“Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead/ 15 Minute Hamlet” at KLPac

KLPac Presents

ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD/15 MINUTE HAMLET

Two sides of the same “Hamlet”!

After a hugely successful inaugural season, klpac's Theatre for Young People (T4YP) is entering its 2nd year. The 2009 season is sponsored by YTL Corporation.

Armed with an all-new ensemble, Chris Ling is taking on one of Tom Stoppard's most famous works – “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead”. The first fully-staged production of the season will feature all fifteen members of the newly-formed ensemble.

SYNOPSIS
Tom Stoppard's “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” is a hilarious comedy that centres on two bewildered minor characters from Shakespeare's tragic tale of Hamlet. They are thrust centre stage and given the chance to finally take lead roles in this fabulously inventive take on Hamlet. But Rosencrantz and Guildenstern do so in a world where reality and illusion intermingle, and where fate leads our two heroes to a tragic but inevitable end. Unaware of the roles in the much bigger picture of Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern get themselves into hilarious situations. Although the play is primarily a comedy, they constantly stumble upon philosophical truths in the midst of the ludicrous ramblings.

As an opening, be entertained with a humorous crash course on Shakespeare’s works. A pre-show appetizer entitled The Fifteen-Minute Hamlet directed by Nicole-Ann Thomas will be in play. This blitz version of Hamlet by Tom Stoppard brings together all the famous lines and scenes from the play.

Join the T4YP troupe on their first venture on stage as they bring you the misadventures and funny anecdotes of these characters.

Cast:
AYUNNI BT AYUB, BELINDA HON, DINESH KUMAR MAGANATHAN, GREGORY SZE, ISABELL ZUBINSHA, IZMIR HADI HUSEIN, MICHAEL TAN, NABIHAN YAACOB, NICK DORIAN, NUR HIDAYA ZAKUAN, PRIYADASHINI MAGANATHAN, RACHEL DARSHINI HENRY, REBEKAH ALEXANDRA DE SILVA, SALLY ANN CHAN, TUNG JIT YANG & SEAN YAP WITH GUEST APPEARANCE BY OLIVER PETERS (T4YP 2008)

“THE FIFTEEN-MINUTE HAMLET”
Director: NICOLE-ANN THOMAS

“ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD”
Director: CHRISTOPHER LING

Artistic Director: JOE HASHAM
Executive Producer : DATO' FARIDAH MERICAN

Date & Time:
18 – 20 JUNE 2009 @ 8:30 PM
20 – 21 JUNE 2009 @ 3:00PM

Venue:
PENTAS 2, THE KUALA LUMPUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (KLPac)

Ticket:
RM 25
RM 15 (students with student id card, sr. citizens & disabled)

Box Office:(KLPac) 4047 9000

Venue Website: http://www.klpac.com/

Facebook Event link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112105306674

Weekend Happenings: 13 – 14 June 2009

I was suppose to put up a weekend write up for the weekend of 6-7th June but considering it was a travel weekend, I’ve decided to put up my usual travelogue entries for the trip later this week.

This past weekend was my weekend to go home to the family house in Selayang for this month. This was part of the deal that I made with my parents when I told them that I wanted to move out of the house and live on my own after I returned from the States. Up to that point, I have practically lived on my own and they were concerned that I would drift away from the family once I moved out of the house. To assuage their fears of that happening, I promised them that I would make it a point to return back to the family house at least once a month which I have kept this past 14 years since I last lived under their roof.

The monthly trips back home also meant that I get to catch up with the latest happenings in the family. Other than the usual news of my siblings, the latest news is that my mother is finally going to retire from her current employment which I do think is about time. Given the person that she is, she already has some other part time jobs lined up to keep her occupied after her retirement at the end of the month.

An item to note during the weekend was that I finally got a chance to learn how to make my mum’s version of the Fish Assam Pedas. Next to my favorite Javanese Sambal Goreng, this dish is the one that would always remind me of home. Knowing how to make it is one of the rites of passage that my sisters had to go through growing up. It was always expected, by my mum at least, that any females joining the family through marriage would know how to make the dish. Since the possibility of that happening for me is slim, I had to learn how to cook it myself so I could have it whenever I feel like having it.

