Chris Mooney-Singh

Chris Mooney-Singh has two collections, The House of Winter and The Infinity Track, and co-edited the Penguin Book of Christmas Poems. He also has two music/poetry CDs. Mooney-Singh toured the USA in 2003 on an National Arts Council grant. He launched the Poetry Slam Cabaret at Zouk in May 2003 and was invited to launch poetry slam at the Hong Kong Literary Festival. Mooney-Singh is Programme Director of Word Forward, a non-profit arts company.

Charlene Rajendran

Charlene Rajendran is a writer, teacher and theatre director/performer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is currently a lecturer in the Visual and Performing Arts Academic Group at the National Institute of Education, Singapore. Her latest book is Mangosteen Crumble, is a collection of poems.

In theatre, Charlene has acted in K.S. Maniam's The Sandpit 1991 and performed with Marion D'Cruz and Dancers in Sook Ching 1991 and Widow's Piece 1992. She is also a trained musician. Charlene graduated with a BA & MA in English Literature and Linguistics from York University, UK. She started acting in children's theatre in Garuda 1979 and was the assistant director in Main-Main Perang 1991, Kami Bukannya Patung 1991, and Suara Rimba 1994. She is also the coordinator and facilitator for Malaysia's Five Arts Centre's Teater Muda.

Ghulam Sarwar Yousof

Professor Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof lectures in the Performing Arts at the Cultural Centre, University of Malaya, in Kuala Lumpur. His main research interests include Asian Drama and Theatre, English Literature, Southeast Asian Theatre and Traditional Malay Theatre. He has developed extensive archival documentation on traditional Malay performing arts genres. His publications include poetry collection Perfumed Memories, a collection of literary works Mirror of a Hundred Hues and the Dictionary of Traditional Southeast Asian Theatre.

Haresh Sharma

Founder member and resident playwright of The Necessary Stage, he was awarded the British Council Fellowship 1994. His plays include Still Building, EPB Publishers, 1994 (selected by the National Arts Council to represent Singapore at the 1992 Cairo International Festival in Experimental Theatre, and which staged at Mayfest, Glasgow International Arts Festival in May 1994; Merit Award Singapore Literature Prize 1993); Lanterns Never Go Out (staged at the 1990 Singapore Festival of Arts Main Programme); Those Who Can't, Teach; This Chord and Others.

About Dome Literary Readings

Dome Literary Readings consist of one-hour sessions offering poetry, prose or drama readings and is organised to promote and explore a wide range of themes and issues.  Organised by The Centre for the Arts and sponsored by Dome, the series is a means of showcasing the literary arts and highlighting current creative work in poetry, fiction and drama as well as sustaining the development of a discerning interest in literature – especially Singapore writing.

About The Centre for the Arts (CFA), NUS

Established in 1993 at the National University of Singapore (NUS), The Centre for the Arts (CFA) is a multi-faceted arts agency that promotes the quality and growth of the arts in NUS, Singapore and beyond. CFA’s three main functions are in the areas of management, education and programmes.

Besides managing 21 groups with interests in music, dance, visual arts, film-making and production, CFA also manages the major arts facilities on campus: NUS Theatrette, CFA Studios and University Cultural Centre (UCC).

As a department of NUS, CFA fulfils its educational role through its literary, performing and visual arts programmes. Literary arts encompass conferences, lectures, seminars and workshops whilst the performing arts comprise masterclasses, clinics and creative arts camps. The visual arts include ceramics and glassware design as well as painting and sketching courses.

CFA’s programmes can be categorised into its five major platforms:

§         Rhythms & Rhapsodies: annual music festival showcasing the talents of CFA’s twelve diverse music groups

§         Dance Reflections: annual dance festival featuring CFA’s six multi-cultural groups

§         ExxonMobil Campus Concerts: free concert series, showcasing both student and established talents – sponsored by ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd since 1986

§         The Courtyard Sessions: alfresco style free performances showcasing quality acts

§         Inspiring Artistes: masterclass and performance platform with established international artistes.

Besides these signature platforms, CFA also organises events such as poetry readings, film screenings and visual arts exhibitions.