Adib Kosnan

Experienced with designing and delivering educational content that engages and inspires students. Utilizes innovative teaching methods to enhance learning outcomes and foster positive classroom environment. Strong understanding of curriculum development and student assessment techniques.

An award-winning performer on stage and screen and a bilingual VO artiste (English and Malay). A playwright and director on stage and has been nominated numerous times in the Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards.

Experienced with theatrical direction, focusing on creating impactful and engaging productions. Utilizes strong leadership and organizational skills to manage all aspects of stage performance. Track record of fostering creative collaboration and delivering high-quality results.

As an arts educator, he has taught drama to various age groups including pre-school, primary and secondary, tertiary and college as well as adult learners. Professional educator with strong background in developing and implementing engaging curriculum. Adept at fostering collaborative learning environment that encourages student growth and achievement. Skilled in classroom management, lesson planning, and adapting to diverse educational needs. Known for reliability and flexibility, ensuring smooth and effective teaching operations.

A recipient of SIngapore's National Arts Council, Scholarship 2023 to pursue his Masters in Art Pedagogy and Practice.

Pursuing full-time role that presents professional challenges and leverages interpersonal skills, effective time management, and problem-solving expertise.

• Description of responsibilities (selected):
• Part-time Lecturer, University of the Arts Singapore
• BA (Hons) Design for Social Futures
• Aug 2025 –Present
• Thesis mentor for 8 students on a community development project centred on communal eating.
• Delivered a postgraduate-level module exploring the intersections of Inclusion, Power Dynamics, Oppression, and Design Justice through interdisciplinary lenses including critical social design theory, humanities, and anthropology.
• Guided students in critically unpacking contemporary narratives and practices, fostering analytical discourse around systemic inequities and cultural representation in design.
• Facilitated site-specific ethnographic research to examine lived experiences and social issues, encouraging students to engage with communities through participatory methods and reflective inquiry.
• Supported the development of socially responsive design proposals that function as tools for advocacy, creative intervention, and community engagement, emphasizing design’s potential as a medium for justice and transformation.
• Cultivated a classroom environment that values dialogue, critical reflection, and collaborative learning, empowering students to interrogate dominant paradigms and contribute meaningfully to inclusive design discourse.
• Dramaturg-in-Residence, Centre 42
• 2025 –2026
• Selected as one of three dramaturgs for the inaugural Dramaturg-in-Residence pilot programme, a year-long initiative aimed at strengthening the capabilities and visibility of text-based dramaturgs working on new plays.
• Contributed to the development of dramaturgical discourse through monthly community-of-practice sessions, engaging in reflective dialogue and sharing insights into dramaturgical methodologies.
• Participated in the co-creation of the Engage-A-Dramaturg pilot scheme, shaping its structure and purpose to support emerging playwrights and collaborative dramaturgy.
• Facilitated and attended key programme activities including Writer-Dramaturg Socials, New Scripts Garage, and Text Dramaturgy Workshops, fostering dynamic exchanges between writers and dramaturgs.
• Played an active role in influencing the direction of residency activities, supporting the Centre’s mission to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive dramaturgical ecosystem.
• Screenwriter, Eaglevision Mediacorp
• Cuci - Season 1
• April 2025 –August 2025
• Contributed as part of the writing team for a darkly compelling drama series exploring themes of isolation, mortality, and the overlooked realities of post-trauma cleaning.
• Crafted scripts that blend dark humour with emotional nuance, paying homage to the quiet dignity of those who perform this essential work and the lives they encounter.
• The series sheds light on the growing societal phenomenon of individuals living—and dying—alone, prompting reflection on communal care and social responsibility.
• Developed character-driven narratives that evoke empathy and provoke dialogue, aligning with the show’s mission to foster awareness and cultivate a more compassionate society.
