June - The Actors Studio
Transcription
June - The Actors Studio
ue iss 88 •m ay Living Arts Malaysia Editor & Art Director Nicholas Chin Advisors Dato’ Faridah Merican Joe Hasham oam Print DI Print Solutions www.diprintsolutions.com "To Thine Own Self Be True..." It is difficult to describe what I'm feeling as I sit in the study of my brother Tony's house on this magnificent Autumn morning. Ten minutes ago I was watching my sister-in-law, Terri, hand-feeding a family of kookaburras as they perched on the balcony railing that overlooks what might possibly be one of the most beautiful water views in the country. Heaven! The past week has been blissful chaos. The time has just whizzed by leaving Faridah and me breathless in its wake. This trip down under has been devoted almost entirely to family and friends, unlike most of our previous sojourns that have been peppered with the occasional family visit in between numerous plays and films. No, this trip was definitely for family and friends, and what a joy it has been. We've been able to spend quality time with my soon-to-be-93-year-old father. He remains, to this day, as strong as an ox and delightfully just as stubborn. He still insists on living on his own and his fiercely independent streak has not waned one little bit with the passing of the years. At the other end of the scale is, in my eyes, the most beautiful little grand daughter in the world, Ava Grace. The last time we saw her was six months ago and now, at 18 months, she is proving to be a proper little lady. More on the family and friends theme... Faridah cooked up a Malaysian storm a couple of days ago and treated 16 very happy people to beef rendang, chicken curry and dalcha... and that was followed a day later by a magnificent lunch with my long-time school friends. The Actors Studio@Lot 10 Roof Top, Level 8A, Lot 10 Shopping Centre, 50, Jalan Sultan Ismail 50250 Kuala Lumpur Tel: ( 03) 2144 2009 (General Inquiry) (03) 2142 2009 (Box Office) (03) 2143 2009 (Box Office) www.theactorsstudio.com.my On the entertainment front we saw a wonderful film Never Let Me Go and were very lucky to see a production of Hamlet at the Sydney Theatre Company. This production of Hamlet was a real treat. Adapted and directed by Naomi Edwards, this classic tale was turned upside down and inside out with such ingenuity and was so well crafted that we did not even mind the fact that Hamlet was a woman. Not only did we not mind... we applauded the fact. What would normally have been a two and a half hour sitting, was intelligently and most entertainingly condensed into 90 minutes of great theatre. There is just too much to say about this production this month, so I'll give a full account of it in the future. The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan 51100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: (03) 4047 9000 (Box Office) www.klpac.org As always, our trips to Australia are never long enough for us to do everything we set out to achieve... but on the other hand it is always good to head back home to Kuala Lumpur. Joe Hasham is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of The Actors Studio Malaysia and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre. Some might say his life revolves around eating, drinking and theatre — even on holiday. 3 My article this month comes to you from Sydney, Australia. All feedback/comments about this publication and/or the performing arts in general are welcomed at: nicholas@theactorsstudio.com.my Umesh Logandran is a man on a mission to secure hearts... Yea Baby!! Amir Yunos simply loves to tell a story over and over and over again — a very typical Malay thing to do. Hanif Kamis is a twentysomething pursuing the dream of living faithfully under imaginary circumstances. 16 year old Nefissa Sahnoun is fun, joyful, lame and legen-wait-for-it-dary! photo credit alex chua Devyani Gupta is a 16 year old with big dreams and strong passions. Kamini Senthilathiban is an eager beaver, funsized and with a strong will to engage. 4 Amanda Tan, the euphoric, gleeful, curious 16 year old is here to overcome her fears, gain confidence and take chances. Introductions, Musings and the Season Ahead Setting the pace for 'Malaysia's premier platform for young people's theatre' is daunting to say the least (and I am not getting any younger!), but looking ahead during the season's first rehearsal at the next 6 months we will spend together as a family, there is just something exciting in the air that never fails to reinvigorate me. To know that my fellow T4YP Team members and I have the precious opportunity of shaping and informing the steps of these young actors is a privilege unlike any other. Moreover, the word 'family' is ever more important to us as the work of each year's T4YP Ensemble is increasingly influenced by the growing T4YP Alumni as Ensemble members, past and present, perform alongside one another each season. Season 2011 is all about the unpredictable, sometimes downright impenetrable terrain of love — something which we all know a thing or two about. We turn to two British playwrights for their thoughts as we begin with A History of Falling Things by James Graham and end with the Bard's version of a rom-com, Much Ado About Nothing. For our mid-year experimental theatre season in the Indicine, T4YP revisits the work of celebrated British playwright Tom Stoppard with his play The Real Inspector Hound directed by T4YP Team member Alex Chua. That weekend also sees T4YP Team member Alexis Wong facilitating two cycles of our annual 24hour play-making event, T4YP Sweatshop. Our association with the Causeway Exchange Festival (from August 1–7, 2011) continues with a new mainstage production Food, Sex and Death featuring the writing of Desmond Sim (Singapore) and Nandang Abdul Rahman (Malaysia) as well as TwoOn-One: an interactive theatre festival originally conceived by T4YP alumnus Tung Jit Yang. There you have it, 7 members, 6 shows, and a family's worth of support — plans well laid, and with a dash of life's sweet uncertainties, do join us for an exciting season of Theatre for Young People! Christopher Ling is Co-Associate Artistic Director at klpac. He is also fatherly figure to the T4YP family and he would like to thank you for supporting the future of Malaysian theatre. t4yp season 2011 is powered by: Now in it's forth year, klpac's T4YP programme is the leading platform for young people between the ages of 16 to 25 to express themselves by creating meaningful theatre. It's vision is to inspire and nurture imagination, confidence and creativity in young Malaysians through theatre. 