{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Short description|Singaporean theatre director, actor and lecturer}} {{family name hatnote|Chia|lang=Chinese}} '''Nelson Chia''' ({{zh|s=谢燊杰|t=謝燊傑|p=Xìe Shēnjíe}}) is a Singaporean theatre director, actor and lecturer. He is the co-founder of Nine Years Theatre.

==Early life and education== Chia studied at The Chinese High School and Hwa Chong Junior College.<ref name="TanFeb14"/> He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from National University of Singapore and a master's degree in Theatre Arts (Directing) from Goldsmiths College, University of London.<ref name="substation"/>

== Career == Chia has been working in theatre both as an actor and director since 1994. Chia's first major TV role in the drama Together Whenever, which was aired on SPH MediaWorks Channel U, alongside Erica Lee. He briefly headed the Department of Theatre in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, but later left the post in order to devote more time to his craft. He was also an adjunct lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts and a full-time lecturer at the Theatre Studies Program in National University of Singapore<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Nelson Chia {{!}} SG Theatre Archive |url=https://www.centre42.sg/archive/profiles/159/nelson-chia/ |access-date=2026-03-01 |website=www.centre42.sg}}</ref>. He was the associate artistic director at Toy Factory Productions (formerly Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble) from 2003 to 2023<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.asa.org.sg/bios/nelsonchia.htm |title=Association of Singapore Actors |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614045219/http://www.asa.org.sg/bios/nelsonchia.htm |archive-date=14 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.toyfactory.com.sg/html/01b.html#nelson |title=Toy Factory Productions Ltd |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620210955/http://www.toyfactory.com.sg/html/01b.html#nelson |archive-date=20 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>, an Associate Artist with The Substation from 2007 to 2009 and the founding member of a collaborative ensemble A Group Of People (2008-2012).<ref name="substation">{{Cite web |url=http://www.substation.org/associate_artists/performance/nelson_chia.html |title=Substation: Associate Artists: Performance: Nelson Chia |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828080236/http://www.substation.org/associate_artists/performance/nelson_chia.html |archive-date=28 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":0" />

Chia founded Mandarin theatre company Nine Years Theatre in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=High drama and lots of heart |first=Corrie|last=Tan|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/high-drama-and-lots-of-heart|work=The Straits Times|date=11 February 2014|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118070039/https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/high-drama-and-lots-of-heart|archive-date=18 January 2018}}</ref>

== Personal life == Chia is married to fellow theatre practitioner and co-founder of Nine Years Theatre Mia Chee,<ref name="TanFeb14">{{cite news|last1=Tan|first1=Corrie|title=Sailing into theatre as a career|url=http://www.asiaone.com/sailing-theatre-career|work=The Straits Times|date=5 February 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118010930/https://www.asiaone.com/sailing-theatre-career|archivedate=18 January 2018}}</ref> and has two twin daughters (born 2004).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Yusof|first1=Helmi|title=How we age, how we die|url=http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/arts-entertainment/how-we-age-how-we-die|work=The Business Times|date=23 September 2016|ref=yusof|language=en|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20260106043932/https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/how-we-age-how-we-die|archivedate=6 January 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Theatre==

===As director=== * ''Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead'', Goldsmiths College, London, 2000 * ''Animal Farm'' (in Mandarin, 動物農莊), The Theatre Practice, Victoria Theatre, Singapore, 2002 * ''Oleanna'' (in Mandarin, 奧里安娜), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 2002 * ''Mergers And Wills'' (in Mandarin, 暗流胸涌), (as co-director), Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 2004 * ''First Light'', Toy Factory Productions, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Singapore, 2008 * ''LIV - Full Frontal'', A Group of People, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Singapore Arts Festival, Singapore, 2009 *''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'', Nine Years Theatre, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Huayi Festival 2012, Singapore 2012 *''Twelve Angry Men'', Nine Years Theatre, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Huayi Festival 2013, Singapore 2013 *''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'', Nine Years Theatre, Dom Pedro V Theatre, Macau Arts Festival 2013, Singapore 2013

===As an actor=== * ''Lao Jiu'' (in Mandarin, 老九), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 1990 * ''Titoudao'' (in Mandarin, 剃頭刀), Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 1994<ref name="TanFeb14"/> * ''The Coffin is Too Big For The Hole'' (in Mandarin, 棺材太大洞太小), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 1995 * ''The Soldier and His Wife'' (in Mandarin, 都是當兵惹得禍), The Theatre Practice, Fort Canning Drama Centre, Singapore, 1996 * ''Love A La Zen'' (in Mandarin, 愛情觀自在), The Theatre Practice, Victoria Theatre, Singapore, 1999 * ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (in Mandarin, 仲夏夜之夢), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 1999 * ''Hundred Years In Waiting'' (in Mandarin, 百年的等待), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 2001 * ''The Island'' (in Mandarin, 島), (as John), The Theatre Practice, Singapore, 2002 * ''Animal Farm'' (in Mandarin, 動物農莊), The Theatre Practice, Victoria Theatre, Singapore, 2002 * ''Mad Phoenix'' (in Mandarin, 南海十三郎), (as Title Role), Toy Factory Productions, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Huayi Festival, Singapore, 2003 * ''Porcelain'', (as John Lee), Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 2005 * ''Big Fool Lee'' (in Mandarin and Cantonese, 李大傻), Toy Factory Productions, Singapore, 2005 * ''Nanjing: 1937'', The Substation, The Substation SeptFest, Singapore, 2007 * ''Nanjing: 1937 Phase II'', The Substation, The Substation SeptFest, Singapore, 2008 * ''Own Time Own Target'', W!LD RICE, Drama Centre Theatre, Singapore, 2009

==Filmography== ;Film {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes !Ref |- |1996 |''Agong Bak Kut Teh'' 阿公肉骨茶 |Alan |Cameo, telemovie | |} ;Television {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes !Ref |- |2003 |''Together Whenever'' 天倫 |Zhengbei | | |- | rowspan="2" |2007 |''Like Father, Like Daughter'' 寶貝父女兵 |Akirah | | |- |''Live Again'' 天堂鸟 |Sayang | | |- |2008 |''Just in Singapore'' 一房半厅一水缸 |Robert | | |- |2009 |''Table of Glory'' 乒乓圆 |Richard | | |- |2010 |''Happy Family'' 过好年 |bread skin | | |} ;2006 * ''Crossfire'' 針鋒相對 (forum programme, in Mandarin), (as host), Mediacorp Channel U

==References== {{Reflist|}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chia, Nelson}} Category:Singaporean male television actors Category:Singaporean people of Chinese descent Category:Male actors of Chinese descent Category:Living people Category:National University of Singapore alumni Category:Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London Category:Hwa Chong Junior College alumni Category:Hwa Chong Institution alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Singaporean theatre directors