PRISCILLA KHONG

Director, Gateway Theatre
Executive Director, Gateway Arts
Creative Director, Gateway Entertainment
Illusionist, Magic of Lawrence and Priscilla

Priscilla’s career in the performing arts spans 25 years and counting. A creative from the outset, Priscilla began her career as a magician and illusionist, performing in a show she helped to conceptualise. Co-starring alongside her father Lawrence, she went on to perform on the highly-acclaimed Magic of Love tour from 2001-2006, at some of the most prestigious theatre venues in the world. Inheriting her father’s love for magic and theatre, Priscilla has trained under the grandmasters of magic, including The Great Tomsoni, Jeff McBride, Haruo Shimada and Jonathan Pendragon. Priscilla was the first in Asia to be named Female Magician of the Year. Conferred by the International Magicians Society in 2010, this award is the equivalent of the Oscars in the magic community and industry.

A firm believer in mentoring youth, Priscilla was also the principal trainer for Project SMILE (Sharing Magic In Love Everywhere) from its inception in 2002 to its conclusion in 2019. A community arts programme that trains youths in the art of magic for them to perform and bring joy to the less fortunate, Project SMILE has worked with hundreds of youths and adults in Singapore, China, Japan and Malaysia. Priscilla is also the Creative Director of Gateway Entertainment, where she greatly influences the look and feel of the company’s productions.

In 2017, Priscilla took the helm at the newly-opened Gateway Theatre. The performing arts centre champions arts for the family, with a focus on theatre for children, youth, and people with disabilities. Gateway Theatre supports local artists and arts groups, providing a venue for their work and a platform for their creativity. In recognition of its support of the arts, Gateway Theatre has been awarded the Patron of the Arts award in 2022, and the Friend of the Arts award in 2020, 2021, and 2024.

Since 2018, Priscilla has also led Gateway Arts as its Executive Director. The community-minded arts company seeks to be a catalyst for social change. Its productions highlight important social issues for youth, encourage thought and discussion, and provide resources for further action. Its plays about mental health have impacted thousands of students in Singapore. For their work in this area, Gateway Arts recently won best project at the Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2025.