Lin Chen

Who was Lin Chen?

Lin Chen was a playwright and one of the important pioneers of Singapore theatre. Chen was born in Singapore in 1919, his alma mater were Tao Nan Primary School and The Chinese High School.

Chen's first exposure to the dramatic arts was watching a play titled "The Military Hospital" by the Singapore Amateur Drama Society. The 18-yr-old was deeply moved by the drama performance, and soon joined the Society. He had also worked in the comics and wood carving industries from 1937 until he joined World Bookshop in the 1950s. After his retirement in 1980, he joined the People’s Association as an instructor for drama groups. Chen’s theatrical training was accumulated from years of experience. Writing short stories and essays under different pseudonyms, he also wrote scripts for local radio stations and Rediffusion. In addition, he participated actively in directing and writing for the theatres.

From its inception in 1955, Chen was the resident playwright for the Singapore Arts Theatre and directed 162 dramas from 1954 to 1991. His work The Woman Who Broke the Mirror was included in the local secondary school curriculum.

On October 30, 1982, Lin Chen was awarded the Cultural Medallion.