Ismene Ting

Biography
Playwright / Director / Actress
Others

Ismene Ting was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Taiwan. A graduate of University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Comparative Literature, Ting is a renowned playwright, stage director and respected as one of the foremost actresses on the Chinese language stage. She has performed in Stan Lai's most famous play Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land (1991, 1999), Red Sky, I.Me.He.Him, A Dream Like A Dream, and Like Shadows, just to name a few.

Her directorial plays include We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!, Finding Shangri-La, which she later developed into a feature film; Mumble Jumble, which she not only co-wrote with Stan Lai but also performed in, as well, and I Love You, Too which was a hit both in Taiwan and China, which she also developed into a film in 2013.

In recent years, she has cooperated with Hong Kong veteran director Edward Lam and performed on stage in Hong Kong in Who's Calling Eileen Chang?, The Importance of Being Vulgar, The Happy Prince, and Eighteen Springs.

Her television credits include screenwriter and lead role in the sit-com Both Families Are Human.

Finding Shangri-La (2009) is Ting's first feature film, which received the awards for Best Cinematography at the 32nd Festival and Best New Actress at the Shanghai Film Festival (2010).

Ismene Ting also did some interesting work outside of theater which include Associate Director of 2009 Deaflympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Taipei, Taiwan.

Also that same year she wrote and directed a children's play titled The Adventures of Kawarkapo (a Tibetan god) which stars a group of kindergarten headmasters and was performed to underprivileged children throughout Taiwan.

Consulting Director of the 2011 Taiwan Lantern Festival.

Director, Life Without Limbs', motivational speaker Nick Vujicic's “Never Give Up” Taiwan tour, 2011. Nick Vujicic presents motivational speeches worldwide through his non-profit organization, which focuses on living with a

disability, hope and finding meaning in life.

Other recent original productions include 2010's Just Play It which is a very unique musical/drama based on a true story of the relationship between an American piano professor tutoring a blind Taiwan prodigy, starring the actual pianists themselves. The play received enormous accolades all over Taiwan and China, and has been running for the past four years and is currently still in production.

In 2012, Ismene Ting created and produced a unique theatrical work that brings dance and drama together in the poetic piece This is Real.

In 2013, Ismene Ting brought Dario Fo's political satire We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay! to China, which was an eye-opening experience for the Chinese audience because of its satirical content and outspoken bombast on government incompetence.

Performed

Light Years (2008)

Like Shadows (2007)

A Dream Like A Dream (2005)

All in Two Families are Human (2004)

Don Giovanni (2004)

Happy Prince (2003)

Mumble Jumble (2003)

Sand and a Distant Star (2003)

Eighteen Springs (2003)

The Importance of Being Vulgar (2002)

Who's Calling Eileen Chang? (2002)