• Screenwriter, Konxepz Production
• Bidadari
• 2023
• Collaborated as part of the writing team for Bidadari, a poignant drama series centered on the exhumation of Bidadari Cemetery (2001–2006), weaving together personal transformation and collective memory.
• Developed character arcs and storylines that explore how encounters with the departed reshape the lives of three men—Sha’ari, Ariffin, and Faizal—prompting reflection on mortality, legacy, and the meaning of connection
• Contributed to scripts that integrate cultural heritage, spiritual resonance, and emotional introspection, grounding the narrative in Singapore’s evolving relationship with land, memory, and ritual.
• Helped shape a tone that balances quiet reverence with human vulnerability, inviting audiences to contemplate how stories of the past can guide the living toward deeper understanding.
• Drama Coach, Nee Ann Polytechnic
• Drama Trainer for Sri Nadi (Malay Drama Club)
• Aug 2024 – Present
• Coach students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic through drama techniques focusing on the Malay language with social issues from the community.
• Train students in acting, directing and design and management skills
• Script writing and reading
• Scene analysis
• Basic acting technique
• Translating action from page to stage
• Rehearsals for production
• Drama Coach, Qifa Primary School
• Drama Trainer for Buds Theatre
• Jan 2024 – Dec 2024
• Coached a group of Pri 3 to Pri 6 students of about 30 students.
• Trained basic drama techniques, and focused on presentation and storytelling skills.
• Wrote and directed an original script based on the school values for their end year assembly presentation.
• Part-time Lecturer, LASALLE College of the Arts
• BA (Hons) in Acting
• Sep 2023 –Present
• Delivered workshops on Drama techniques rooted in Theatre of the Oppressed, with a focus on Forum Theatre as a tool for critical reflection and social engagement.
• Designed and led a collaborative process where students identified pressing social themes and developed original Forum Theatre performances, culminating in peer presentations.
• Mentored student facilitators in managing live Forum Theatre sessions, equipping them with skills to engage audiences in interactive dialogue, role-play interventions, and collective problem-solving.
• Fostered a learning environment that emphasized empathy, critical thinking, and community participation, encouraging students to explore power dynamics and social justice through performance.
• Adjunct Lecturer, Singapore Polytechnic
• Specialist Diploma in Applied Drama and Psychology
• Sep 2021 –Present
• Taught Drama modules – Elements of Drama and Collaborative Playbuilding to specialist diploma students (Adult Learners)
• Devised curriculum and taught modules in Engaging Seniors with Drama and Creative Approaches to Community Engagement (Adult Learners)
• Shared basic drama techniques and devising methodology
• Graded classes of 6 to 20 after each term of teaching
• Drama Coach, Raffles Institution
• Nov 2018 – Present
• Coached a group of Year 1 to 4 students using drama techniques to learn social skills and technical skills.
• Trained students as they prepared for the Singapore Youth Festival Drama Presentation (2019 & 2021)
• Handled disciplinary issues and crafted lesson plans for twice weekly sessions at Raffles Institution
• Junior High Drama Programme, National Junior College
• Drama Trainer for Arts United
• Mar 2012 – Present
• Devised a year long drama based programme culminating in a showcase performance for 2 classes of Junior High 01 students who were part of the Integrated Program
• Each class size was approximately 20-25 students
• Taught basic drama techniques as well as devising tools for them to come up with their own performances
• Social Skills Drama Programme, ITE College (Central)
• Drama Trainer (Stagestruck)
• Apr 2016 – Jun 2016
• Apr 2017 – May 2017
• Jul 2018 – Sep 2018
• Ran 8 session workshop specially devised for foundation NITEC students
• Sessions involved drama games and activities to boost confidence and encourage social interaction
• Taught 3 different classes from Business and Engineering courses throughout the 8 weeks
• The main objective was to allow these students a safe environment to experience something different from the coursework while at the same time giving them opportunities to express themselves and the struggles they face.
• Student’s profile: low IQ, autism spectrum, ADHD
• Impressionists, ITE College (Central)
• Sep 2015 – Dec 2015
