With over two decades in the performing arts sector across Singapore and the UK, my journey represents a unique combination of artistic practice, technical expertise and scholarly ambition.
Beginning as a child performer at the age of eight under Singapore’s Cultural Medallion recipient Mdm Som Said, I received comprehensive training in traditional Malay art forms such as dance, music and theatre.
My transition from performer to production stage manager and arts administrator began in 2011 when an injury prevented me from performing on stage. This unexpected pivot led me to develop an interest in backstage work and ignited a passion for handling technical and managerial aspects of production and events.
I am passionate and care deeply about the Malay cultural heritage and am interested in the use of digital technologies to preserve and document Malay culture, in the context of global heritage.
In the arts ecosystem where specialisation is important but can also limit opportunities, my ability to adapt and serve multiple functions has enabled me to remain consistently relevant while responding to the evolving needs of various organisations and collectives.
My expertise across different art forms informs my holistic approach to producing, arts management and production. What sets me apart in this industry is my versatility across artistic, administrative, managerial and technical domains.
I am committed to challenging stigmas regarding arts careers, working towards greater recognition of creative professions within my unique Singaporean identity.
I am really interested to make the Malay heritage relevant in global communities. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD in Cultural Heritage at the University of Birmingham, where I am researching the use of digital technologies to preserve Malay Dance as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
I am a community leader who not just advocates mental heath and wellbeing, I embody it in each of the spaces I work in. I live with a chronic, lifelong mental health condition that has a continuous impact to my life and those around me, but I believe that this illness is a true blessing in disguise. Battling Bipolar Disorder since young (which is often misunderstood as ‘mood swing’ or ‘personality issues’), I now use art and creative practices as a form of healing and grounding through my practice of integrating traditional practices with contemporary and academic approaches.
I believe in nurturing emerging talents and am particularly interested to work with young people. I see a true importance in imparting positive attributes and values learned from the older generation to the younger ones.
| Year | Details of Event | Role | Organisation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lovers’ Rock | ||
| Research & Development Residency | |||
| Fabric Dance | |||
| Nottingham, UK | |||
| Apr 2026 | Dance Artist/Mover | A Jerwood Choreographic Research Project (Fabric & Jerwood Foundation) by Ray Young | |
| 2026 | 12th APHELEIA International Seminar, KreativEU Network Conference | ||
| Mar 2026 | Conference Presenter | KreativEU University Alliance, UNESCO-BRIDGES, Instituto Terra e Memória, International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences (CIPSH) |
UNESCO Chair on Humanities and Cultural Integrated Landscape Management
Mação, Portugal | | 2026 | Living, Rehearsing, Soundings… Jan 2026 YDP, London | Artist, Alice by Kelvin Atmadibrata | y.d.p | | Nov 2024 - present | Lead in strategy based on community-led practices | Non-Executive Director | Anansi Theatre Company, UK | | Sep 2025 - present | Resident Artist in a creative community space united by an ambition to generate societal change. | Artist-in-Residence | Coreset, East Midlands, UK | | 2025 | 25th Anniversary of the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus | Performing Artist & Programme Coordinator, Itikku Productions | University of Nottingham, UK | | 2024 | Weaving, Interweaving 8th Dec 2024 Film excerpt showcased at senishow&tell Spillover @ 89 Neil Road | Artist | senisini in conjunction with spillover project, Singapore | | 2024 | harmony. 