About the speaker

Chee Sek Thim is a Penang-based theatre actor and director. His creative practice took shape on rehearsal floors in Kuala Lumpur in the early 1990s, where he worked extensively with dancer and choreographer Marion D'Cruz and the late director Krishen Jit. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Notre Dame and has taught theatre at Sunway University, as well as served as an Industry Fellow at Universiti Sains Malaysia. His practice spans solo performances, ensemble productions, monologues, musicals and opera, often drawing on Malaysian stories and histories. His directing credits include the Penang Hokkien play Taijituateow, staged in Penang and Kuala Lumpur in 2018–2019; Johan Othman's Malam Takdir, first staged in 2019 and later developed into an opera in 2023; and Dua Darah (2026). Malam Takdir received four honours at the 2024 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, including Best of 2023. Through performance, direction, and education, Chee continues to develop theatre rooted in local contexts while creating opportunities for a new generation of theatre practitioners.