Artistic Director of Dance Nucleus (Singapore), he develops capacities for other artists and sets up trans-local partnerships across the Asia-Pacific. Annually, he curates the ARTEFACT and ELEMENT residencies, [CP]3 coaching programme, VECTOR exhibition, and da:ns LAB (in collaboration with the Esplanade, Singapore). He is based between Singapore and Berlin. Collaborating with Luke George, their works, presented globally, emphasize intercultural cooperation, with Still Lives: Melbourne winning a Green Room Award for Contemporary and Experimental Performance in 2023.

Thongchai Pimapunsri developed his interest in theatre during his university years, actively participating in all of the Drama Club's projects at Thammasat University. In his final year, he was introduced to the Thai theatre scene and had the opportunity to collaborate with prominent theatre professionals such as Pradit Prasartthong and Sineenad Keepapai. Thongchai, along with his friends, founded the 'Splashing Theatre Company', which made its debut with ‘Whaam!’ in 2015. He has also been involved in numerous international productions, including ‘Pratthana’ by Toshiki Okada (Script/Direction) and Uthis Hemamul (Original Text), and ‘Bangkok Note’ written and directed by Hirata Oriza. While acting has always been Thongchai's primary passion, he ventured into management roles as well. He debuted as a producer with ‘Cloud State’ by B-Floor (2022) and later produced Miss Theatre, a queer artist collective based in Bangkok led by Pathipon (Miss Oat), eventually becoming the festival producer for H0m0haus, a performing arts festival for diversity, which premiered in June 2024. His most recent work as a producer is ‘AFTERLIVES’, a collaboration between Miss Theatre and Henrike Iglesias, which premiered in September 2024. This year, after a six-year hiatus from directing, Thongchai collaborated with Laphonpat Doungploy, a mechanical artist and member of ‘DunkUnit’, to create ‘PainKiller: Test01’. This non-human, participatory performance explores various aspects of pain in humans and performance spaces. With a focus on how pain functions as a tool of power—both physically and politically—Thongchai intends to use his project PainKiller as a series of performances to unveil the state's process of ‘anaesthesia’, by the authority.

Varissara Borkird (Jar) is an independent art manager/coordinator who is interested in contemporary arts. She holds an MA in non-profit management from Rikkyo University, Japan, and has experience in business development. She worked at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) in sponsorship and fundraising until 2019. In 2020, she joined the core team of BIPAM, where she now serves as executive director. Varissara promotes cultural exchanges between Thai and international artists, striving to elevate artistic quality, foster understanding, and boost governmental support for contemporary arts.

Photo by JL Javie

Marco Viaña is an award-winning actor, director, and designer. He is an alumnus of the Center Stage US Artists in Residence, currently serves as the Festival Co-Director of The Virgin Labfest, and the Associate Artistic Director of Tanghalang Pilipino, the National Performing Arts Company for Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Aside from essaying male lead roles as a Senior Member of the Actors Company, he is also a member of the pool of Actor-Facilitators accredited by UNICEF to conduct Basic Acting Classes, Forum Theater Workshops, and Children's Art Workshops in the Philippines. He continues to unfurl his creativity by expanding his artistic practice through stage and costume design for Tanghalang Pilipino’s productions including Lam-ang, Batang Mujahideen, Sandosenang Sapatos, and Nang Dalawin ng Pag-ibig si Juan Tamad, which was staged at the 2018 World Theater Congress in Moscow, Russia.

Born into the culture-rich center of Hanoi, Vietnam, Phuong Vũ is currently a young director instilling quality and dedication into every project he does. Starting out as a fashion photographer, Phuong naturally transitioned into directing and brought with him an incredible talent for handling different styles and utilizing textures. Having 10+ years of experience as a dancer, Phuong also expresses impeccable musicality and rhythm in his work. With extensive knowledge in being a producer as well, Phuong knows it takes a whole lot more than just creativity to craft a perfect video project. Phuong's extensive collection of work notably includes music videos with Vietnam's top artists like Đen vâu , MCK, tlinh, Toc Tien, Suboi, Wowy, Chi Pu, De Choat, MIN, Trong Hieu, Phuc Du, Amee... and many more. Multiple companies have also entrusted Phuong with directing many of their videos and visual campaigns, namely Apple, VTV, Porsche, Netflix, Vietnam Airlines, Samsung, Piaggio, Heineken, Yamaha, Panasonic, VinFast, Garena, VNG, 88rising, Clear, YoMost and Maybelline.

Photo by SueAnne Koh

Adriana Nordin Manan juggles eight professional roles: writer, translator, playwright, researcher, curator, dramaturg, educator and entrepreneur. Venturing into the arts from a previous career in policy research, she is the founder and artistic director of Cocoon Creative Lab (CCL). Described as part playground and part think tank, CCL works in cultural exchange through language, storytelling and new works incubation to build bridges in a polyphonic world.

CCL is the creative arm of Protagonist Studio, a company offering services in writing and writing-adjacent services such as translation, policy research and creative education.

In 2023, Adriana debuted as a playwright with “Fault Lines”, her first full-length play which received considerable accolades such as: Semi-finalist, International Scratchpad Series by The Playwrights Realm, New York City (2021); Best Actor in a Supporting Role; Best Original Script; Best Director; and Best of 2023 at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards (2024). In 2019, her translation of “Pengap” by Lokman Hakim was the first Malay submission to be shortlisted for The Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

Adriana has a Masters in Politics from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts from Colby College, Maine. Born, raised and based in Kuala Lumpur, she speaks Malay, English and Spanish.

Khin Mon Thu is a professional dancer, dance teacher with 10+ years of experience. Trained at Academia Lucia Toller, Brasilia, Brazil and currently living and working as professional dance teacer, choreogopher in yangon, Myanmar. Passionate about teaching, creating art and making the community a better place for young generations who are passionate about dance and helping them achieve their goals.

Born in Champasak Province, Lao PDR, Ounla Phaoudom moved to Vientiane to continue his studies when he was 14 years old. He began practicing Hip Hop (BBOY) in 2004 with LaobangFai Association. In 2011, he founded a new dance group (HOPPIN) in LAOS. In 2013, Ounla Phaoudom and Noutnapha SOYDALA created the first contemporary dance company in Lao PDR, called FANGLAO DANCE COMPANY. in 2022 Create a new Dance company under the name FANGLAO STUDIO SOLE.CO.,LTD.