The Theatre Guy: Mr. Ken Liu

You must have noticed the guy in the theater’s tech office, but do you know who he is? What he does?

For those who haven’t had the privilege of getting to know him, his name is Ken Liu, and he has worked here since the theatre opened. He manages theatre performances and assists both teachers and students, depending on what they need in terms of lights, video recordings and mic arrangements. He clarified, “My occupation is a new one in AISG since the theatre is relatively new. People think I only have to turn on the mic and that’s it, but my job is not as simple. It involves many meetings and there are also different things that go on backstage that need my attention.”

When asked if he liked working at AISG, he said, “this school is full of energy and passion and since I work with students and teachers every day, this energy [transfers] onto me. Students have so many creative and useful ideas, which makes my job much more interesting.” He also added that his daily interactions with students allowed him to realize that he can also learn from the students. “Students inspire me with their self-confidence,” he said.

Additionally, AISG hosts a number of different events—from concerts, pep rallies and dance performances to APAC concerts and performances—and this makes him not just an employee, but also a student. He “learns different styles of music and different practices that come from all over the world.” His job is entertaining at times, as he also witnesses their nervousness before going on stage. In fact, these students allow him to remember times when he himself was on stage for the first time in elementary school: “I had my hair and makeup done… I looked creepy!”

After sharing his “embarrassing” episode, he ended the interview by saying, “Creativity is based on imagination, and I think our students are full of imagination. I value that over knowledge.”