Cheng Nien Yuan

Cheng Nien Yuan is a Singaporean performance scholar, educator, and dramaturg affiliated with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). She holds the Faculty Early Career Award (FECA) Fellow position within the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, specializing in Theatre and Performance Studies. Her research explores storytelling in the digital age, intercultural acting pedagogies, and the intersection of performance with emerging technologies like AR/VR. She has published widely in journals such as Critical Stages and Studies in Theatre and Performance.

Dr. Cheng’s doctoral thesis, completed at the University of Sydney (2020), won the prestigious John Legge Prize for Best Thesis in Asian Studies. Her work bridges dramaturgical thinking with design processes, particularly investigating human-machine interaction and sustainable development through performance. She earned her PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Sydney.

• Education: PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies (University of Sydney, 2020)

Her research interests include:

• Intercultural theatre practices
• Embodied performance archiving
• Technology-mediated performance
• Performance in placemaking

Key achievements include:

• John Legge Prize (2021)
• FECA Fellowship (SUTD)

She actively explores how performance engages with societal issues such as sustainability and cross-cultural dialogue through innovative methodologies like digital dramaturgy and participatory performance.