Adrian Pang needs no introduction. Even if you are not a fan of the theatre. The cofounder of theatre company Pangdemonium has been a dominating presence in the local media and theatre scene here since the ‘90s. This year, he will be directing the show segment for National Day (NDP) 2022.
For Pang, this is an affirmation of the role of arts and culture in Singapore’s future – as reiterated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. For someone whose life is consumed by theatre, Pang admits to have stumbled on his career by chance. Joining the drama club was an escape and “a means to get over my teenage angst. But I got hooked”, says the 56-year-old, adding with a chuckle that it proved to be a great way to meet girls. He began participating in school plays while studying in the UK and before long theatre carved itself into his career path – much to the dismay of his parents, “who still wonder what I am doing with my life”, laughs Pang.
Theatre may have appealed to him for giving him an “opportunity to get into the lives of the characters I portray”, but those who have watched Pang on stage can testify that the comment stems from a place of deep introspection than a hint at voyeurism.
There’s an air of ease when conversing with Pang. He smiles easily, laughs heartily, often at himself. He calls himself a loner, but prone to making a lot of noise. That is something that his audience can stand testament to as well. When watching Pang on stage – as far away as he is being onstage, the certain irreverence with which he portrays his characters is like a gentle nudge into an inner circle, where you can openly express feelings and emotions without facing judgement.
That was the driving force of Pangdemonium, the theatre company he cofounded with his wife Tracie in 2009 – to delve deep into complex personalities, and sensitive subjects and topics. The objective was to use theatre as a tool not for preaching, rather trigger “deep conversations about issues that are not usually spoken about”, explains Pang, which, he admits can be rather challenging in an Asian culture where open sharing is not the norm. The company was also the dream space where the couple could have the creative freedom they had always dreamed of.
But the young couple with a younger family – they have two sons Zachary and Xander, now 23 and 21, respectively – had their hands full. “Pangdemonium was the daughter we never had,” jokes Pang “Tracie and I have always said that we have two sons and now, we have given them a sister.“
Pang and Tracie may both the artistic directors, but Tracie is the resident director – she directs the plays that Pang acts in under the Pangdemonium umbrella. “She is the boss! She decides whether she sees me as the right fit for our plays,” he adds.
Two strong willed people, batting with different artistic temperaments – that’s a recipe for marital tension for two people living under one roof. Pang gesticulates the shape of a ball, to indicate that there are moments when things can get pretty heated up and come to a head, but the couple have over time learnt to agree to disagree and let go. It’s no wonder that 27 years and counting, their marriage is still going strong.