• Provided basic drama training to a creative arts therapy group called Impressionists
• Group comprised of 8 – 12 students from ITE College Central going through creative arts therapy for various issues, usually referred to the club by a counsellor
• Taught student’s various theatre techniques including improvisation and image theatre
• Programme culminated in a 10-minute forum theatre performance which was devised by the students and facilitated by the trainer
• Acting & Directing Credits - Selected
• Air, Drama Box
• (Co- Director)
• July 2024
• Commissioned for the Studios series by Esplanade, to be performed at the Esplanade Waterfront Theatre from the 12th to 14th of July
• A verbatim theatre performance on the Orang Seletar, the indigenous coastal community that used to occupy the Seletar river and the areas around it. A story of displacement and loss that delves into the experiences of this community.
• Co-directed a group of 4 actors with Kok Heng Leun. The process included meeting and experiencing life that the Orang Seletar lives in the 9 different kampongs that they inhabit now, in Johore.
• Https://www.esplanade.com/whats-on/festivals-and-series/series/the-studios/events/air
• The Story of Batu Bulat, commissioned by Esplanade
• (Playwright and Director)
• August 2023
• Commissioned for the Playtime series by Esplanade, targeted at children between 3 to 7 years old
• A story that weaved interactive elements about a group of islanders as they encounter an adventure together which takes them on different paths but ultimately leads them to understanding what empathy is and that there is always more than one perspective to any story.
• Both Sides Now, ArtsWok and Drama Box
• (Collaborator and Lead Artist)
• 2013 to 2022
• A frequent collaborator in Both Sides Now, an immersive engagement experience talking about end of life issues in the community through arts engagement
• Wrote, acted, directed and facilitated in multiple performances including verbatim and forum theatre
• Co-lead artist for the Malay-Muslim edition between 2020 and 2022 which included curating performances and installations to target the Malay Muslim community and also being part of the creative team that researched on the topic
• Kepaten Obor Suhaili Safari & Esplanade
• (Director)
• May 27th to May 29th 2022
• A monologue written by Suhaili Safari and Agnes Christina about lineage, family and the difficulties in untangling complicated family histories
• Directed a team of multimedia, sound and light designers who worked hand in hand to bring Suhaili’s story to life.
• Presented at the Esplanade Theatre Studio as part of the 2022 Pesta Raya to almost sold-out crowds.
• Review: Kepaten Obor – Igniting A Withered Torch (Pesta Raya 2022) – Bakchormeeboy
• Rindu Di Bulan Rupa Co.lab
• Jan 20th to Jan 23rd 2022
• Directed a cast of 4, for the play by Raimi Safari that delved into issues of interracial adoption in the Malay Muslim community juxtaposed with the tale of Chang’e and the moon.
• Presented at the Esplanade Theatre Studio as part of the 2022 M1 Fringe Festival.
• Keluarga Besar Encik Karim Checkpoint Theatre
• (Playwright/Actor)
• Sep 29th to Oct 15th 2021
• Played the role of Aqil, the son-in-law who has to deal with a new family dynamic and a father-in-law who is also having issues with the adjustment.
• This digital theatre experience was filmed as a feature and directed by Claire Wong and Joel Lim
• Presented by Esplanade for FYI and Pentas
• Nominated for 2022 Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards (Best Script, Best Ensemble & Best Digital Presentation)
• Https://artsequator.com/keluarga-besar-encik-karim/
• Café, Wild Rice
• (Actor)
• Dec 5th to 7th 2020
• Played the role of Zat, the manager of a café trying to manage his staff and customers as something dark and weird brews outside.
• Directed by Hazel Ho
• Review - https://bakchormeeboy.com/2020/12/05/%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%86-review-cafe-by-wild-rice/
• Angkat: A Definitive, Alternative, Reclaimed Narrative of a Native, Nabilah Said & Noor Effendy Ibrahim, Singapore
• Actor
• Jan 2019
• Part of an ensemble cast for a 80 minute show as part of the 2019 M1 Fringe Festival
• Performed 4 shows to a sold-out audience (Approximate 600)
• Played multiple characters in an absurdist reimagining of Singaporean history through the lens of the Malay person.
• Awarded the Best Supporting Actor for the 2020 Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards
• Trick of Threat, Drama Box, Singapore
• Actor-Facilitator
• May 2018
• Forum theatre performance for Feed Your Imagination, an Esplanade Presents Programme directed by Rei Poh.