It turned out much easier to make then I expected. I’ve always been ignorant of what goes into the Assam Pedas dish but now that I know, I know that the special taste/memories of it comes from the fact that it was home cooked. Like the dodol, this dish is another link to my family’s past and could be something that would define me as a member of the family. I’ve already been challenged by my sisters to an Assam Pedas cook off to decide whose Assam Pedas dish was better. I think I have to try it out for a few more times before I take up that challenge.

Weekends with the family have always been kind of strange. On one hand, I feel like I going to the motions to fulfill my obligations to the promise that I made but then I realize that these visits help renew family bonds for me. Being so used to living on my own, I sometimes need to be reminded of this least I feel myself drifting away from my family. I’m glad that I made that promise and have been able to stick to it all these years.

“Mak Yong Titis Sakti" at KLPac

The Actors Studio Teater Rakyat & KLPac Presents

Mak Yong Titis Sakti
Shakespeare with a uniquely Malaysian twist!

SYNOPSIS
If you haven't watched a Mak Yong performance before, then you have to catch Mak Yong TITIS SAKTI.

Mak Yong is uniquely Malaysian traditional form of dance drama. You can't find something similar in the entire Southeast Asian region that brings together this lovely fusion of dance, drama, music, romance & comedy - yes, it's funny!

Inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, snippets of the love stories have been adapted for Mak Yong. If you've read the text, you'll see glimpses of certain characters from the classic but the staging itself stays true to the style of Mak Yong.

It's basically a light-hearted romance comedy. Three couples faced with three different predicaments. And because supernatural powers & fairy tales exist in a Mak Yong performance, the magical Bunga Sakti comes into play & this set of a series of unpredictable events.

The show will be performed in B.M. but you'll have access to scene-by-scene descriptions in English. We'll also put up an intriguing exhibition on Mak Yong @ the foyer.

Cast:

ZAMZURIAH ZAHARI, ASRULFAIZAL, ROSDEEN SUBOH, TISHA ZARINA ZAINAL, ASHAFIQAH ABD AZIZ, SHAHANAROS SHAHRUDDIN, NUR AMEERA RAMLI, ELZA IRDALYNNA, ZALIKA NADIA ZULKIFLI, MOHD KAMARULZAMAN TAIB, SITI FARAH ABDULLAH SAFIA HANIFAH, LORNA HOONG, NUR SHAFINAZ HAMIDON, SITI AINNUR BT. KAMARUDIN & NURUL SYAWAL MOHAMED ZAIN

Adapted by: NORZIZI ZULKIFLI & NAN MEGAT

Director: NORZIZI ZULKIFLI

Music Director: KAMRUL HUSSIN

Choreographer: ZAMZURIAH ZAHARI

Set Designer: BAYU UTOMO RADJIKIN

Costume Designer: NUR AFIFI MOHAMED TAIB

Lighting Designer: SANDEE CHEW

Date & Time:
3 JUNE 2009 @ 8:30 PM (Preview Night)
4 – 6 JUNE 2009 @ 8:30 PM
7 JUNE 2009 @ 3:00PM

Venue:
PENTAS 2, THE KUALA LUMPUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (KLPac)

Ticket:
RM 10 (Preview Night only)
RM 35
RM 18 (students with student id card, sr. citizens & disabled)

Box Office:
(KLPac) 4047 9000

Venue Website: http://www.klpac.com/

Facebook Event link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=74156964631

Weekend Happenings: 30 – 31 May 2009

My blog has been in a sad neglected state of late and I have myself to blame for it. I guess that as time goes by, the need to blog has somewhat diminished especially when I don’t really have a particular item to blog about. Aside from the occasional KLPac entries about the shows that were being staged on that particular week or the occasional write ups of trips that I’ve been on, I have not really made any effort to document anything else on the blog. I hope to change this as not only did I start this blog to help me document my memorable moments but I also started this blog to force myself to write creatively instead of the usual dry stuff that I have to write at work. This creative outlet is definitely something that would be therapeutic after the long day’s work.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to start a new habit of doing a Monday morning write up of the events of the past weekend. I know that this has been done before by other bloggers and some would deride me as just following the pack but at least I’m writing something. Hopefully this will be somewhat of a regular feature from this week onwards. So to start …

Saturday was spent in anticipation of a birthday dinner gathering that has been planned weeks in advance. Unlike the usual dinner, birthday cake and presents opening, it was decided that this gathering will have a theme and people would have to show up dressed for the theme. Suffice to say that the theme was not something that we get to do all that often and it was definitely interesting to see what ideas people came up with when they came. Being the person that I am, I’ve obviously have prepared what I was going to wear weeks ago. It was not a very difficult choice for me to decide what to wear since I’ve always wanted to get the item that I ended up buying. It took me this long to get it as they didn’t have anything in my size in stock before and I didn’t really have an occasion to wear it before.

