SHOW :- Drama: Going North

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), presents Dato' Syed Alwi's Going North.

The story will bring us back in time to the days of British Malaya, specifically to 1948, when a "state of emergency" was declared to meet the threats of Communist rebels.

At a small town railway station on the west coast, a young university student waits to take the train going north. He encounters an elderly man. In the meeting of a young mind and an old experience, the student is posed to resolve a dilemma.

In the ensuing development, the student loses his perspective and lives through a frantic experience before he can take the train going north.

The story was first written by Dato' Syed Alwi 1949 / 1950 for his school magazine. It was re-written as a stage drama while he was studying in Minneapolis in 1955. Going North has since been produced as a radio play and TV drama. However, this is the premier staging of this original play in English!

Executive Producer & Director: Dato' Faridah Merican Artistic Director: Joe Hasham Production Design: Arica Chia Cast: Fahmi Fadzil, Zaibo, Ari Ratos, Ras Alita Radzi, Ghaz Abu Bakar and Michael Chen

Date: 9 - 11 February 2006 @ 8.30PM 12 February 2006 @ 3PM Price: RM30 (adults) & RM20 (students, disabled & senior citizens)

For details of shows at The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, kindly visit : www.klpac.com

SHOW :- January Low performing at Sutra

Jan Low's sms message :

Gong Xi Fa chai! I'll be performing in Sutra at 8:30 on 10, 11, 12 Feb. Tix are 30 bucks. We are doing the recent india tour program. Call me for tix - January Low.

Detailed below information re: Sutra

SUTRA DANCE THEATRE MALAYSIA

Sutra Dance Theatre was established to promote public awareness in Theatre & Arts, in both the traditional and contemporary, as a powerful medium of the performing arts through the creation of a strong original Malaysian repertoire. To establish a dynamic school of Dance by imparting training in the traditional, classical and contemporary techniques. To act as an avenue for outstanding local and international artists and groups. To train a professional and creative staff in the areas of lighting, stage management, theatre production and administration To collaborate with Malaysian and overseas theatre makers in the areas of costume and set design, script and music, in the creation of Malaysian works.

Sutra Dance Theatre 12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3 53200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysiatel: 603-421 1092 fax: 603-423 2548

SHOW :- English Comedy: Harith Iskander’s…

BUT THAT’S ANOTHER STORY , AGAIN!

Yes, Harith Iskander is having his restage of "BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY,AGAIN!". The reason there is an ‘again’ at the end of the sentence is because this is actually the second run of this performance; the first aptly titled Harith Iskander’s “… but that’s another story.” was held in the month of July 2005 at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center.

Did you go and see it? … No? … What? … You didn’t even know it was on??? … well, that’s why he's am doing it …. Again! It’s for all of those people (i.e. most of you) who missed the first round and asked for it again.
Hear about his past achievements and past history - and why he is glad that he left the job as an audio/visual producer in an advertising agency...

Date: 1 – 4 February 2006 @ 8.30PM1 & 5 February 2006 @ 3PM Price: RM 37/52 50% for students and Sr. Citizens.

for further information of shows at The Actors Studio Bangsar please visit: www.theactorsstudio.com.my

Learning the ropes... Working Underground!

Working underground at Plaza Putra was fun. The 'makan' stalls, the restaurant, the cineplex, Dama House, the shoe shop, the men's tailor shop, the souvenir shop, tourist centre and The Actors Studio attracted a unique blend of people there. All walks of life wandering around - theatre personalities, lawyers, people working in the nearby buildings, people within the complex, Bangladesh workers, the kaki-lepaks, tourist from Malaysia and also from all over the world, not to mention the whole lot of people who come when there are events at Dataran Merdeka - all congregating at the underground complex.

Meeting parents of the children who come for classes. Managed to foster great relationship with some. It was a cozy environment. Some are still in touch which is really great.

Meeting Malaysian celebrities who come to the academy to teach or rehearse. Normally I'd say a quick hello and stay away for I didn't know what to expect. (A lot of them turned out to be beautiful human beings - as I got to know them later.)

Meeting the Kelab Shashin Fotografi members on Tuesdays when they come for their meetings. Saying hello and slowly venturing to know more about the club and its members. You'd be amazed with the photographs that these people take. Being our friends for so long - they have taken so many wonderful shots of the theatre performances held at The Actors Studio. Those interested in theatre photography and are committed should join this group.

The Gamelan club members who come to teach our students on Saturdays. Hearing the melodious sounds wafting in that space was heavenly.

We used to rent the space as a rehearsal space as well and I remember the time Hardesh and his 'gang' used the space and were singing such great songs (home-made!). I felt fortunate to be in the middle of all the creative and talented people.

Some classes that we not held at Plaza Putra were The Young KL Singers and our Musical Theatre programme for children. They were at The Actors Studio @ BSC. So it meant me going over there to do my 'chettiar' job (collection of fees) and sometimes recruit young people to assist me.

One of the best features of being in Plaza Putra was it housed The Actors Studio Bookshoppe. The best carrot cake and brownie at an affordable price. The hot coffee, the warm tuna sandwich and loads of books. A collection of great reference books gave the place a wonderful charm. The host of people who had worked there - the personalities each very unique. The host of cockroachs that had made that place their home.

I became a part of all these - the theatre, the black-box, the academy, the bookshoppe - The Actors Studio. One minute you are needed here and another minute you are needed there. You are at one place yet you are exposed to so many great things in different ways. This was the beginning of my involvement in the arts...

nala n arts... to begin at the begining

Out of a job, i happen to walk past The Actors Studio Academy. There was a sign on the door that said Administrator Wanted. I have always wanted to work at The Actors Studio (when I had saved enough money and retired) and there was this opportunity, right in front of me.

I applied and the next day Faridah Merican calls me. I was in bed and the moment she introduced herself, I jumped out of bed in joy. The Faridah Merican called me. We had a rather hilarious conversation - she liked the fact that I was old (matured actually) and didn't have a boyfriend!.

Then I told her that she might know me from Ogilvy & Mather and from our yoga classes. Anyway, I get myself to The Actors Studio Academy. There it was the sign on the door. I knocked, Faridah asked me to enter and there she was with Joe Hasham. She looks at me and says, "Nala?" I nod. Then she says "Ah! I know you. You got the job!"

I've been working with her since and I want to share the wonderful experiences that I have had supporting Malaysian theatre..

Enjoy.