Who’s Who

UPSTAGE currently consists of:

Jun Xiang (JX)

Junxiang is an arrogant, narcissitic, absurd and downright nonsensical founder of UPSTAGE. As an individual equipped with nothing but a passion for theatre, he is definitely not qualified to lead the team of very qualified people. He does have a B.S. which helps him to get by. He would like to confess that he has little self worth having started Upstage as a front for money laundering. Noticably, he has a very bad sense of humour.

Andrea

With an interest in many things of the world, Andrea is often distracted by the likes of jersey dresses, good books, European languages & M.A.C. eyeliner. As an actor with UPSTAGE she realises the opportunity she has to gain fame/fortune, or both. On a less idealistic note, her love for theatre & the wonderful company in UPSTAGE makes work a joy to go to – unless its any time in the a.m. She has had many experiences working both as cast and crew on many productions, professional and not-so-professional, where she finds freedom at expression and thus always speaks her mind. Finally, she sheepishly admits that the oft-discussed stage kiss in BEDROOM FARCE was “indeed not staged”.

Saiful

The fresh smell of the theatre seats, the glory of the sacred space and the blinding lights trigger Saiful’s innate power to evoke the emotions of his audience. They question, “Is this outside the realm of possibility? Or is Man entering a new age of evolution?”

It is only a matter of time before Mohinder Suresh would seek out this bespectacled genius. Living a double-life drains this 19-year-old as his alter ego tends to suck the life out of him after a performance. Mr Rizal upon being interviewed after the recent Bedroom Farce said,”Nick is too aggresive for me. I need to sit down.”

In the presence of Rizal, one wonders if the portraits of the masters of “Being” like the Great Russian Konstantin Stanislavksi and Anton Checkhov were inspired by the one who has “Been there, done that”.

Sumaiyah (Maya)

Maya is a talented actress with a secret past. She used to fight dragons in foreign lands, headed a starship and was crew manager of the death star. She also likes to be taken seriously. It is a pity she doesn’t take her poker as seriously. An actress dedicated to her role, she immerses herself into the character and takes any acting role available in a bid to repay her poker debts to her debtor (the money launderer). In a bid to strengthen this goal, or to improve her poker skills, she may possibly take up psychology in university. She also enjoys dancing backstage with glowsticks. And that would sum up the X story of a girl X.

Natasha (Tash)

Natasha is one of the exclusive resident actress of UPSTAGE. In her promising career, Natasha has acted as a doll (of the dummy variety), fillipino maid (of the affair variety) and an old woman (pretty generic). As a result of her hectic schedule, she finds herself exhausted and depressed but this doesn’t prevent her from grinning that trademarked cheshire smile. Her laughter infectious (of the disease variety), Natasha is headed to LSE where she will pursue her law degree. She is happy.

Bryan

Bryan is currently a mediocre 4th year Law/Commerce student, with aspirations of being a socialite (party animal for people who don’t understand) some time in his future. An avid Liverpool fan, Bryan also has a Football Coaching License from the Football Federation of Victoria and helps run a football club in Melbourne for African refugees. His proudest achievement is undeniably an occasion when he managed to figure out how to open a bottle of alcohol. It also turned out to be the most monumental one. Let’s just say that Bryan will be there if it involves (1) alcohol, (2) hot hot chicks, (3) good music. Oh, he prays too.

Natalie

Natalie is the resident actress/director in Upstage and she very much enjoys the happening company of the gang. She likes efficiency & is thus thrilled that the girls rule the performance this time round. She takes on typically extremely female roles – girl power – always in dresses and with much giggling. Besides ‘Kate’ in Bedroom Farce, where she was Mrs Normal, Mrs Nice, she was innocent ‘Miranda’ in ‘The Tempest’ – who married the first man she met, and the ethereal Childlike ‘Ghost of Xmas past’ in ‘A Christmas Carol’.

She loves what she does.