As usual, Saturday morning was my weekly laundry day. People who know me can easily attest how laundry day is actually a weekend highlight for me. I guess it all comes from the weekly trips that I had to do when I was studying in the States. I always look forward to going down to the laundry room of my apartment and just hide out to read my stack of comic books while doing my laundry. I do actually cherish the Saturday mornings that I get to relax by myself and finish reading a stack of comic books or an actual book while a load of laundry is in the machine. I managed to finish Garth Nix’s “Drowned Wednesday” this time around and have started on the next book in the series.

After laundry was put away, it was just time to get a ride from my friend to head out to our friend’s house for the dinner gathering. It was a great one since not only were most of our friends around but quite a few of them gamely turned up in theme. As customary, countless pictures of everyone were taken, good fun was had and great food was consumed. The birthday boy got his cake and presents at the end of the gathering before we settled in for a multimedia presentation of the pictures taken that night courtesy of the hard work of our group’s photographer. I’m fairly sure that those pictures would turn up in our FB pages in a few days so friends who didn’t get to attend the gathering will get to see them. It was a definitely a great gathering especially when you have your friends around.

The plan as to have a morning breakfast gathering the following day at 8:30am but considering that I didn’t get to bed till after 3am, the chance of me being there for that was next to nil. I decided to catch up with the group later in the day on Sunday for a trip to IKEA. Arriving at IKEA at around 11:30am, one would be forgiven to think that Malaysia was not in any type of recession as the Sunday crowd there was at it max by the time we arrived. After eventually finding a parking space, we proceeded to the IKEA café for brunch which for me meant my favorite meatball dish. I just can’t get enough of those and would definitely get them every time I go there. Too bad they don’t have a delivery service for their food.

I love going to IKEA. Don’t like the crowd so much but being at IKEA is like being in a huge toy store for me. I can’t exactly afford much of the stuff that they sell there but I just love being in furniture shops getting ideas of what to do with the limited space I have at my apartment. I guess that it’s part of my nesting instincts/packrat mentality of wanting to fill up space with stuff regardless if I really need it or not. Fortunately for me that I’ve been good at staying the course and not go on a spending spree every time I go to IKEA. I did however get myself a bedside drawer that I actually did plan to buy earlier and had the added advantage of being quite a steal in terms of prices.

After a return to the IKEA café to replenish all the energy burned walking around in the store, we made a pit stop at the pharmacy and the supermarket for some supplies. It was only around 6pm before I got back and got ready for the rest of the evening. Since I also had a book cabinet that I had bought earlier and was waiting for me to assemble, I decided to get out my tools and indulge in some DIY assembly time. I have to say that I do really find satisfaction in being able to assemble my own furniture instead of getting them done by someone else. The book cabinet assembly was a breeze since it was not the first time for me to assemble one of them but the IKEA drawer assembly took a while to figure out. I had forgotten how cryptic IKEA instruction sheets had become lately and having no experience assembling the set that I bought before too some figuring out.

An hour later, I had both book case and bedside drawers assembled and not a single screw extra or missing. I hope that with both items, I can keep my room more organized since I have my stuff all over the place at the moment. After the excitement of my DYI assembly session, it was time to wind down and watch a bit of TV before going to bed. All in all it was an enjoyable and productive weekend.

“Belacan, Geragok & Other Prawns" at KLPac

KLPac Presents

BELACAN, GERAGOK & OTHER PRAWNS
Two prawns, one history, many stories!

SYNOPSIS
klpac is cooking up a feast with Mark Beau de Silva and Ashraf Zain in "Belacan, Geragok and Other Prawns"!

