Reconnecting with Roots through Theatre
About Lapdiang Syiem
theatre artist
Shillong, Meghalaya
Lapdiang Artimai Syiem, born in 1988 in Shillong is a theatre artist based in Meghalaya, India. Lapdiang received her training from the National School of Drama, New Delhi and the Commedia School, Copenhagen, specializing in physical theatre. Her practice since her return to Meghalaya in 2016 has been inspired by Khasi folklore and oral narratives, reinterpreting and adapting them into a contemporary context. As a performer, Lapdiang’s work draws inspiration from poetry and involves using her body for physical expression. Her productions explore notions of identity, gender, and transcultural relationships, reflecting on her role as a contemporary artist in Meghalaya. Her recent productions are Laitïam (a retelling of U Sier Lapalang), Ngan Hiar Sha Wah (I’m Going Down to the River) – a digital theatre piece on the Umkhrah river and Performing Journeys as part of the Welsh-Khasi Cultural Dialogues. Currently she is a recipient of the Prince Claus Mentorship Award (2023): Cultural and Artistic Responses to the Environmental Crisis.