Excavations, Interrogations, Krisen Jit & Contemporary Malaysian Theatre

Excavations, Interrogations, Krishen Jit & Contemporary Malaysian Theatre recounts the interventions and interactions of Malaysian theatre doyen and arts leader Krishen Jit (1939–2005). Best known for his cross-disciplinary takes on the avant garde and unflinching engagement with the differences and ruptures of multicultural identity, Krishen saw theatre’s critical function as inseparable from daily life. Krishen's keen collaborations across a range of arts institutions, organizations, and practitioners made him a key figure in Southeast Asian arts conversations, inspiring performers, academics, and audiences alike with his spontaneity, warmth, and desire to understand the people he worked with. A stanch supporter of deeply local yet internationally engaged art, Krishen wrote the longest-running theatre criticism column in Malaysia’s main newspaper, co-founded the theatre company Five Arts Center, and chaired the theatre department at Akademi Seni Kebangsaan. A touching and insightful dedication from fourteen arts professionals, Excavations combines personal narratives and critical analyses to shed light on Krishen’s process, character, and lasting impact in contemporary theatre practice. This richly illustrated collection traverses writings and conversations, and even serves up some homemade caramelised carrots, in its exploration of Krishen’s professional and personal legacy. The book features reflections from various theatre practitioners and educators who discuss Krishen's influence, his innovative approaches such as decentralising the director’s role in Skin Trilogy, and his role in inspiring a generation of artists across Malaysia and Singapore. It also includes contributions from theatre educator, researcher, and practitioner Charlene Rajendran, and from dramaturg and translator Ken Takiguchi, among others, highlighting Krishen’s lasting impact and ongoing relevance in contemporary theatre.