5 We started with 15 young people. Four years later we have 48, and from what I see in the newest 7 to join the ranks of T4YP's ensemble, T4YP looks set to have another madcap season of theatrics — both on and off stage. Dictating Culture If Adam Lambert is useful for one thing, it’s what happened when he came to perform here last year. The openly gay musician (Q: Can you be openly straight?) enjoyed the honour of having protesters picket outside the concert venue, holding signs that read ‘this is not our culture’. The unfortunate implication here is that all Malaysians are homophobic and intolerant. This is clearly untrue, since I have faith that you, my dear reader, are neither. (And if you are, we can cure that now. It’s called reading.) 6 But from the incident an important question was raised, i.e. who has the right to say what ‘our’ culture is or isn’t? Malaysians are not easily labelled; you can have a dozen different cultures in the queue at McDonalds. Culture is not defined solely by ethnic, social, or economic stripe, so how do you then get to define a ‘Malaysian’ culture? Polite and tourist friendly isn’t it, as much as we want to believe our marketing. That’s the essence of the problem; a large segment of our population appears to sincerely believe that you can dictate culture from a mountaintop and let it trickle downwards. Parents and government figures aside, we have an institution dedicated to dictating how our national language is spoken and written. At the core the focus is on pride. National pride, racial pride, etc. Is rejecting members of our society as ‘not our culture’ really something we should be proud of? The problem is, once again, the belief that culture can be dictated. You cannot dictate culture any more than you can dictate skin colour. Often we are lectured about the evils of ‘western culture’, as though by being geographically east we are automatically better people. Cultural synthesis should be the objective - true integration between individual and culture. By that I don’t mean platitudes like ‘take what’s good and discard what’s bad’. Words like ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘immoral’, ‘sin’–these oversimplify the discussion and don’t add anything to the conversation. Pork is immoral to some, delicious to others, meh to others still. There is no binary in these things, only shades of white. There are countless cultures, each composed of minute variations and strata of qualities and behaviour. We as individuals are similarly varied. There are six and a half billion of us, 27 million if you want to stay local. There is no such thing as one culture for all, and thinking that there should be is at best arrogant and at worst fascist. We in the arts have a role to play. We must open people to as many shades of culture as possible. If we show even one person that they are accepted, that they are not unwanteds to be cast aside, we reject the power cultural dictators have over us and say to them ‘This is not your life. You have no right.’ Calvin Wong was born a straight male and thinks life still manages to be plenty interesting. He can be reached at sigma83@gmail.com Aktiviti Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN) Mei 2011 BIL PROGRAM/AKTIVITI 1. Konsert Jelajah IPTA/S Koir Kebangsaan ‘In Love With Peace’ 2. Pesta Durian Perak TARIKH 7 Mei 7–8 Mei TEMPAT TALIAN PERHUBUNGAN Universiti Malaya Kuala Lumpur En. Wan Din Wan Mohd / Cik Doria Victoria Janiur Bahagian Pengembangan Seni JKKN Tel: 03 - 2052 3600 (Sbgn 3747 / 3648) Web: www.jkkn.gov.my Dataran Bukit Gantang Perak Jabatan Kebudayaan Dan Kesenian Negara Perak Taman Budaya Negeri Perak Lot 20561@ 20565, Jalan Cardwell, Off Jalan Raja Di Hilir, 30350 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan Tel: 05 - 253 7001 3. Kembara Berakit Antarabangsa Sg. Pahang 8–14 Mei Sg. Pahang (Bermula Dr Temerloh/ Berakhir Di Pekan) Jabatan Kebudayaan Dan Kesenian Negara Pahang Taman Budaya Negeri Pahang Lot 57100, Jalan Tok Sisek, 25000 Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur Tel: 09 - 517 8466 4. Konsert Koir ‘In Love With Peace’ Jelajah Ipta/Ipts 5. Festival Seni Gunung Ledang 13–15 Mei 6. Sidang Media Rakan Penganjur KL Fest 2011 18 Mei Pms Gotong Royong 1Malaysia 21 Mei 7. 13 Mei Semarak Bangsawan: Mastika Bumi oleh USM 20–22 Mei 9. Bengkel Tatarias Seni Pementasan 21–22 Mei 10. Kuliah Budaya 4: Industri Kreatif Di Malaysia 11. Arts In The Park 12. Perhimpunan Silat Nasional 8. Faks: 05 - 241 7017 Faks: 09 - 517 9466 UKM, Bangi En. Wan Din Wan Mohd / Cik Doria Victoria Janiur Bahagian Pengembangan Seni JKKN Tel: 03 - 2052 3600 (Sbgn 3747 / 3648) Web: www.jkkn.gov.my Dataran Lapang, Gunung Ladang Resort, Tangkak, Ledang, Johor Jabatan Kebudayaan Dan Kesenian Negara Johor Ruang 5 & 6 Tingkat 13 Bangunan Komtar Peti Surat 223, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim Tel: 07 - 224 8270 Faks: 07 - 223 9413 07 - 223 1249 Restoran Berputar, Menara Kuala Lumpur Cik Ezlina Alias Cawangan Komunikasi Korporat JKKN Tel: 03 - 2052 3600 (Sbgn 3702) Web: www.jkkn.gov.my En. Ghazali Bidin Bahagian Pengembangan Budaya JKKN Tel: 03 - 2052 3600 (Sbgn 3640 / 3702) Web: www.jkkn.gov.my En. Shahrizal Abdan Bahagian Pengembangan Seni JKKN Tel: 03 - 2052 3600 (Sbgn 3646 / 3702) Web: www.jkkn.gov.my Kuala Lumpur Panggung Bandaraya DBKL