天人合一 by Ellandar Productions 23 – 25 May 2024 York Theatre Royal Studio | Production Stage Manager | Ellandar Productions, UK | | 2024 | Weaving, Interweaving 9th & 14th May 2024 A live art installation performed at the MA Art Education, Culture and Practice Exhibition | Artist-Researcher | University College London (UCL) Institute of Education (IOE) | | 2023 | Touch 2023 by NUS Piano Ensemble 23 Mar 2023 Esplanade Recital Studio | Show Producer & Group Manager | National University of Singapore (NUS) Centre for the Arts, Office of Student Affairs | | 2023 | kSAnti – Patiently Waiting by NUS Indian Dance 19 Mar 2023 UCC Theatre | Show Producer & Group Manager | NUS Centre for the Arts, Office of Student Affairs | | 2023 | Soiree 2023: Introspection by NUS Harmonica 11 Mar 2023 UCC Dance Studio | Show Producer & Group Manager | NUS Centre for the Arts, Office of Student Affairs | | 2023 | Odyssey by NUS Guitar Ensemble 12 Mar 2023 UCC Theatre | Show Producer & Group Manager | NUS Centre for the Arts, Office of Student Affairs | | 2023 | Inter/Change by NUS Chinese Dance and NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble 10 Mar 2023 UCC Ho Bee Auditorium | Show Producer & Group Manager | NUS Centre for the Arts, Office of Student Affairs | | 2023 | GERAK Symposium GERAK was a Malay Dance Symposium which explored the evolving roles of Malay Dance in Singapore today. It was held over 2 days at the Stephen Riady Centre in NUS University Town, plus a day of Pre-Symposium Workshop. | Conference Organiser | NUS Centre for the Arts, Office of Student Affairs | | 2022 | Recalling Mother: Her Lines, My Lines Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (Theatre Studio) September 2022 | Production Coordinator | Checkpoint Theatre, Singapore | | 2022 | In/Out Goodman Arts Centre Block O, Multi-Purpose Studios 6 & 7 August 2022 | Front-of-House Manager | RAW Moves Ltd, Singapore | | 2022 | Kepaten Obor – Igniting a Withered Torch Pesta Raya, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (Theatre Studio) May 2022 | Production Stage Manager | Commissioned work by Suhaili Safari, directed by Adib Kosnan & produced by Saiful Amri | | 2022 | Lotus Root Support Group TheatreWorks (S) Ltd March 2022 | Production Stage Manager | National Arts Council (NAC) Singapore Theatre Collective by Shannen Tan | | 2022 | Ethnic Music – Fun for Everyone! NAC-SEPG Grant Filming @ Ratu Sari Warehouse October 2021 - March 2022 | Producer & Project Manager | National Arts Council (NAC) Singapore Music Collective by Muslihah Mujtaba (Lili) | | 2022 | Pestariasi: Dua Puluh Satu Goodman Arts Centre Black Box 26 February 2022 | Stage Manager | Variasi Performing Arts, Singapore |
Non-Executive Director, Nov 2024 - present Anansi Theatre Company
Non-Executive Director, Nov 2024 - present Anansi Theatre Company (Summer Drama Club)
harmony. 天人合一by Ellandar 2024 (Production Stage Manager)
harmony. 天人合一by Ellandar 2024 (Production Stage Manager)
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**Weaving, Interweaving 2024 (**Artist-Researcher)
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**Weaving, Interweaving 2024 (**Artist-Researcher)
**GERAK Symposium - 2023 (**Conference Organiser)
**GERAK Symposium - 2023 (**Conference Organiser) ****
SM Prompt Copy - Kepaten Obor Pesta Raya 2022 (Production Stage Manager)
Kepaten Obor Pesta Raya 2022 (Production Stage Manager)
Technical Rider - Checkpoint Theatre 2022 (Production Coordinator)
Kepaten Obor Pesta Raya 2022 (Production Stage Manager)
Ethnic Music – Fun for Everyone! 2022 (Producer & Project Manager)
Ethnic Music – Fun for Everyone! 2022 (Producer & Project Manager)
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Berita Harian SG, ‘PhD Student Explores Ways to use Technology to Convey Knowledge of Traditional Arts Practitioners’ (Translated)
“For many, sambal is just a condiment that adds flavor to food. But for Ms Muslihah Mujtaba, sambal is a window to shared heritage and an ingredient connecting the Malay diaspora, as every community has its own version of this appetite-opening condiment.
When contacted by Berita Harian (BH), she explained that her simple act of sharing about Malay sambal on social media attracted many to learn about Malay culture more closely, creating shared spaces for Malay diaspora members.
This perspective aligns with her studies in Malay traditional arts, where food, arts and heritage function as cultural touchpoints connecting generations and communities.
As an active participant and mentor in Malay traditional arts, Miss Muslihah grew up with singing, dance and theatre since joining local arts groups since age eight.
Since then, she remains active in performance production and management, while mentoring young people with her 20 years of arts experience.”
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