ADRIAN PANG

Co‑founder and co‑artistic director of Pangdemonium

Despite his 30-year career in theatre, Adrian Pang would prefer not to be called a veteran. He thinks it makes him sound like a jaded old prune, and although he may admit to being old, he certainly isn’t jaded. In 2010, he founded Pangdemonium with his wife, Tracie Pang. Since then, his days have been spent on stage tackling challenging themes that he hopes will encourage constructive debate among his audience. He aspires to bring local theatre to international standards with provocative and socially relevant productions.

How did you get started in theatre?

When I was 15, I was cast in my school’s production of the musical, Oliver, and discovered theatre and girls at the same time. I was hooked. On both. As a result, my parents banned me from ever

– Adrian Pang

getting involved in theatre again. I dutifully went through the rest of my education and was sent to Keele University in the UK to pursue a law degree. In my final year, I had a major panic attack. The thought of pursuing law, a career I had absolutely no affinity for, was akin to slow death. The one thing that I truly felt passionate about was acting. I knew, sink or swim, I would not be able to live with myself if I did not at least give it a shot.

What’s the biggest lesson you have learnt after so many years of being in theatre?

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” This is a quote from

Abraham Lincoln, and it applies to most aspects of life. But for someone whose job involves creating truths out of illusions, it’s particularly apt.

What is it about theatre performances today that still excites you?

The “liveness” of theatre always has a sense of danger and of the unknown to it, which is exhilarating and sexy. The idea of a group of human beings communing in one space to be told stories totally live, in the flesh, in a stew of sweat, tears, spit, joy, pain, and rage, is something that will never change about theatre and I love that with a passion.

What mantra motivates and inspires you at work?

Listen, live every moment, and let it go.

“The ‘liveness’ of theatre always has a sense of danger and of the unknown to it, which is exhilarating and sexy”