Kuching, Sarawak Puan Aishah Bee Bahagian Pembangunan Produk Seni Budaya JKKN Tel: 03 - 2052 3600 (Sbgn 3738 / 3702) Web: www.jkkn.gov.my Dewan JKKN, Tingkat 24 En. Nik Muhamad Faiszulikwan Bahagian Penyelidikan dan Pembangunan JKKN Tel: 03 - 2052 3600 (Sbgn 3621 / 3702) Web: www.jkkn.gov.my 28 Mei Taman Tasik Perdana En. Hasryn Izzuddin Mohd Kairi Bahagian Pembangunan Produk Seni Budaya JKKN Tel: 03 - 2052 3600 (Sbgn 3627 / 3702) Web: www.jkkn.gov.my 29 Mei Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur En. Wan Din Wan Mohd / Cik Doria Victoria Janiur Bahagian Pengembangan Seni JKKN Tel: 03 - 2052 3600 (Sbgn 3747 / 3648) Web: www.jkkn.gov.my 24 Mei 7 Untuk keterangan lanjut layari www.jkkn.gov.my atau hubungi Cawangan Komunikasi Korporat di talian 03-2052 3600 sbgn 3702 The Year In View 2011 The following is a listing of all shows held and to be held at klpac and The Actors Studio@Lot 10 for the year. All details are correct at press time but are subject to change. Details will be updated in the next edition as changes become apparent. january SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER ME PTAS D5–16 Jan VTAS @ Lot 10 Written by Frank McGuinness Directed by Joe Hasham OAM AKASHA ALBUM LAUNCH CONCERT P Akasha D8 Jan @ 8.30pm VPentas 1, klpac 18TH FLOOR PNew Era College D14–16 Jan VPentas 2, klpac MODEL CITIZENS Pklpac & The Necessary Stage (Singapore) D19–22 Jan VPentas 2, klpac YOSHIDA BROTHERS PTAS & JFKL D21–23 Jan VTAS @ Lot 10 klpac OPEN DAY 2011 Pklpac D23 Jan VAll around klpac (indoor & outdoor) SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER ME PTAS D27–30 Jan VPlay Den, The Arts House (Singapore) MUSIC OF THE HEART PIMelody Music & Arts D30 Jan VTAS @ Lot 10 february THE PLATFORM Pklpac D7 Feb VIndicine, klpac WORLD’S BEST MOVIES PTAS D12 (Shadow Kill), 19 (Charulata), 26 Feb (Floating Weeds) VIndicine, klpac PAUL LOOSLEY’S SHAKESPEARE ON FILM SEASON 5 Pklpac D13 (Romeo & Juliet) & 20 Feb (Richard III) VIndicine, klpac LIFE SDN. BHD. 6: ABUSE PTAS Teater Rakyat D22–27 Feb VTAS @ Lot 10 Directed by Dato’ Faridah Merican DREAM OF TIME PThe Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur & TAS D20 Feb–13 Mar VPentas 2 Foyer, klpac Costume exhibition by Shingo Tokihiro march 8 THIS CANNOT, THAT CANNOT PTAS D2–6 Mar VPentas 2, klpac PAUL LOOSLEY’S SHAKESPEARE ON FILM SEASON 5 Pklpac D6 (Taming of the Shrew) & 13 Mar (Antony and Cleopatra) VIndicine, klpac LAND OF GODS & SHADOWS Pklpac & Shalini Ganendra Fine Arts D9–29 May @ 10am–10pm VPentas 2 foyer, klpac TFree admission Legend P D V T Produced by Dates & Times Venue Ticket Prices Oddisi Stirred PSutra Dance Theatre D6–10 Apr VPentas 1, klpac THE PLATFORM Pklpac D7 Mar @ 8.30pm VIndicine, klpac FANTASTIKAL STRINGS Pklpac D9–10 Apr VPentas 2 Featuring the klpac Strings Ensemble Conduct by Dr. Takahisa Ota Butterfly Lovers PNyoba Kan D10–12 Mar VThe Actors Studio @ Lot 10 DE TODO COMO EN BOTICA Pklpac & Martanoemi Noreiga D11–24 Apr VLobby The Last Five Years Pklpac D10–20 Mar VPentas 2, klpac Written by Jason Robert Brown Directed by Christopher Ling ICOM CELEBRATION SERIES: TRIBUTE TO DISNEY PICOM & klpac D14–15 Apr VPentas 1 everyone has hope PTaylor’s College D14–27 Mar VPentas 2 Foyer, klpac Short Eyes PThe Actors Studio Teater Rakyat & Rumah Anak Teater D16–20 Mar VTAS @ lot 10 I Am Not My Pimples Pklpac D24–27 Mar VPentas 2, klpac Written & Directed by Mark Beau de Silva, Asst. Director: Ceci Yong FUSED PThe Actors Studio D22 Mar (singer-songwriters), 23 Mar (WaMM film screening), 24 Mar (Baca), 25 Mar (Comedy Hour) & 26 Mar (DanceBox) VThe Actors Studio @ Lot 10 Nobby & Friends in Julliad Musicland PJulliad Music School of Performing Arts D26–27 Mar VPentas 1, klpac NightLife Creatures Pklpac D30 Mar–3 Apr VPentas 2 Written by Yoichi Kobiyama Directed by Kimmy Kiew april The Platform Pklpac D4 Apr VIndicine, klpac indicinelive!–episode 3 Pklpac D6–17 Apr Vindicine, klpac Directed by Kelvin Wong Madu II PTAS Teater Rakyat D6–10 Apr VTAS @ Lot 10 TWO PDua Space Dance Theatre D14–17 Apr VPentas 2 WORLD’S BEST MOVIES PTAS D18 (The Go Master), 19 (Pickpocket), 25 (Juliet of the Spirits), & 26 (Pather Panchali) @ 8pm VIndicine, klpac ISLAMAFOBIA-TAKUT ISLAM PSerious Comedy Studio D20–24 Apr VPentas 2, klpac BODIES ACROSS BOUNDARIES PRimbun Dahan D22–24 Apr VTAS @ Lot 10 Love Journey 2 Pklpac D27 Apr–1 May VPentas 2 Featuring Michael Veerapen Trio, Joanna Bessey, Junji Delfino & Malik Taufiq. CAIPIFRUTA GO GRAZ, AUSTRIA! PCaipifruta D28–30 Apr VIndicine TRM40 Masterpiece in Motion PSingapore Dance Theatre D29–30 Apr VPentas 1, klpac PIPA TALKS PVivo Experimental Orchestra D30 Apr–1 May VTAS @ Lot 10 BRICKFIELDS STORY 2 PTAS Teater Rakyat D13–17 Apr @ 3pm VTAS @ Lot 10 Written & Directed by Thor Kah Hoong may CABARET PPAN Productions D6–7, 10–14 May @ 8.30pm; 7–8, 14–15 May @ 3pm; VPentas 2, klpac TRM85, RM105, and RM125 FAST, CHEAP AND DIRTY (KHAIRIL M. BAHAR SHOWCASE) PWAMM & The Actors Studio D5 May @ 8.30pm VTAS @ Lot 10 TRM10 min. donation Written by Marsha Norman Paul Loosley’s Shakespeare on Film Season 5 Pklpac D1(Macbeth), 8 (King Lear), 22 (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) & 29 May (The Tempest) @ 3pm VIndicine, klpac TFree admission The Platform Pklpac D2 May @ 8.30pm VIndicine, klpac TFree admission IT’S A GOOD DAY TO GIG! PSoundscape Records & TAS D12–15 MAY V TAS @ Lot 10 Featuring Akta Angkasa & Deepset The Moon speaks for My Heart PDama Orchestra D14–16, 18–22, 25–29 May 2011 @ 8.30pm 15, 22 & 29 May 2011 @ 3pm VPentas 1, klpac TRM60–RM255 BARS & BEDROOM P Electric Mind Projects D19–21 May @ 8.30pm, 22 May @ 8.30pm VTAS @ Lot 10 TRM25 A HISTORY OF FALLING THINGS Pklpac D19–22 May VPentas 2 TRM 23 / RM13 (students & the disabled) Written by James Graham Directed by Christopher Ling Featuring T4YP Ensemble Centhini, Empat Puluh Malam dan Satunya Hujan PAlliance Française de Kuala Lumpur, Embassy of France in Malaysia & The Actors Studio D23 May 2011 @ 8.30pm (Show) & 24 