This all-new play is based on a story revolving around two Malaysians grappling with life and romance with their histories in tow.

Emmanuel de Cruz is part of the recent generation of Portuguese Eurasians who left Ujong Pasir in search of greener pastures. Adam Malik, on the other hand, has never left KL except for a short stint at MCKK.

The recession has hit the shores and Emmanuel subsequently lost his job at the TV station. Follow Adam as he coaches Emmanuel through several mock interviews, resulting in humorous and telling scenes of their relationship and their pasts which will ultimately determine their future.

Created by prolific writer Mark Beau de Silva and actor Ashraf Zain, local audiences were given a sneak preview when the duo appeared in two workshop performances in March. The feedback from the audience was taken into consideration as the two continued to fine tune the script and improve the staging of the play.

Two months later, these very same audience members will have the opportunity to see some of their thoughts and reactions injected into this entertaining treat.

Snappy, fun, and bitchy. Get to know these two prawns of different histories and smells...

Advisory: Recommended for matured audience only

Cast: MARK BEAU DE SILVA, ASHRAF ZAIN

Artistic Director: JOE HASHAM

Date & Time:
27 – 31 MAY 2009 @ 8:30 PM
31 MAY 2009 @ 3:00PM

Venue:
PENTAS 2 , THE KUALA LUMPUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (KLPac)

Ticket:
RM 10 (Preview night on 27th only)
RM 25
RM 15 (students with student id card, sr. citizens & disabled)

Box Office:
(KLPac) 4047 9000

Venue Website: http://www.klpac.com/

Facebook Event link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=72060783534

Another Book Worm Alert!

Haven’t really had time to update the blog lately. Other than the shows that I’ve been going to at KLPac and such, there is nothing really blog worthy to update here. There is something currently in the works but I rather wait a bit before putting any details down. Don’t want to jinx it!

I saw a banner at the nearby Dataran Hamodal building about the “Big Bad Book Sale” that would be starting tomorrow and run until the 18th. From their website (http://www.bigbadwolfbooks.com/), it seems that they are saying that the discounts that they are offering would be deeper than the one that they gave during the last MPH Warehouse Book Sales. Then “Big Bad Book Sale” is being organized by a new company by the name of “Big Bad Wolf Books” which I am not familiar with. A cursory internet search found an email address for the company which might be connected to BookXcess which is one of my favorite surplus book stores in town.

I’m thinking of walking down the street to check the sale out tomorrow and see if there is any gems to be found. If their discounts turn out to be really that low, I would definitely be picking the titles that I’ve held back from buying during the last MPH book sale if they have it. Similar minded book lovers should also do the same when you get a chance to come to the sale.

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=86424504456

(Map to sales venue)

“Bottom Top" returns to KLPac

KLPac Presents

BOTTOM TOP
Be schooled on the difference once again!

SYNOPSIS
“Faridah makes the best out of Bertha, and plays her with grace and aplomb. The result: an energetic and warm character is born, full of love, sympathy, and vitality”
~ Queer crash course by Fred Lim (The Star, StarMag, 30 November) ~

“There was a strong chemistry between Faridah and Mark in the play...The funny script and the talented acting of both Faridah and Mark made Bottom Top a delight”
~ Top Marks for Faridah and Mark by Sharmilla Billot (New Straits Times, Life & Times, 10 December) ~

After awesome reviews and standing ovations last year in both KL and Penang, the talented trio is back for more of your love! Joe Hasham, Dato' Faridah Merican and Mark Beau De Silva are bringing back Bottom Top for all those who missed it last year and also for those who can't get enough! :)

'Bottom Top' is a story about a 52-year-old mother, Bertha, who is about to re-marry. As she prepares the guest list with her son, Melvin, they screen through the people in their lives to invite as guests for the limited 150 seats at the Oversea Restaurant. Secretly, Bertha is trying to find a seating partner, and ultimately a partner for her son Melvin, and suggests various people in her life. Melvin, however, thinks he has better taste.

Follow the two as Bertha remembers her past flings and Melvin educates her on the social construct of his world.

‘Bottom Top’ is a comedy of mother and son, fitting in social roles, and getting it all mixed up.

