Low Ing Sing

Introduction

Low Ing Sing (b. 1924, Sibu, Sarawak–d. 2002, Singapore) was a pioneer of Mandarin drama and theatre in Singapore. He was an actor, director, playwright, instructor and a critic. He wrote under various pen names such as Shao Fei, Kai Shan, Tian Shan and Jian Ke. Loh was awarded the Cultural Medallion Award for Theatre in 1985. His journey in the performing arts began when he picked up acting at a very young age. Low was also in Chung Cheng High School’s first cohort of students. Low eventually became a teacher and moved to Taiping, Malaysia in 1948 to teach before moving back to Singapore in 1951. He taught at various schools such as Ai Tong, Chong Fu, Tao Nan and Kong Hwa. He also pioneered student Mandarin drama performances at Chung Cheng High School from 1953 to 1954. In 1955, he was one of the founding members of Mandarin Theatre group, the Singapore Amateur Players (now known as the Arts Theatre of Singapore), and established Singapore’s Hokkien Huay Kuan’s arts and cultural troupes in 1986. He also galvanised the various Mandarin drama groups and staged plays such as Little White Sailing Boat (for the Singapore Festival of Arts) in 1982. In 1990, he received the Literary Appreciation Award from the Singapore Literature Society.

Selected books by Low Ing Sing

• 方百成 & 杜南发. (编委主任). [Fang, B. C. & Du, N. F. (Eds.).] (2012). 《世界福建名人录, 新加坡编》 [Prominent figures of the world Fujian communities: Singapore]. 新加坡: 新加坡福建会馆, p.29. Call no.: RSING 920.05957 PRO This book contains the biographies of 155 Chinese Hokkien personalities in Singapore from 1819 to 2012. Low Ing Sing’s biography is also included, along with information on his works and art contributions.

• 刘仁心. [Liu, R. L.] (1984). 《新加坡颂》 新加坡: 大业发展公司. Call no.: RSING C811.5 LRX This is Low Ing Sing’s only collection of poems.

• 刘仁心. [Liu, R. L.] (1989). 《金鱼缸边》 北京: 新中国艺术研究院华文文学艺术研究会. Call no.: RSING C812.7 LRX This is one of Low Ing Sing’s notable plays.

• 刘仁心. [Liu, R. L.] (1996). 《戏剧与人生 : 戏剧评论》 新加坡: 新加坡潮州八邑会馆 Call no.: RSING 792.095957 LRX This is a collection of drama criticism by Low Ing Sing on Singapore’s Chinese theatre.

Selected newspaper articles on Low Ing Sing

• 4 honoured for part in enriching S’pore culture. (1986, July 31). The Straits Times, p. 48. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This is a report of Low Ing Sing receiving a Cultural Medallion for drama.

• 无标题. (2000, March 4). 《联合早报》 [Lianhe Zaobao], p. 72. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This is an obituary on Low Ing Sing, with condolences extended by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan.

• 无标题. (2000, March 7). 《 联合早报》 [Lianhe Zaobao], p. 34. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This is an obituary on Low Ing Sing with information on his date of passing and resting place.

Selected articles on Low Ing Sing

• National Library Board. (2014). Low Ing Sing, written by Chor, Poh Chin. Retrieved from Singapore Infopedia. This article traces the life and career of Low Ing Sing.

Selected oral history interviews on Low Ing Sing

• 陈鸣鸾 (访员) [Chen, M. L.]. (Interviewer). (1985, March 5). Oral History Interview with Low Ing Sing [Accession no. 000450, Reel 1-9]. Retrieved from National Archives of Singapore website: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/ In this interview, Low Ing Sing shares about his involvement in dramas during his school days to raise money for the China Relief Fund before the war; life during the Japanese Occupation; and how he escaped to Bangkok. In the last reel, he shares about how he came back to Singapore and his life after that.