• Performed to over 1,500 Secondary 1 – 4 students
• Facilitated in role as students tried to give alternative solutions to issues such as stereotyping, racial profiling and privilege.
• 0600. GroundZ-0 Collective, Singapore
• April – May 2018
• Site-specific performance at the National Gallery on the death penalty in Singapore as part of the Singapore International Festival of Arts 2018 directed by Zelda Tatiana Ng
• Collaborated on the writing of 2 monologues which were subsequently performed for the show
• 1st Character - a serial killer in the mould of Adrian Lim who reflected on the notoriety and coverage he received for his involvement in the high-profile murder case.
• Nominated for 2019 Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards (Best Supporting Actor)
• 2nd Character – a convict who escaped the death sentence as he was underaged when he committed murder at the bidding of the much older mastermind, who himself was sentenced to death (loosely based on the Anthony Ler case)
• Without Reason, M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival, Singapore
• Director
• August 2017
• A commissioned piece on social issues in Singapore namely inter-racial relationships, family values and life as a youth in Singapore
• Auditioned and casted a team of 11 actors ranging from youths to theatre veterans
• Performance staged as a main production under the M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival, an annual youth theatre festival celebrating the youth and arts at the Esplanade from 2nd to 4th August.
• Frago, Checkpoint Theatre, Singapore
• July 2017
• An original Singaporean play written by Lucas Ho and directed by Huzir Sulaiman
• Played LTA Lawrence Tan, the Platoon Commander of a group of armoured infantry reservist men, who doesn’t quite fit in with the men but is highly regarded by his superiors
• Performance staged at the Drama Centre’s black box as part of Checkpoint theatre’s 2017 main season programme
• 28.8. Teater Kami, Singapore
• Playwright/Director
• April 2017
• Theatre performance presented as part of Teater Kami’s main season programme at Aliwal Arts Centre’s multi-purpose hall
• Directed 2 actors, in a story about a young couple going through financial difficulties through their relationship in a Singaporean context
• Led a creative team comprising of lighting, set and multimedia designers while at the same time curating and editing the songs used for the production
• The play was nominated for the Best Original Script in the 2018 Life! Theatre Awards.
• International Friendship Day, The Necessary Stage, Singapore
• July 2016
• An interactive performance about integration of different cultures in schools
• A part of a 4-person ensemble playing multiple characters such as an Indonesian scholar, and effeminate local student as well as a father of another student who is against foreign students.
• Performance staged as part of Peer Pleasure 2016, a youth theatre festival
• National Language Class, Spell#7 & Buds Theatre, Singapore
• November 2015
• An installation piece based on Chua Mia Tee’s iconic painting of the same name
• Played the role of Cikgu, the national language teacher who teaches a class to a Chinese female student.
• The audience take on the roles of the other students in the painting
• Performance staged at National Gallery Singapore as part of its official opening month
• Edge, Teater Kami, Singapore
• Director/Actor
• August 2015
• A monologue
• Devised and edited script based on social media issues relevant to modern society
• Led a team of 5 in creating the multimedia, sound and lights for the performance
• Performance staged as a main season production under Teater Kami’s 2015 calendar at the Teater Kami Blackbox on the 26th to 29th August 2015 as part of a double-bill
• “Don’t Colour Outside the Lines” in Going Local 3, Buds Theatre, Singapore
• June – July 2015
• A play performed as part of a quadruple bill by Buds Theatre
• Directed a cast of 4 (mixture of amateur and professional performers)
• Facilitated a rehearsal process focusing on a new piece of work by an up and coming local writer, Jaey Solomon.
• Performance staged as a main season production under Buds Theatre’s 2015 calendar at various community theatrette around Singapore.
• Jangan Kurang Ajar, Teater Kami, Singapore
• May 2014
• A devised theatre performance
• Facilitated a devising process that took place over 3 months (research, workshops and rehearsals)
• Performance staged as a main season production under Teater Kami’s 2014 calendar at the Drama Centre Blackbox Theatre on the 16th & 17th May 2014