Theatre Workshop for Cancerlink

1st workshop (Expressions)

Each time my boss, Dato’ Faridah Merican, says, “Nala, I’ve volunteered you for this project!” instead of going ‘oh no, here we go again..’ I jump for joy. Only because I know that she would put me in a marvellous project.

This time it was working with youth from Cancerlink Foundation on their ‘Seri Endon Victory Ventures’ Camp.

You would have read about my mis-adventures above – and I managed to get to Swiss-Garden Golf Resort & Spa on time for Dinner and saw this whole bunch of youth and adults, mostly in raffia-string skirts. The youth who got there in the afternoon – rehearsed a couple of Mauri songs and dances as their Welcome Gambit.

I was supposed to do some theatre games for them but looking at how tired they were – decided on going through a relaxation exercise to relax and energise their bodies. Most of them did respond well while some were very shy to lie down on the floor. Anyway – we were all tired and got ready for action the next day.

The Foundation had organised 3 concurrent workshop whereby a very distinguished Mrs Nora Lam (who came from Johor) was to do a workshop on Career Development; a very handsome Dr. Alvin, on Relationships – Friends & Frienships; and me a Drama workshop.

2nd workshop (Movement)

I wanted to introduce the youth on different aspects and my 1st workshop was on Appearance / Expressions. I had Ikan Talapia group with Adrian (17), Al-Sidiq (17), Nurul Ain (20), Andy Khoo (23), Siti Sopinah (20), Kushalini (20 – this girl is studying to be a doctor.), Kah Ho (26) and Ikan Kerisi group with Adam Lim (21), Thayaananthan (17), Yap Poh Mei (21), Shah (20), Irsalina (20), Siti Nurfairuz (20).

After a quick warm-up with Follow-the –leader, and some theatre games, we went on to do Appearance. It was so much of fun as they were trying to get into the feeling. Then I got them to tell me of things that make them happy, sad, angry and excited. (This was a very interesting session for me as I got to know them better and a lot about how they feel. It’s a shame – I could not have the same session with the rest of them) The second time around when we did the expressions – we had achieved much more.

Next workshop – Movement. Ikan Yu group with Sri Rovinia Devi (17), Lai Yan Yin (20), M. Hariz (19), Siddiq Firdaus (20), M. Nazri (16), Masrina (20) and Ikan Kembong members, Naizatul (19), Tengku Nazri (17), Vasanthi (22), Mardila (23), M Afifi (16). After the usual warm-ups and games, the group was to experiment with different types of movements, levels, emotions and environment.

3rd workshop (Improvs)

Third workshop with Ikan Todak and Ikan Tenggiri repectively; Famiza (19), Nur Mashitah (20), Chiong Yen (16), A. Naderin (16); Siti Hajar (19), Zamri (23), Ah Lian (19), Nur Atiqah (18), Kugan (17) and Muhd aim (20+). All the participants were in stitches after each improv. They were very creative and in one of the skits, one of them had died of accident and it was really funny the way the 'family' dealt with the death. It is indeed interesting to see how these young people deal with death which is very much a part of their life.

My sincere thanks to each and every one of you - for more than helping you with the workshop, you had helped me to see differently. It is admirable, how you fight every day of your life and keep hope and faith alive. Thank you.