May 2011 @ 8.30pm (Workshop) VTAS @ Lot 10 TShow: RM30 (adults) / RM15 (side seats, student & the disabled) Workshop: RM10 minimum donation PIXIES THE MUSICAL PSimshen de Classic D27–28 May @ 8.00pm, 28–29 May @ 3pm VTAS @ Lot 10 TRM68 (centre) / RM38 (side) LIVE AT THE ACTORS STUDIO: SINGER-SONGWRITER PThe Actors Studio D26–28 May @ 8.30pm VPentas 2, klpac TFree Admission WHITE CRANE SILAT p Nyoba Kan & The Actors Studio D 30 May @ 8.30pm VTAS @ Lot 10 TEntry by minimum donation june WORLD’S BEST MOVIES PTAS D 4, 11, 18 Jun VIndicine, klpac T Entrance by donation of any amount (First come first serve basis) The Platform Pklpac D6 Jun @ 8.30pm VIndicine, klpac TFree admission JOKER DUO PTAS D2–5 Jun VTAS @ Lot 10 Nitya sumangali Pklpac D22–25 Jun @ 8.30pm;26 Jun @ 3pm VPentas 2, klpac TRM 25 / RM15 (students & the disabled) Preview Night (22 Jun) RM13 flat Choreographed by Lex Lakshman Balakrishnan RI YUE CHU YIN PHands Percussion Team D9–11 Jun @ 8.30pm; 11–12 Jun @ 3pm VPentas 1, klpac TRM48 / RM68 / RM88 / RM108 / RM128 ROCK PAPER SCISSORS BY NOORD NEDERLANDSE DANS PLibero Productions Sdn. Bhd. & klpac D 16 & 17 Jun VPentas 1, klpac Rachel Aw-Acts Music & DANCE PRachel Aw D1–5 Jun VPentas 2, klpac FUSED Jun 2011 P TAS D14–18 Jun @ 8.30pm, 19 Jun @ 3pm V TAS @ Lot10 T Minimum donation RM10 A NIGHT OF CANTONESE OPERA PTAS Teater Rakyat D29 Jun–2 Jul V TAS @ Lot 10 july The Platform Pklpac D4 Jul @ 8.30pm VIndicine, klpac TFree admission HSBC Classics opera extravaganza 2011 Pklpac & HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd D6–10 Jul VPentas 1, Pentas 2 & Indicine, klpac TRM20–RM60 SOUNDSCAPE RECORDS PTAS D8–10 Jul VTAS @ Lot 10 indicinelive!–episode 4 Pklpac Vindicine, klpac Directed by Kelvin Wong AIIA IMPROV COMEDY PTAS Teater Rakyat VPentas 2 Heart & Soul Charity Concert PPhilharmonic Society of Selangor VPentas 1, klpac Dancing at Lughnasa PTAS Teater Rakyat D21–23 Jul @ 8.30pm, 24 Jul @ 3pm VTAS @ Lot 10 Written by Brian Friel The Real Inspector Hound Pklpac D28–31 Jul Vindicine, klpac TEntrance by donation Written by Tom Stoppard Directed by Alex Chua Feat. The T4YP Ensemble T4YP Sweatshop Pklpac D30–31 Jul Vindicine, klpac TFree admission Facilitated by Alex Wong Written & Directed by past & present members of the T4YP Ensemble MALAYSIAN COMPOSER CONCERT SERIES Pklpac & UiTM D30–31 Jul VPentas 2 august CausewayExchange PTAS & The Arts House (Singapore) • FOOD, SEX & DEATH D4–7 Aug VTAS @ Lot 10 TRM23 / RM13 (students & the disabled) • TWO-ON-ONE: AN INTERACTIVE THEATRE FESTIVAL D3–7 Aug VPentas 1 & Pentas 2, klpac & TAS @ Lot 10 TEntrance by donation WORLD’S BEST MOVIES PTAS D15–16 & 29–30 Aug VIndicine, klpac UNTITLED PDance Space D17–21 Aug VPentas 1 Farewell, My Concubine PLee Wushu & TAS Teater Rakyat VTAS @ Lot 10 Untitled PBatu Dance Theatre VPentas 1, klpac Untitled PPrickly Pear Ensemble VPentas 2, klpac Hands 1 Concert PHands Percussion Team VPentas 2, klpac september KLPAC ORCHESTRA & SYMPHONIC BAND Pklpac D1–4 Sep VPentas 1 SOUNDSCAPE RECORDS PTAS D9–11 Sep VTAS @ Lot 10 MyDance Festival PMyDance Alliance D5–11 Sep VPentas 1, Pentas 2 & indicine, klpac KUALA LUMPUR CHILDREN’S CHOIR SPOTLIGHT PYoung Choral Academy D16 Sep VIndicine, klpac WORLD’S BEST MOVIES PTAS D17 & 24 Sep V Indicine, klpac SHORT+SWEET Malaysia 2011 PSHORT+SWEET & klpac D21 Sep–30 Oct VPentas 2, klpac Paul Loosley’s Oscar, George & Noel Pklpac D18 & 25 Sep Vindicine, klpac TFree admission Paul Loosley’s Oscar, George & Noel Pklpac D2, 9, 16 & 23 Oct Vindicine, klpac TFree admission MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Pklpac D22–25 Sept VTAS @ Lot 10 TRM23 / RM13 (students & the disabled) Written by William Shakespeare Directed by Christopher Ling Feat. The T4YP Ensemble A NIGHT OF CANTONESE OPERA P TAS Teater Rakyat D15–16 Oct VTAS @ Lot 10 JUST A DREAM-THE GREEN PLAY PSingapore Repertory Theatre D15–25 Sep VPentas 1 UNTITLED PKwangtung Dance Group VPentas 2 CHAO FU KEI LEONG PTAS VTAS @ Lot 10 FUSED PTAS VTAS @ Lot 10 october Empress Wu The Musical PDama Orchestra VPentas 1, klpac KIV: 2 PTAS D7–9 Oct VTAS @ Lot 10 Choreographed by Lakshman Balakrishnan & friends Caught in the Middle PTAS VTAS @ Lot 10 Directed by Thor Kah Hoong UNTITLED PmyPAM VTAS @ Lot 10 LIFE SDN BHD 7 PThe Actors Studio &The UN Refugee Agency VTAS @ Lot 10 november KLPAC SYMPHONIC BAND Pklpac VPentas 1, klpac sOUNDSCAPE RECORDS PTAS VTAS @ Lot 10 UNTITLED PmyPAM VTAS @ Lot 10 KUALA LUMPUR CHILDREN’S CHOIR PYoung Choral Academy D24–27 Nov VTAS @ Lot 10 Kaleidoscope II- Hands Drumming Festival PHand Percussion Team VPentas 1, klpac Let Us Be United in Love PYKLS & TAS Teater Rakyat VTAS @ Lot 10 Nyoba Kan Buto Festival 2011 PNyoba Kan VTAS @ Lot 10 PLATFORM Pklpac VPentas 2 december FUSED PTAS VTAS @ Lot 10 Papadom THE MUSICAL PTAS Teater Rakyat VPentas 1, klpac Directed by Joe Hasham Written by & Starring Afdlin ShaukI UNTITLED PPentas Project VPentas 2 UNTITLED PSham Sunder VPentas 2 UNTITLED PEmbassy of Spain VIndicine, klpac Rumah Terbuka, Muder Mystery PTAS Teater Rakyat VTAS @ Lot 10 Directed by Iedil Putra & Ashraf Zain Written by Shamaine Othman Untitled PCatwoman Productions VPentas 2, klpac Untitled PDua Space VPentas 1, klpac 9 Aku Cinta XXX 2011 Pklpac & ACX Production D27–30 Jul @ 8.30pm (preview) 28–30 Jul @ 8.30pm, 30–31 Jul @ 3pm (show) VTAS @ Lot10 Directed by: Amelia Tan Cast: Ceci Yong, Easee Gan, Jinnie Lim Scenografer: Swing Chong ONGOING PROGRAMMES Speech & Drama Programme Every semester of the Speech and Drama Programme consists of 12 weeks that lead up to a mini-presentation on the last class. Each class will have the various topics covered in varying activities such as Movement and Body, Speech and Voice Work, Ensemble Work, Solo Work, Devised Work,Scripted Work and Popular Literature. Ages: Group A: 7–9 yrs old, Group B: 10–12 yrs old Group C: 13–15 yrs old Day: Saturday or Sunday Course Fee: RM360 per semester Time: Semester 2: 10.30am–1pm Semester 3: 10.30am–1pm Saturday Classes Sem 2: June 18,25 July 2,9,16,23,30 Aug 6,13,20 Sem 3: Oct 1,8,15,22 Nov 12,19,26 Dec 3,10 Rehearsal: Dec 17 Presentation : Dec 18 Sunday Classes Sem 2: June 19,26 July 3,10,17,24,31 Aug 7,14,21 Sem 3: Oct 2,9,16,23 Nov 13,20,27 Dec 4,11 Rehearsal: Dec 17 Presentation : Dec 18 REGISTRATION FOR SEMESTER 2 IS NOW OPEN Fauziah Nawi. Patrick Teoh. Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina. Leslie Dawson. Ramli Hassan. These names have benefited from The Actors Studio Academy’s programme and went on to be successful individuals in their own right. The arts can teach us what lessons in classrooms cannot. Today, The Actors Studio Academy continues to run a whole host of arts courses for children through to adults, for aspiring artistes as well as the average person. Its artsbased corporate training is also highly popular. For further information or to sign up for activities, please contact the Academy at +603 4047 9060 10 a c a d e my @ k l p a c .o r g Preschool Drama Programme Every semester of the Pre-school Programme consists of 10 weeks that lead up to a mini-presentation on the last class. Each class will have the various topics covered in varying activities such as movement and body, speech and voice, group work and working in a team. Age: 3–6 yrs Day: Saturday or Sunday Time: 10am–11am Course Fee: RM250 per semester Saturday Classes Sem 2: June 18,25 July 2,9,16,23,30 Aug 6,13 Rehearsal : Aug 20 Presentation: Aug 21 Sunday Classes Sem 2 : June 19,26 July 3,10,17,24,31 Aug 7,14 Rehearsal : Aug 20 Presentation: Aug 21 Script & Staging for Actors with David Lim In this class, students will learn how to analyze scripts and how to stage/perform them, utilizing an acting technique called Practical Aesthetics. The class is suitable for those with or without formal acting training. It is also a great follow-up for those who have studied the Repetition. Students will be required to attend every class punctually & be prepared to spend a couple of hours a week outside of class on homework/rehearsals. Date: June 11,18,25, July 2, 9,16,23 (Saturdays) Time: 2pm–5.30pm Course fee: RM420* Act the Play, Play the Act–Beginner’s Acting Course with Seng Soo Ming Acting is playing, playing is acting, and the stage we are in, is the playground. This is an acting class for those who are interested, curious, love or hate acting whilst they don’t know what, why, and how exactly acting is happening. Here, we will explore the fun of letting ‘play’ happens. And before that, through basic trainings and games the students will learn how to prepare themselves to play (to act). This course is opened for those with or without acting experience, but experience and ability to play games is necessary. Age range is from 15 year old above. It will be conducted in English and Mandarin. Date: May 12,14,19,21,26 June 9,11,16,18,23 (Thursday & Saturdays) Time: Thu 8.30pm–10.30pm; Sat 2pm–4pm Course fee: RM350* Actor as creator III–from actor to character with Seng Soo Ming This is an acting class explores the process of preparing an actor’s body into ‘readiness’, building the bridge between a ‘person’ and an ‘actor’, then the ‘actor’ and ‘character’. As a continuation from the previous sessions, the students will explore on how to find the character’’s body and voice.The class will be divided into two parts. Those who are interested can either join Part 1 in May or Part 2 in June or can also join both workshops. This class is only suitable for actors with basic training or experience. Actors must attend classes punctually and fully commit with the schedule given. Date: (Sundays & Wednesdays) Part 1: May 15,18,20,25 Part 2: June 8,12,15,19,22,26,29 Time: Sundays (10am–4pm); Wednesdays (7.30pm–10.30pm) Course Fee: Part 1: RM200* Part 2: RM450* Beginners (Saturday, 2pm–4pm) Sem 1: Mar 05,12,26 Apr 02, 09, 16, 23 May 07, 14 Rehearsal: May 27 Showcase: May 28 Sem 2: Jul 02,09,16,23,30 Aug 06,13,20 Sep 10,17 Rehearsal: Sep 24 Showcase: May 25 Advanced (Sunday, 12pm–2pm) Sem 1: Mar 13,27 Apr 10, 24 May 08, 22 June 12,26 Jul 10,24 Sem 2: Aug 07,21 Sep 11,25 Oct 2,9,16,23,30 Nov 13 Rehearsal: Nov 19 Showcase: Nov 20 Course Fee: RM300* per semester Bollywood Dancing For Beginners by Shobana Sahajananan Bollywood dance style incorporates the fusion of Hip Hop, Jazz, Salsa, East Indian Classical, Folk, and Bhangra dance. The combination of the steps will strengthen the dancer’s awareness of music, timing, spacing and precision. The class is casual, informal and a fun way of workout! This workshop will prepare you for professional dance training and troupe performances for stage shows, television, film, corporate events, concerts, wedding reception, private parties, workshops, and social/ public events. Suitable for beginners and those with experience Ages: Children: 4yrs–15yrs; Adults : 16yrs + Date: May 8,15,22,29 June 5,12,19,26 July 3,10,17,24 (Sunday) Time: 1pm–2pm (children); 2pm–3pm (adults) Course fee: RM120 per month/ RM350 for 3 months* Introduction To Cantonese Opera with Mdm. Kam Cantonese Opera is a highly respected art form that blends in Chinese legends, music and drama into an exciting performance style, rich in symbolic meanings and beautiful lyrics. This workshop will guide you to focus on vocal techniques such as breathing, tone quality, voice projection and stage presence. This workshop is suitable for those who understands and speaks Cantonese. Ability to read Chinese is not necessary as the approach for class is more on the practical side. Age: 16yrs and above (Max. 16 students) Date: Please Call (3 month duration) Time: 8.30pm–10.30pm Course Fee: RM300* MAY/JUNE SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME Intensive Children's & Teenagers Theatre Programme A 2-week programme for children aged between 3–12 years old. Consists of a series of fun-filled, exploratory, theatre based activities and games to help participants’ self-development by tapping into their creativity. Classes are everyday from Monday