Cast: DATO’ FARIDAH MERICAN, MARK BEAU DE SILVA

Director: JOE HASHAM

Date & Time:
6 – 9 MAY 2009 @ 8:30 PM
10 MAY 2009 @ 3:00PM (Mother’s Day Special)

Venue:
PENTAS 2 , THE KUALA LUMPUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (KLPac)

Ticket:
RM 25
RM 15 (students with student id card, sr. citizens & disabled)

PROMOTION
* Package Discount – RM5 off if you purchase tickets for both Bottom Top and Belacan Geragok and Other Prawns (27th - 31st May)

* Mother's Day speacial - Bring your Mummy to the show on the 10th of May for free with the purchase of only one adult ticket!

* Promotions are mutually exclusive. Prices and promotions are subject to change without prior notice.

Box Office:
(KLPac) 4047 9000

Venue Website: http://www.klpac.com/

Facebook Event link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=72673588671

“The 100 Words Project" at KLPac

KLPac Presents

T4YP’s “THE 100 WORDS PROJECT”
Poetry or drunken nonsense?

SYNOPSIS
klpac's Theatre for Young People (T4YP) program is back after a hugely successful first season...

And this new lot is not wasting any time at all! Having survived the grueling auditions, all sixteen T4YP members are diving head on into their first project! This year's take on THE 100 WORDS PROJECT will be completely different. With the help of director Chris Ling and writing workshop facilitator Mark Beau de Silva, they've put together a show based on their personal stories. It will feature scenes and monologues written in exactly 100 words each, no more and no less.

The word count may be arbitrary but the motive is not. Funny or serious? Poetry or drunken nonsense? We've got the lot, we suspect!

Be the first to see the T4YP gang in action and look out for more T4YP performances @ KLPac.

Participants/Performers:
AYUNNI BT AYUB, BELINDA HON, DINESH KUMAR MAGANATHAN, GREGORY SZE, ISABELL ZUBINSHA, IZMIR HADI HUSEIN, MICHAEL TAN, NABIHAN YAACOB, NICK DORIAN, NUR HIDAYA ZAKUAN, PRIYADASHINI MAGANATHAN, RACHEL DARSHINI HENRY, REBEKAH ALEXANDRA de SILVA, SALLY ANN CHAN, TUNG JIT YANG & SEAN YAP.

Director: CHRIS LING

Executive Producer: DATO’ FARIDAH MERICAN

Artistic Director: JOE HASHAM

Date & Time:
1 – 2 MAY 2009 @ 8:30 PM
Venue:
INDICINE, THE KUALA LUMPUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (KLPac)

3 MAY 2009 @ 5:00 PM and 7:30PM (special offsite staging)
Venue:
LEVEL 1, LOT 10, BUKIT BINTANG

Ticket:
Free Admission

Box Office:
(KLPac) 4047 9000

Venue Website: http://www.klpac.com/

Facebook Event link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=72877247453

Book Worm Alert!

One of the nicer perks of me moving to the new office in this past month is that I am now close to the area in PJ where several companies usually have their warehouse sales at. One of the warehouse sales that I always look forward to is the one organized by the MPH Distributions which as many would know supply books to the MPH Bookstores in Malaysia. Based on past experience of going to their warehouse sales over the years, they normally would have decent selections and more importantly recently released titles on sale. With that I mind, I’m excited about their warehouse sale that would be starting tomorrow up to the 3rd of May.

(Map to MPH Warehouse Sale location)

For all book lovers, this is a great opportunity for you to stock up on the titles that you have wanted to buy but have delayed the purchase due to the current economic uncertainties. I know I have been postponing my book purchases since I learnt about the book sale in hopes of getting the titles that I want at the sales for a cheaper price. Thanks to my office being just a stone’s throw away from warehouse sale, I would be able to go and browse the books during my lunch break instead of waiting for the weekend when there would indubitably be more people there. Suffice to say, the sale would definitely fall into one of the highlights of my week this week.

I was able to find quite a few treasures for cheap the last time I went to a book sale and will definitely be on the lookout for more of the same this time around. Similar minded book lovers should also do the same when you get a chance to come to the sale.

The Bard at KLPac

The Australian High Commission & KLPac Presents
in conjunction of
Australia Month @ klpac

FROM THE PAGE AND ONTO THE FLOOR
A Shakespearean Showcase

This public theatrical showcase is a culmination of a 3-week Shakespeare workshop "From the Page and onto the Floor", directed by Jeff Kevin and featuring all 15 participants. The works that will be explored include Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.

