Recently, helped a friend to perform for "Short & Sweet Singapore 2008, Mandarin 10" at the Arts House (Play Den).

It was four stagings over three days and we were the largest ensemble cast in the entire series.

It was also the first time in the world, that "Short & Sweet" has evolved into a Mandarin language series.

I felt that the director and co-actors was able to translate the drama from page to stage, and bring across elements which was not evident on print.

It was interesting to see how the theatre-end-product was larger than the sum of its parts.

It was also an interesting experience to return to ensemble work with a group of young actors.

I was acting as Ma Xiu, a drunkard, who seems to articulate the clearest thoughts of them sober ones.

While I had done drunkard roles, such Jiao Da Xing from the Chinese classic- "Wilderness" by Cao Yu, it had been a long since I done something like that.

While professional production houses do not use real alcohol in portraying drunkards, I did elect to explore the physicality of someone who has been consuming alcohol and performing the actions as required in the scrīpt.

For an actor who usually don't drink, it is interesting to revisit basics and explore things from scratch all over again.

After exploring the sense and sensibilities, to capture those elements and maintain it without alcohol.

That chapter is altogether amazing experience.

An actor acting as a drunk does not act drunk, or tries to walk like a drunk. On the contrary, the actor should try his best to walk straight (but finds it not easy to do so).

A very fine line, which when over-stepped, will run the risk of been over-the-top.

It does not help, that the acting, should be kept within the perimeters of a  black box space, where performance and audience are all kept in intimate proximities.

Play and practice, it was simply wonderful, been that character and in the same "river" as the rest of the cast at the same time.

When that happens, magic happens and starts transforming everything, with the moments pregnant with meaningful exchanges and life.

Life as encapsulated on stage, so preciously shared with the audiences, that on reflection, almost felt like a ritualistic act with dedicated witnesses.

An experience that can only be experienced in the moment, there and then, and forever lost after you leave.

Leaving behind, only the impact of that special encounter in your soul.

Of recent, I have directed SRJC's original musical extravaganza- "StoRies: Reach for the Stars" at The Republic Culture Centre, Singapore, produced by Reginald Chan, written and composed by Raymond Fong.

It was a 150 performer-strong musical with music accompaniment from the SRJC Band, Guitar Ensemble, Guzheng Ensemble and Choir.

The musical was also especially enhanced by the superb choreography of Dan Kwoh and dancers.

We even received a standing ovation on the second performance, which I feel, is not a common form of expression by a Singaporean audience.

My partner and I taking a breather before the second show.


The other recent production I have directed is Dance-Theatre performance- "The Black Masked Dancer" with the Kaki Bukit Prison School, as part of their larger concert.

Deploying Taichi, Physical Theatre and Dance, we choreographed and directed the entire 15 minute item. The dance choreography was helmed by their own student, a fine Indian choreographer named Guru.

It was an amazing experience to witness how the performance came to live on stage, from months of work on the floor.

The students designed and created the props, sets and costumes with support from their teachers. It was one of the most inspirational theater experience to work with the talented and humble performers.

Name : Chris Lee Ban Loong (李万隆)
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Chinese
Nationality: Singapore Citizen
Languages: English, Chinese & Cantonese

Height: 1.70m
Weight: 74kg

QUALIFICATIONS:
2002-2005
THEATRE TRAINING & RESEARCH PROGRAMME
(Classical Asian Theatre & Contemporary Acting Approaches)

1999-2000
ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN MASS COMMUNICATIONS
(Distinctions in Mass Media Research: Singapore Arts Festival 2000)
Oklahoma City University

1994-1998
DIPLOMA IN BUILDING & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
(Major in Construction Management)
Singapore Polytechnic

ACTOR'S PROFILE

INTRODUCTIONS
Till date, Chris Lee Ban Loong has performed in at least 65 TV, film or theatre performances and had directed over 11 productions.