to Friday. Classes will be conducted by The Actors Studio Academy@ klpac facilitators Age: Junior: 3–6 yrs old, Middle: 7–12 yrs old Senior: 13–17 yrs old Date: May 30,31 June 1,2,3,6,7,8 Time: Junior:10am–11am (1 hour) Middle:10am–12pm (2 hours) Senior: 10am–12pm (2 hours) Course Fee: Junior: RM200*, Middle: RM250* Senior: RM270* Hip Hop Dance Workshop (Beginners Level) with Coery Sik & Caprice Fong Hip hop dancing is an urban ethnic dance form that has gained popularity nowadays. An ideal way to express your creativity. This workshop will teach you the safe and correct technique of breaking, popping, locking and free styling in hip hop dances. Come and try it yourself! Age: 8–16 yrs Date: June 1,2,3,6,7,8 Time: 12.30pm–2pm Course Fee: RM180* (Early bird discount before 20th of May: RM160*) * Please note an RM50 registration fee is applicable for all classes. The Facilitators Meet the facilitators of the programmes at the Academy. If they seem familiar, that’s probably because you have seen them on stage or on show posters! That’s right, our facilitators are the cream of the crop in the performing arts scene; from experts in speech and drama to award winning choreographers, you will truly learn from the best in the country! Ezanin Mazlan has been always been in love with traditional music since his school years. He graduated from ASWARA with Diploma in Music in 2008, and has participated in many productions in various capacities in ASWARA and elsewhere. Shobana Sahajananan started dancing at the age of four. Trained since young in bharathanatyam, she continues on to pursue oddisi, khatak and mujra and also belly dance. She has been dancing all her life and conducted many workshops and choreographed various events. Madam Kam was born into a family of Cantonese opera artist in Hong Kong. She started her career as a full time opera artist in 1968. She has co-starred with many big names in Hong Kong and is a leading female in Cantonese opera. David Lim is a director, actor, physical performer and choreographer. He trained in acting at the Atlantic Acting School in New York City & also with the faculty of the world renowned Moscow Art Theatre School. A theatre practitioner since 1998 Seng Soo Ming joined the Singaporean Theatre Training & Research Program in 2005 where the experience led him to examine possibilities of bringing together elements of Asian traditional and contemporary theatre in both creative works and training, in order to build a bridge between different cultures. Caprice Fong is very passionate about dancing, she has travelled around several countries to learn the art and the correct technique of hip hop dancing such as at UDC Sydney and with Marty Kedelka (Justin Timberlake’s choreographer). She also choreograph for events and shows. Belly Dance Study Special Belly Dancer Shanaz has danced naturally since childhood, having learned traditional and modern belly dance throughout her life in her original country Algeria, in Morocco and then in France where she perfected her art. She invites her students to connect with the music and dance from their hearts as she visits Malaysia for the 4th time for workshops. You will are sure to delighted by the experience, as Shanaz's choreographies are always much fun! Date : 21 May 2011 Time : 10am–2pm (Intermediates+) 3.00pm–5.30pm (Beginners) Venue : Studio 5, klpac Course Fee: RM200 Each Registration ends 23 April 2011. For bookings and payment details contact shanaz@shanazdanceschool.com or call +852-252525-03 / +852-90141234. For more information please call the Academy and speak to Miss Deda. 11 Traditional Malay Gamelan Workshop By Ezanin Mazlan Noted as the music that is usually played during royal and formal occasions since the 19th century, gamelan music generates rich, sonorous and mesmerizing sounds. Playing the gamelan can inspire selfconfidence, improve co-ordination and listening skills, encourage interaction and team-building and be a great chance to try something new. You are welcome to attend regardless of your musical background -all you need is a desire to learn. May at The Actors Studio@Lot10 & The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre MAY 01 Paul Loosley’s Shakespeare on Film Season 5 1 (Macbeth), 8 (King Lear), 22 (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) & 29 May (The Tempest) @ 3pm at Indicine, klpac. Admission is free. Paul Loosley visits a completely fresh bunch of classic films drawn from the works of The Bard, movies that span the entire history of talking pictures and feature unforgettable iconic portrayals of Will’s greatest characters. Films with daring and scandal; so rare this may be the only chance to see them on a big screen for who knows how long. Roman Polanski’s Macbeth (1971) The graphic violence and the nudity of the crazed Lady Macbeth caused an outcry amongst the public. Many lovers of Shakespeare felt it detracted from the text (which was not exactly faithfully rendered). Others felt it both reflected the grimness of the tale (and the grim real-life murder of Polanski’s wife). Shot mainly in Wales the locations are as wonderfully grim as the events. Starring Jon Finch and Francesca Annis Peter Brook’s King Lear (1971) Almost every major Shakespearean actor has taken on the role of Lear. But here we have an iconic performance that is uniquely steely cold and lacking in sympathy; a man who we are happy to see driven mad. The rain splashed lenses dampen your spirits while the flat, barren look of the more Scandinavian than British location is as unforgiving as the much sinned against English king. Starring Paul Scofield and Cyril Cusak Michael Hoffman’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999)With so many unexpectedly famous faces playing Shakespeare, one could spend the whole of this film simply star-spotting. But, despite their mainstream Hollywood fame, the performers all seem to do surprising justice to The Bard’s comic prose. And they also seem to be