Neak Chen

Chen Neak ចិន្ទ នាគ (29 Dec. 1946, Kompong Cham Province — 2 Sep. 2011, unknown) was a speak-theater professor, a writer and a member of the Research Committee on Culture and Arts at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MCFA).

Chen Neak was born into a poor peasant family in Kampong Cham province, firts studying at the local pagoda, then moving to Wat Saravan at 18 in order to study at the National Theater School. In 1967, he majored and joined the National Theater.

In his career as an artist, art director, and professor, Chen Neak also traveled to Laos, Vietnam, the Soviet Union, the Philippines, China, and Thailand to attend exchange programs and to share Cambodian art knowledge on the international stage. As an assistant and colleague of Pech Tum Kravel, he researched the history of Khmer theater and dance, under the direction of Chheng Phon, head of the MCFA Research Committee on Culture and Arts, contributing to the rebuilding of Khmer cultural traditions after the Khmer Rouge years.

Chen Chanratana ចិន្ត ច័ន្ទរតនា, the founder of the Khmer Heritage Foundation កេរដំណែលខ្មែរ [Kerdomnel Khmer], is Chen Neak’s son.