September 05, 2022
35 for EMCC35 | Eugene Koh
In this instalment of our #35forEMCC35 series, we spotlight Eugene Koh, a thespian who has showcased theatre productions on the ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) platform. As an undergraduate, Eugene staged two productions, Kalakuta: The Time Puzzle in 2017 and The Utama Spaceship in 2019. After its successful premiere at EMCC, The Utama Spaceship was programmed into the 2020 edition of M1 Fringe Festival. Today, Eugene continues his journey in the local arts scene in his current role as Documentation Executive at Centre 42, a theatre development space committed to the creation, documentation and promotion of Singapore theatre.
How were you involved in the EMCC series?
I first participated in the EMCC series as part of NUS Thespis, the NUS Theatre Studies Society which provides a platform for budding theatre practitioners. I was in my second year of study at NUS Theatre Studies when we presented our theatre performance, Kalakuta: The Time Puzzle in 2017. Two years later, I had the opportunity to present another theatre performance, The Utama Spaceship, under the EMCC series again.
Who kickstarted the conversation to stage Kalakuta: The Time Puzzle at EMCC, and what was EMCC Crew’s reception?
We saw the open call for EMCC Season, and my friends and I decided to send in a proposal. EMCC Crew was excited with our idea and gave us the support we needed for the eventual staging.
How did your passion in the arts intersect with what EMCC Crew seeks to achieve?
EMCC’s focus on experimentation and discovery was a perfect fit for me as both a new artist as well as a student of theatre studies. With this platform, I was able to explore, experiment and test my own artistic visions and further hone my craft.
How has your EMCC experience complemented your professional life?
The work I did with my peers at EMCC Crew gave us a headstart in launching our careers in the arts, providing us a firm starting point for creating, producing and managing a creative project.
How did the opportunity to restage “The Utama Spaceship” at the M1 Fringe Festival occur?
The open call for M1 Fringe Festival 2020 came along shortly after the successful staging of The Utama Spaceship at the EMCC platform. With our newfound confidence, we immediately applied and were successful. We restaged The Utama Spaceship in January 2020. It was well-received to good reviews, with City Nomads calling it a “visionary play” and “a compelling ride”.
Keen to know more about the premiere of The Utama Spaceship on EMCC? Read our 2019 interview with Eugene and his collaborator, Lee Shu Yu.
About #35forEMCC35
NUS Centre For the Arts is proud to commemorate 35 years of ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) through our #35forEMCC35 series. Spotlighting 35 individuals from past and present editions of EMCC, the series showcases how EMCC has complemented these individuals’ academic and professional lives, and their hopes for EMCC in the years to come.