having rather a good time. And being reset in gorgeous novecento Italy (rather than ancient Greece), it all looks absolutely fabulous. Starring Kevin Kline and Michelle Pfeiffer 12 Julie Taymor’s The Tempest (2010) Julie Taymor seems to be the most imaginative present-day interpreter of Shakespeare. The images she has created have been both unique and fantastic. Here she changes the gender of Prospero to Prospera the sorceress, and using every modern piece of film magic creates an enchanted isle more spectacular and wondrous than Will could have imagined even in this, his wildest fantasy. Starring Helen Mirren and Djimon Hounsou. MAY 02 The Platform (Play/OpenMic-Session) 2 May @ 8.30pm at Indicine, klpac. Admission is free. klpac’s open-mic session for theatre, The Platform, is back for the third year running with its very first session on 7 February. As with previous years, The Platform takes place on the first Monday of every month at 8.30pm and will end in July. Each month, a whole host of new works and fresh talents will be showcased to the public. Anyone and everyone are welcomed to make a submission and book a slot to perform at The Platform. There is no fee involved to book a slot and there is no entrance fee for the performance as well. The full guidelines are available on www.klpac.org. For further enquiries or to book a slot, please e-mail theplatform@klpac.org. Fast, Cheap And Dirty (Khairil M. Bahar Showcase) 5 May @ 8.30pm at TAS @ Lot 10. Admission by min. donation of RM10 Written by Marsha Norman, the Khairil M.Bahar Showcase features a series of screenings presented by We Are Malaysian Made (WAMM) in collaboration with The Actors Studio @ Lot 10. WAMM intends to launch a series highlighting selected Malaysian Filmmakers and their works throughout 2011. This, “Khairil M. Bahar Showcase” is the first of more to come. Q&A with Director, Cast & Crew for films will be screened that night. There will be screenings of Nicotine, Some Like It White, Ciplak trailer, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Lucky Shot, Healthy Paranoia, Making of Healthy Paranoia, One Night on a Train, Hard Love music video, Bars and Bedrooms trailer. MAY 05 MAY 06 Cabaret (Musical) 6–7, 10–14 May @ 8.30pm, 7–8, 14–15 May @ 3pm at Pentas 2, klpac. Ticket price: RM85, RM105, and RM125 Examining how a nation that was once famed for its liberal and progressive attitude could descend into the conservative and extreme destruction of Nazism, Cabaret raises many social and personal issues that are still very relevant to modern society such as taboo relationships between people from different backgrounds. Cabaret will be one of the most exciting projects of 2011, featuring the same creative team that thrilled audiences with Always in Wonderland? and a host of Malaysia’s top performers and personalities in an exciting re-staging of this iconic musical, premiering for the first time in Malaysia. MAY 09 Land Of Gods & Shadows (Exhibition) 9–29 May @ 10am–10pm at the Pentas 2 foyer, klpac. Admission is Free. Rahman Roslan presents a continuing visual thesis that explores presence and interaction. It is an effort to understand the body and soul of a scene using multiple exposures in multiple frames. The images exhibited were shot during visits to Bali in 2010. Rahman Roslan is a fulltime photojournalist and documentary photographer based in Kuala Lumpur. His work has been published in numerous international media, including wire agencies such as AFP and Reuters. He was recently shortlisted as one of the world’s greatest new documentary photographers by Anthropographia. The exhibition is collaboration between Shalini Ganendra Fine Art’s ART FOR YOU program and klpac, bringing great art to wider audiences. It’s A Good Day To Gig! (Concert) 13 & 14 May 2011 @ 8:30pm at TAS @ Lot 10. Ticket price: RM35 (centre seats), RM25 (side seats), RM15 (stage seats: max. 50 pax) MAY 13 A double bill rock concert featuring Akta Angkasa and Deepset presented by Soundscape Records. MAY 26 The Moon speaks for My Heart (Concert) 14–16, 18–22, 25–29 May 2011 @ 8.30pm, 15, 22 & 29 May 2011 @ 3pm at Pentas 1, klpac. Ticket price: RM60–RM255 MAY 14 MAY 23 MAY 19 Bars & Bedroom 19–21 May @ 8.30pm, 22 May @ 8.30pm at TAS @ Lot 10. Ticket Price RM25. Bars & Bedrooms: a showcase of four intertwined short stories about love, passion and unintended consequences, all of which start in a seedy, back-alley jazz bar where dreams are found and lost. MAY 19 A History Of Falling Things (Play) 19–22 May at Pentas 2, klpac. Ticket PriceRM 23 / RM13 (students & the disabled) “Oh, you do look … really good, though. You know. In the face. Oh and, uh, I love you.” Prisoners of their fear of falling things– keraunothetophobiacs– Jacqui and Robin are restricted to living indoors. When they meet online a relationship begins which forces them to confront their fear and discover what’s real in their lives and what really matters. A History of Falling Things, a new play by the acclaimed young British playwright James Graham, is a gentle love story — fearful, funny and moving. “Graham’s writing has freshness and lightness to it... This is a gentle heart-gladdening love story that’s warmly told.” - The Guardian Written by James Graham, directed by Christopher Ling and featuring T4YP Ensemble As is the case for all Javanese classical literature, The Book of Centhini was sung in fragments, and also danced to the music of a celembung (thirteen double-stringed cythara), a gamblang (xylophone) and a gambus (seven-string lute). In the process of rendering these cantos in French, Elizabeth D. Inandiak constantly sought to preserve their oral origin and ritual character. It is therefore under this song and dance form that she is presenting some excerpts of her version of The Book of Centhini, in collaboration with the great Javanese dancer Didik Nini Thowok. Also includes a Work in progress performance Tafsir Kata Raga Centhini only on the 24th May performance. This is