Ashvin

A mask or a symbol of a mask is usually used to represent theatre. It is a symbol which Ashvin simply worships. It is a power that explains the fundamental things you want to know about Ashvin. During the day, his mask is that of an average IB Year 2 student, but when the night comes and darkness prevails, Ashvin pulls on his favorite mask: the mask of a nocturne. A truly fearsome creature of the night, he lurks deep within the shadows, appearing from the dark corners around you, stumbling on a pencil as he locates the next piece of worksheet that his arch-enemies, the Overlords of Knowledge, codenamed: Teachers, impose upon his steel shoulders to make his life even more challenging than it already is. For Ashvin, the Dark Lord (no pun intended) has an even darker past with his evil stepmother and two stepsisters (again, no pun intended). Occasionally, Ashvin puts on another mask, one that is marked with a spade on its forehead, to channel the dark into allowing him to score yet another four-of-a-kind at his favorite game, poker.

His first-favorite, ultimate mask, the ultimate shape-changing mask, is the mask he uses when Ashvin is where he is at his prime … THE STAGE! Yes! The ability to change faces, the power to change reality is what stimulates this tiger-crouching, hiding- dragon’s warrior instincts to conquer his beloved arena …

Viknesh (Vik)

Viknesh is the resident actor/director of upstage. On top of his official roles, Viknesh also holds some other titles: negotiator, inspirer, philosopher, ladykiller, bum and soon-to-be, co-ruler of the universe. Believe it or not, Viknesh does credit to all these roles that have been thrust upon his towering frame and ensures that he aids UPSTAGE in as many ways as humanly possible. Although in the day-time, Viknesh tirelessly slaves away for a secretive military organization, he tranforms into a theatrical thane at night. Upon reading a book called “maximising your brain” Viknesh’s approach to theatre and life in general has never been the same. Critics often puzzle at the intense expression that crawls into Viknesh’s face when he maximises his brain. His heightened intellectual level serves UPSTAGE well and not-so well at the same time. Often compared to the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Orson Welles, Oscar the Grouch and Samuel L. Jackson, Viknesh is indeed one bad boy.

Judith

Judith is an accidental thespian. She’s still not quite sure how she found her way on to the stage but she stays because she likes the company she’s found there. Currently, she works on the administrative side of UPSTAGE because it takes a debater to organise actors and what little assets we possess. In her spare time she runs marathons, plays suduko and spends far too much time in smoke-filled bars with a pint in hand.

Mikaela (Mik)

Mikaela, 18, is one of the members of UPSTAGE’s production design/stage management team. Like the other members of the herd, she enjoys riding in the back of lorries, visiting hardware stores to exercise her mandarin and complaining about the existence of the sheep’s natural enemies. She is a graduate of VJC’s very exclusive and elite THEATRE STUDIES AND DRAMA (TSD) programme. Mikaela is indeed very pleased to be part of UPSTAGE because there are plenty of bitching opportunities galore, though she admits that she is terrified of dog shit, turpentine and hidden microphones.

Reuben

With 50 years of stage experience on his list of “credentials”, Reuben Lim has been actively working behind the scenes at numerous prestigous theatre companies before many other members were born. Raised by a pack of bears, his upbringing has inculcated discipline and fists of steel to get any job done by any means possible. With a comprehensive knowledge of bus routes, he travels across the vast territories known as Singapore to scavenge for any required materials for the play. He is also the backstage manager and any ill-disciplined minions (or actors) face his wrath.

It should also be noted that he is a benefactor of the Panda exibhit in the Beijing Zoo having cited family ties as the reason.

Malcolm

The handyman of the backstage quartet, Malcolm knows what tools to use for the right ocassion. Having worked on the technical aspects in secondary school, his newfound biceps have paved the way for his newfound area of expertise (set construction). Armed with a dubious degree from Stalingrad University for comrades, Malcolm has also financed several pieces of key props for Bedroom Farce through his mahjong escapades. It it a little known fact that he conceals a second set of mahjong tiles beneath his garments which is often mistaken for a six pack. At this point, it would be only right to mention his inability to be inebreiated after downing a 6 pack*. 3 years in Russia. Hail lenin!

*6 1.5 litre bottles of various poisons.

Yisha (Yish)

Yish is an incredibly overworked happy individual who somehow found her way into UPSTAGE’s design/stage management team after declaring, upon graduating from TSD, that she would never be involved with theatre again other than being an audience member. She currently functions as the group’s (1) part-time set designer (2) website manager (3) manual labour (4) backstage manager & (5) crew & … On days where she works on the production, she enjoys cheap thrills such as bargaining unglamourously for cheaper set materials, sneaking out for good food during ’set building’ sessions as well as IKEA shopping (with money) & swedish meatballs!

Ankita

Maxine