Spotlight: Coco Wang Ling on her Journey with SRT

Coco Wang Ling, winner of Best Actress at The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards 2026, made her SRT debut with The Little Company in Threads: The Emperor’s New Clothes Musical (2025), bringing a storybook world to life for young audiences. This November, she’s stepping into a very different world as Meiko, a single parent in Eureka Day, a sharp comedy about a school committee so committed to consensus that a sudden outbreak leaves them unable to agree on anything. 

We caught up with Coco in between rehearsals to talk about how her performance changes depending on who’s in the audience, what her roles have taught her about empathy, and what she hopes theatregoers will recognise in Meiko and the parents of Eureka Day. 

1. Your first SRT production was with The Little Company (TLC), in the production Threads: The Emperor’s New Clothes Musical in 2025. What’s the funniest or most unexpected moment you remember from the experience? 

Coco Wang Ling: I experienced my first show stop in that production, which was equally exciting and terrifying! Benjamin Chow (who played my dad) and I were trying to figure out how to carry on singing when the music didn’t start. It felt like a long time before someone came on stage to announce a show stop and we all had a big laugh backstage! The adrenaline!

2. Having performed in productions for both younger and adult audiences, how does your approach to performing change depending on who's watching? 

Coco Wang Ling: My physicality and voice would be the biggest difference! I’d like to think of performing TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) as storybook characters coming to life. There is probably a bit more nuance in acting for adults — we’re not as good at wearing our heart on our sleeves as children. Either way, everyone would love to recognise a little bit of themselves on stage.

3. What’s the most unexpected thing a role has taught you? 

Coco Wang Ling: I think this script and role has really reminded me the importance of empathy and not jumping to conclusions.  

4. Let’s talk about what’s coming up next. In Eureka Day, you play Meiko, a parent at the centre of a very lively school committee. Tell us about Meiko, and what you’re most looking forward to exploring with her. 

Coco Wang Ling: Meiko is a single parent. I’m looking forward to exploring how her being in this school committee has given her a community to support and rely on.

5. Without giving too much away, what do you think audiences might recognise in Meiko or the world of Eureka Day?  

Coco Wang Ling: I think everyone can recognise the determination of parents trying to do what they think is best for their children. Whether or not you agree with their choices, I hope audiences are able to empathise with characters who hold different values to theirs. 

Catch Coco Wang Ling as Meiko in SRT’s Eureka Day, running 18 Nov – 6 Dec 2026 at KC Arts Centre – Home of SRT. Find out more and get your tickets here.