the story of the Mud Pixies, magical beings with great love for nature found deep in the forests, unknown and unseen by humans, wrongly accused of a great crime and banished from their home - Pixieland. Foretold by prophecy, one Pixie will one day rise to right the wrong that has befalled the Pixies. Join her on a journey of self-discovery, friendship, love and the power of BELIEVING.” Pixies the Musical is the creation of Jiaying Gan, who is currently studying at the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing majoring in Conducting. Pixies is staged as part of her bachelor degree’s graduation requirement. MAY 30 White Crane Silat (Contemporary Dance) 30 May @ 8.30pm at TAS @ Lot 10. Entry by donation. Nyoba Kan & The Actors Studio presents a contemporary dance inspired by a fusion of White Crane martial arts and Silat. Presented by Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur, Embassy of France in Malaysia & The Actors Studio Live At The Actors Studio: Singer-Songwriter (Live Recording) 26–28 May @ 8.30pm at Pentas 2, klpac. Free Admission on a first come first serve basis. MAY 26 Be apart of a live studio audience for the recording of the pilot episode of Live at the Actors Studio - an initiative to feature singer songwriters on Malaysian TV. The Actors Studio @ Lot 10 Box Office tel:(03) 2142 2009 (03) 2143 2009 web : www.theactorsstudio.com.my The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) Box Office tel: web : (03) 4047 9000 www.klpac.org 13 Catch Dama Orchestra’s latest concert tribute to the legendary Teresa Teng. Savour the sweet melodious music and songs that made Teng a truly international icon. Be enchanted by the musicianship and voice of the multiple award-wining team of Dama. The concert features Tan Soo Suan, Evelyn Toh, and Chang Fang Chyi; with Liow Swee Keong, Tan Soo Tze, Tan Yon Lynn, Veronica Wong, Chan Sheow Fern, Leslie Cheng, Dorothy Foo, Verhyn Siau, Tan Chay Yueh and Alice Yee. Narration by Sam Tseu in English. Centhini, Empat Puluh Malam dan Satunya Hujan 23 & 24 Ma y 2011 @ 8.30pm (WIP performance only on 24 May) at TAS @ Lot 10. Ticket Price: RM30 (adults) / RM15 (side seats, students & the disabled) Pixies The Musical (Children's Musical) 27–28 May @ 8pm; 28–29 May @ 3.00pm at TAS @ Lot 10. Ticket price: RM68 (centre seats), RM38 (side seats) Faridah’s Reflections klpac's young directors' season for 2011 got off to a very positive beginning with Chris Ling's The Last 5 Years featuring the lovely Tabitha Kong and Jon Chew. Taby and Jon were last seen in Adam the Musical in 2010 presented by The Actors Studio at Lot 10. This is what Nick Choo had to say of The Last 5 Years in the March 25 issue of the Selangor Times: "All in all, The Last 5 Years was a plus for Malaysia's musical theatre scene: an intimate Broadway show performed with skill and care by two young performers; which managed to move and entertain, and which, presumably, would have struck a chord with theatre-goers due to its universal themes of life, love and heartbreak" If you missed it, perhaps you can catch it at penangpac early 2012 :) Mark Beau followed closely with I'm Not My Pimples. Of late this prolific and extremely hard working writer has fallen in love with plays in Hokkien. Not surprising as Hokkien is his mother tongue! Read what this first time audience member of a Hokkien play had to say about his experience: 14 "... one thing I must highlight here is how great the acting skills of all the actors are, especially Amelia Tan. It was simply jaw-dropping! They grasped all the attention and left you with no room to breathe from scene to scene. I can still clearly recall the scene when Ah Choo had a fight with her mother where tears were rolling in their eyes and the tension in the theatre was raised to the maximum." Thank you Mark for your bold no-holdsbarred script and great casting. Kimmy Kiew decided to test our grey matter with a thinking man's Mandarin -translated Japanese play Nightlife Creatures. She took it upon herself to handle a large cast complete with extra turns et al. Kimmy's good heart spurred on a donation exercise to collect money for the Japan Disaster fund via this Japanese play. Thank you Kimmy for your kindness. As I write this I am privy to the rehearsals of Kelvin Wong's IndicineLive! Episode 3, which opened on April 6th for 11 shows at the Indicine at klpac. Judging from the sounds reverberating through the floors and walls, IndicineLive! should be a sell-out success. If you want to laugh at yourself, at being Malaysian, in the true sense of the word, see IndicineLive!. If you missed it yet again, you can see snippets performed live at IndicineLive! does Delicious, on until the 16th of May (Ed: More details on Facebook) or catch episode 4 when it comes by. And The Actors Studio@Lot 10 welcomed once again Alfian Saat's Madu II, a directorial debut of U-En Ng, and deftly acted by Azean Irdawaty's two talented actors Elza and Inez. This is what Malaysia.com had to say about it: Alfian Sa’at’s tale is indeed interesting, and Elza and Inessa have managed to bring it to another level. Perhaps it is true that only a woman can truly understand another woman’s plight, and these two young actresses deserve praise, not only for their brilliant performance, but also for shedding some light into the female psyche–the quiet strength they show as they suffer in silence, their unwavering loyalty to the one they love, and most of all, their ability to believe and hope, even when facing their worst nightmares. I hope you saw that one. In case you did not know, RTM turned 65 on APRIL 1st! I'm proud to say I have been there since my teens in the late 50s! Happy Birthday RTM. May you have many, many more. Faridah Merican is the Executive Producer and Co-Founder of The Actors Studio (Malaysia) and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre. Despite her hectic schedule, she takes pleasure in slowing down and appreciating each of life's milestones.