Nelson Chia

Nelson Chia (simplified Chinese: 谢燊杰; traditional Chinese: 謝燊傑; pinyin: Xìe Shēnjíe) is a Singaporean theatre director, actor and lecturer. He is the co-founder of Nine Years Theatre.

Early life and education

Chia studied at The Chinese High School and Hwa Chong Junior College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from National University of Singapore and a master's degree in Theatre Arts (Directing) from Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Career

Chia has been working in theatre both as an actor and director since 1994. Chia's first major TV role in the drama Together Whenever, which was aired on SPH MediaWorks Channel U, alongside Erica Lee. He briefly headed the Department of Theatre in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, but later left the post in order to devote more time to his craft. He was also an adjunct lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts and a full-time lecturer at the Theatre Studies Program in National University of Singapore. He was the associate artistic director at Toy Factory Productions (formerly Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble) from 2003 to 2023, an Associate Artist with The Substation from 2007 to 2009 and the founding member of a collaborative ensemble A Group Of People (2008-2012).

Chia founded Mandarin theatre company Nine Years Theatre in 2012.

Personal life

Chia is married to fellow theatre practitioner and co-founder of Nine Years Theatre Mia Chee, and has two twin daughters (born 2004).

Theatre

As director

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Goldsmiths College, London, 2000
Animal Farm (in Mandarin, 動物農莊), The Theatre Practice, Victoria Theatre, Singapore, 2002
Oleanna (in Mandarin, 奧里安娜), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 2002
Mergers And Wills (in Mandarin, 暗流胸涌), (as co-director), Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 2004
First Light, Toy Factory Productions, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Singapore, 2008
LIV - Full Frontal, A Group of People, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Singapore Arts Festival, Singapore, 2009
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Nine Years Theatre, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Huayi Festival 2012, Singapore 2012
Twelve Angry Men, Nine Years Theatre, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Huayi Festival 2013, Singapore 2013
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Nine Years Theatre, Dom Pedro V Theatre, Macau Arts Festival 2013, Singapore 2013

As an actor

Lao Jiu (in Mandarin, 老九), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 1990
Titoudao (in Mandarin, 剃頭刀), Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 1994
The Coffin is Too Big For The Hole (in Mandarin, 棺材太大洞太小), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 1995
The Soldier and His Wife (in Mandarin, 都是當兵惹得禍), The Theatre Practice, Fort Canning Drama Centre, Singapore, 1996
Love A La Zen (in Mandarin, 愛情觀自在), The Theatre Practice, Victoria Theatre, Singapore, 1999
A Midsummer Night's Dream (in Mandarin, 仲夏夜之夢), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 1999
Hundred Years In Waiting (in Mandarin, 百年的等待), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 2001
The Island (in Mandarin, 島), (as John), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 2002
Animal Farm (in Mandarin, 動物農莊), The Theatre Practice, Victoria Theatre, Singapore, 2002
Mad Phoenix (in Mandarin, 南海十三郎), (as Title Role), Toy Factory Productions, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Huayi Festival, Singapore, 2003
Porcelain, (as John Lee), Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 2005
Big Fool Lee (in Mandarin and Cantonese, 李大傻), Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 2005
Nanjing: 1937, The Substation, The Substation SeptFest, Singapore, 2007
Nanjing: 1937 Phase II, The Substation, The Substation SeptFest, Singapore, 2008
Own Time Own Target, W!LD RICE, Drama Centre Theatre, Singapore, 2009

Filmography

Film


Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref
1996	Agong Bak Kut Teh 阿公肉骨茶	Alan	Cameo, telemovie

Television


Year	Title	Role
2003	Together Whenever 天倫	Zhengbei
2007	Like Father, Like Daughter 寶貝父女兵	Akirah
2007	Live Again 天堂鸟	Sayang
2008	Just in Singapore 一房半厅一水缸	Robert
2009	Table of Glory 乒乓圆	Richard
2010	Happy Family 过好年	bread skin

2006

Crossfire 針鋒相對 (forum programme, in Mandarin), (as host), Mediacorp Channel U

References

1 2 3 Tan, Corrie (5 February 2014). "Sailing into theatre as a career". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018.
1 2 "Substation: Associate Artists: Performance: Nelson Chia". Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
1 2 "Nelson Chia | SG Theatre Archive". www.centre42.sg. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
↑ "Association of Singapore Actors". Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
↑ "Toy Factory Productions Ltd". Archived from the original on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
↑ Tan, Corrie (11 February 2014). "High drama and lots of heart". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018.
↑ Yusof, Helmi (23 September 2016). "How we age, how we die". The Business Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

[TanFeb14-1] 1 2 3 Tan, Corrie (5 February 2014). "Sailing into theatre as a career". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018.

[substation-2] 1 2 "Substation: Associate Artists: Performance: Nelson Chia". Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2009.

[:0-3] 1 2 "Nelson Chia | SG Theatre Archive". www.centre42.sg. Retrieved 1 March 2026.

[4] "Association of Singapore Actors". Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.

[5] "Toy Factory Productions Ltd". Archived from the original on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.

[6] Tan, Corrie (11 February 2014). "High drama and lots of heart". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018.

[7] Yusof, Helmi (23 September 2016). "How we age, how we die". The Business Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)