Han Lao Da

Infobox Person
name = Han Lao Da
韩劳达

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image_size = 220px
birth_name = Ann Jong Juan
zh-s|s=linktext|韩|永|元
zh-p|p=Hán Yǒng Yuán
birth_date = birth date and age|1947|10|22
birth_place = Singapore

nationality = flagicon|Singapore Singaporean

other_names = Tan Tian
zh-s|s=linktext|谭|天
zh-p|p=Tán Tiān

Hai Shu
zh-s|s=linktext|海|叔
zh-p|p=Hǎi Shū

occupation = Principal, Han Language Centrecite web|url=http://hanlanguage.com.sg/website/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=15&Itemid=65 | title=Han Language Centre]

spouse = Koh Hwee Peck

children = Ann Yong He
Ann Yun Guang

website = [http://hanlanguage.com.sg Han Language Centre]

Han Lao Da (zh-sp|s=韩劳达|p=Hán Láo Dá) is a Singaporean playwright, as well as founder and principal of Han Language Centre. Han received the Cultural Medallioncite web|url=http://www.nac.gov.sg/awa/awa02.asp | title=Cultural Medallion] for his contributions in the Singaporean drama scene, and is also recognised for his xiangsheng contributions in Singapore.

Life

Although Han was born in Singapore, his forefathers were from Wen Chang province in Hainan, China.

Han started composing xiangsheng plays since the 1970s, and he started studying the works of renowned xiangsheng artist Ma Ji . Han’s debut play was entitled "The gift ticket". The play was performed in Singapore and major towns and cities all over peninsula Malaysia. In 1984, Han got to befriend Ma Ji, and in 1986, Han also befriended noted performers like Jiang Kun and Tang Jie Zhong. After making these acquaintances, Han began to absorb all the artistic knowledge he can from these noted xiangsheng performers so that he could bring the art of xiangsheng to Singapore, and promote the local xiangsheng culture. He worked hard with other xiangsheng enthusiasts, and produced many scripts for local performances. His works garnered many local awards and won many xiangsheng competitions. He also published three xiangsheng collections and critiques containing a total of 45 xiangsheng scripts. In 2000, his article introducing Singaporean xiangsheng was published in the column on xiangsheng history, published in the Chinese Xiangsheng Network.

At the same time, Han is a noted playwright active in the Singaporean drama scene. He has written a total of nine full-length drama and many short plays.

Awards

* 1990: Cultural Medallion (Theatre), by the National Arts Council Singapore.
* 1994: National Book award, by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associationscite web|url=http://www.sfcca.org.sg/Jianjie/Huawen/Book_1994/Yuweishi.htm | title=Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations] .
* 1995: Broadcast award, by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circlescite web|url=http://www.tingxs.com.cn/Article/xsbn/xsls/0811215518.htm | title=Tingxs.com] .

Published Works

* Citation
first = Tian | last = Tan
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = Tan Tian Xiangsheng Collection
place = Singapore
publisher = Wen xue shu wu
year = 1984
isbn = 9971-975-01-7

* Citation
first = Lao Da | last = Han
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = The Drama of Lao Da
place = Singapore
publisher = Singapore chao zhou ba yi hui guan wen jiao wei yuan hui chu ban zu
year = 1986
isbn = 9971-992-47-7

* Citation
first = Tian | last = Tan
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = Tan Tian Xiangsheng Collection II
place = Singapore
publisher = Southern Arts Society
year = 1988 Singapore National Library (Call Number "Chinese 792.2028 TT")

* Citation
first = Lao Da | last = Han
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = Chen jia geng : ba chang hua ju
place = Singapore
publisher = The Chinese High School
year = 1991
isbn = 981-00-3255-2

* Citation
first = Lao Da | last = Han
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = Strolling through – the Singapore Chinese drama scene in the 1980s
place = Singapore
publisher = Southern Arts Society
year = 1991
isbn = 991-00-3009-6

* Citation
first = Shu | last = Hai
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = The story of the Merlion - Part I
place = Singapore
publisher = [http://www.sfcca.org.sg/ Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations]
year = 1994 National Book Award
isbn = 981-00-4825-4

* Citation
first = Shu | last = Hai
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = The story of the Merlion - Part II
place = Singapore
publisher = [http://www.sfcca.org.sg/ Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations]
year = 1994 National Book Award
isbn = 981-00-5208-1

* Citation
first = Shu | last = Hai
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = The story of the Merlion - Part III
place = Singapore
publisher = [http://www.sfcca.org.sg/ Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations]
year = 1994 National Book Award
isbn = 981-00-5209-X

* Citation
first = Shu | last = Hai
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = The story of the Merlion - Part IV
place = Singapore
publisher = [http://www.sfcca.org.sg/ Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations]
year = 1994 National Book Award
isbn = 981-00-5210-3

* Citation
first = Shu | last = Hai
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = The story of the Merlion - Part V
place = Singapore
publisher = [http://www.sfcca.org.sg/ Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations]
year = 1994 National Book Award
isbn = 981-00-5211-1

* Citation
first = Lao Da | last = Han
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = Lao Da Xiangsheng Collection III
place = Singapore
publisher = Singapore Asian Publications (S) Pte Ltd
year = 2000
isbn = 981-225-943-0

* Citation
first = Lao Da | last = Han
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = Interesting Conversation in Chinese
place = Singapore
publisher = Singapore Asian Publications (S) Pte Ltd
year = 2002
isbn = 981-4082-82-1

* Citation
first = Lao Da | last = Han
author-link = Han Lao Da
title = Lao Da School Xiangsheng Collection
place = Singapore
publisher = Singapore Asian Publications (S) Pte Ltd
year = 2004
isbn = 981-255-230-8

Plays that have been performed but not published

Full-length drama

* The sisters Jin and Yin
* The Door
* The five Libra
* The Soaring heights
* The Teochew Kangaroo
* Yelin School

Short plays

* What time is it?
* Aliens
* The Call
* Face

References