THEATRE ROLES

-Three Men Meets Three Women (Little Red Shop)
Multiple Characters (Solo Performer) / Dec 07

-Bus-Stop! The Musical (SSIS Xuhui)
Various Characters (Ensemble) / Oct 06

-Love Languages (Family Yue Community Services)
Father & Son (Ensemble) / Sep 04 - Nov 05

-Caucasian Chalk Circle (TTRP)
Azdak, Jussup & Ensemble (Lead) / May 05

-Hamlet (TTRP)
Horatio & Ghost of Hamlet's Father (Support) / Apr 05

-The Trojan War (TTRP)
Talthybius, Agammenon & Ensemble (Lead) / Mar 05

-Psychosis 4:48 & Cleansed (TTRP)
Graham & Various Roles (Ensemble) / Jan 05

-I Perform 《我秀》 (TTRP)
Multiple Characters (Solo Performer) / Nov 04

-Water Station (TTRP)
Man 1 (Ensemble) / Sep 04

-Sea Gull (TTRP)
Medvedenko (Support) / May 04

-Stags & Hens (TTRP)
Peter Taylor (Key Actor) / Nov 03

-Mercy (Meredith Monk & Ann Hamilton)
Paraders (Ensemble) / Jun 03

-Tiger Tally 《虎符》 (TTRP)
Various Characters (Ensemble) / May 03

-Antigone (TTRP)
Sentry (Supporting) / Mar 03

-Man & Copper Statue《人与铜像》 (SBP)
Boy (Support) / Jun 02

-12 Days (The Finger Players)
Various Characters (Puppeteer) / Apr - Dec 01

-Big Bully & Sponge (The Finger Players)
Big Bully & Sponge (Puppeteer) / Mar - Dec 01

-Putting on the Wedding Gown Thrice (COI)
Various Characters (Ensemble) / Nov 01

-Ne Zha (The Finger Players)
Various Characters (Puppeteer & Ensemble) / Jul 01

-Where O Where (Theatre Compass)
Various Characters (Ensemble) / Feb 97

-A New Journey (Dramabox)
Various Characters (Puppeteer & Ensemble) / May 96

SHORT FILMS

-The Visit (Short Film, MOS, NYU Tirsh Asia)
Shaun (Lead) / Nov 07

-My Best Beloved (Short Film, NTU)
Boyfriend (Support) / Nov 07

-Syncopation of a Pictured Suite (Short Film, NTU)
Boss (Support) / Nov 07

-When (Short Film, Mark Chua)
Boyfriend (Lead) / Jan 05

-Replacement (Short Film, MOS, Derrick Loo)
Killer/Murdered Victim (Lead) / Aug 04

-Ball Is Round (Short Film, Matthew Lim)
Husband (Lead) / Dec 03
(Awarded 3^rd Prize, Ho Chi Minh Sports Film Festival 2006)

-Did I Do? (Short Film, Seow Ying Ying, NP)
Imaginary Character (Support) / Dec 03

-Reject (Short Film, Desmond Lee, NP)
Boyfriend (Support) / Dec 03

TV ROLES

-Xin Hua Duo Duo Kai (Series, Mediacorp 8)
Director (Day Player) / Feb 08

-Yang Sisters 2 (Series, Dream Forest Productions)
John the Dentist (Day Player) / Feb 08

-Behind Closed Doors (Social-Docu, Mediacorp 5)
Peter (Day Player) / Feb 08

-Police & Thief Season 5 (Series, Mediacorp 5)
Pek (Day Player) / Dec 07

-Taste of Love (Series, Mediacorp 8)
Lewis (Day Player) / Dec 07

-Incredible Tales V- Fifth Tenant (Mediacorp 5)
Ah Chye (Day Player) / Dec 07

-Kinship II (Mediacorp 8)
Restaurant Manager (Day Player) / Oct 07

-Live Again (Series, Mediacorp 8)
Detective Kelvin (Day Player) / Sep 07

-Say You Love Me Again (Series, Mediacorp 8)
Husband (Day Player) / Sep 07

-Portrait of Home II (Series, Mediacorp 8)
Zhou Da Qiu's Schoolmate (Day Player) / Aug 05

-Reunion (Social-Docu, Mediacorp 5)
Mr. Cai (Day Player) / Aug 05

HOSTING
-Mid-Autumn Night's Dream
(Sunisland International Country Club) / Jan 06

-Qing Yuan VII Harmonica Concert
(Harmonica Aficionados Society) / Dec 01

-Freshman Orientation Performance 95/96
(Chinese Language Society) / Jul 95

-Memoirs De Countryside (APP 94/95)
(Chinese Language Society) / Mar 95