“I’m especially passionate about how an ecological mindset can trigger so much creativity and hence, beautiful art. The possibilities are endless!” – Ang Xiao Ting

Flag bearers for sustainability can come from myriad industries and communities. And trust the world of theatre to cultivate a practitioner that leverages not just the platform, but its boundless artistic expressions to amplify the message in ways that are as innovative as they are thought-provoking. Multi-hyphenated theatre practitioner, Ang Xiao Ting, is not afraid to challenge paradigms and spark conversations on sustainability and the environment through her work in “eco-theatre”. Through her work, Ang has opened up critical conversations about sustainability through theatrical experiences that blend genres and disciplines, with most of her work presented at Practice Tuckshop, an interdisciplinary space intended for the intersection of arts, sustainability and food.

One such example is the Pickle Pop-Up, an initiative which attempts to fill in the gap in food rescue programmes where volunteers reorganise and repurpose ‘high-quality’ rescued food produce. These are then channelled into Recess Time, a “ugly produce” lunch party hosted at Practice Tuckshop. A long-running participatory work staged as an social event, Recess Time has served up over 2,000 meals over the past four years, combining the art of cooking, conversations and storytelling into a single encounter.

“At the end of the day, what I really hope to achieve is to inspire and bring some change to the world through the arts,” muses Ang, in sharing the premise of eco-theatre. “Can we prevent more waste from entering the landfills if I make part of the set edible? Or, if we humans are able to learn more about the non-human world, like microbes for example, would we be able to use the knowledge to re-imagine a better world for us all? These are the kinds of questions I ask myself, and ones I hope to spark in eco-theatre participants.”

What’s one piece of advice you’ve received that you still keep in mind today?

Build your tribe. We live in a culture of hyper-individualism where solo success is but a myth. A mentor once told me to invest the same energy into building the people alongside the work, and this mindset is now the pillar of my vision to make theatre that’s planet-friendly, relevant and impactful. When faced with setbacks, it also means I have a community of support to lean on.

What was one standout moment in your career?

When I shared my perspectives on the international stage, as someone based in Southeast Asia. As a Singaporean. As a female artist. I was invited to speak at the Prague Quadrennial in 2023 on the topic of ‘Ecoscenographic Futures’; it was just a privilege to be on the stage with giants in the scene.

How do you recharge in your downtime?

I read. I’m currently engrossed in the book Singapore’s Seafood Heritage Lala-Land, edited by Anthony D. Medrano. I also love exploring different fermentation and food preservation recipes with Southeast Asian ingredients; my recent success is a syrup made with amla.

What’s one thing you think people should experience once in their lifetime?

Watch a local theatre production! Especially shows that’s not in a language you’re most comfortable with. There will always be subtitles!

Practice Tuckshop | The Theatre Practice

Photography by Franz Navarrete / Hair & Makeup by Greg’O / Outfit by MAX. TAN