"From the Page and onto the Floor" was a workshop conducted by Jeff Kevin and targeted at theatre practitioners. The workshop aims to provide a platform for each performer to develop his or her own way of playing Shakespearean roles while respecting the rules and techniques that are necessary for performance.

Jeff Kevin was a fellow of the University of Wollongong in 2004, Head of Music and Drama School at University of Wollongong from 2001 – 2003 and also Acting Associate Dean in 2003. Besides that, Jeff has taught at various other institutions including TAFE and UNSW. His experiences on stage as a performer and off stage as a director are as wide as they are varied. On TV, he is best known for his work in the television series Number 96.

Australia month @ KLPac is presented by The Australian High Commission, Malaysia, and KLPac.

Participants/Performers:

ABDUL QAHAR AQILAH, AZ’FARR BAGINDA, NIKI CHEONG, SANDEE CHEW, MARCUS S. FRIEND, DAVINA GOH, OLIVER JOHANAN, LIM KIEN LEE, LIM SOON HENG, INESSA IRDAYANTY, CHRISTINA OROW, SHAHRIL ABDUL RANI, MALIK TAUFIQ, KELVIN WONG, SYAZLINA YATIM

Date & Time:
24 – 25 APRIL 2009 @ 8:30 PM
25 – 26 APRIL 2009 @ 3:00 PM (Matinee shows)

Venue:
PENTAS 2, THE KUALA LUMPUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (KLPac)

Ticket:
RM 10

Box Office:
(KLPac) 4047 9000

Venue Website: http://www.klpac.com/

Facebook Event link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=68865372876

Singapore Trip '09 – Day 03: Hitting the Malls & Getting Back

Thanks to Air Asia retiming our return flight, we ended up with an extra 2 hours to spend in Singapore before our flight at 7:10pm. Having decided that we would want to try to avoid the evening rush on the MRT to get to Changi Airport, we decided that we would need to make sure that we would be at the MRT heading to the airport by or before 4pm. The plan would give us some time to hit the malls after we check out of the hotel while waiting for our flight. We also had the chance to spend a little more time with our Singaporean host who graciously offered to drive us around town.

Our first stop was at a hawker center opposite the Great World City Mall near the River Valley development area. I have always been fascinated by the hawker food culture and was looking forward to experience it for myself on this trip. Since we arrived quite early, we decided to walk across the street to the mall to browse while the hawkers were setting up for the day. We ended up browsing for books at the Harris Bookstore in the mall which had a book sale on the day that we were there. We didn’t really find anything that caught our attention there but we did end up buying some CDs instead at the That CD Shop store which had a really good selection of CDs.

After our short shopping excursion, we returned to the hawker center where the lunch crowd was just getting started. I had a taste of the local version of the Singapore Rojak that was recommended to me by my parents when I told them I was going there. I have to say that it was quite good especially with the dried squid that they added to the dish. It was also my first time tasting the strange looking century egg which was totally different from the salted duck eggs that I’m more used to. The jelly-like texture of the century egg definitely took a bit to get used to but it was not as salty as I expected it to be.

After my culinary adventure of the day, we proceeded to the Borders bookstore at Wheelock Place near Orchard Road. Having whetted our appetites for books at Harris, we decided to just focus on book shopping for the rest of the day. The Borders at Wheelock was quite big with the expected range of book selections for the bookstore chain. Prices were fairly equivalent to what I could expect to find in KL so I didn’t end up buying much since I already have quite a few books in my to read pile at home. We took a break from book browsing and had some refreshment at the nearby N.Y.D.C Café and Restaurant. It was hard not to be tempted by their line of sinfully delicious chocolate drinks and desserts so we ended up ordering some of them to have there while we rested.

Since my travelling companion was trying to track down a particular book to purchase while we were there, we proceeded to the Kinokuniya bookstore at the nearby Takashimaya Shopping Center in Orchard Road. It felt more crowded than the one that we have in KLCC but I had a great time browsing through their graphic novel section. There were more than a few items there that I would have loved to purchase but I decided to be responsible and defer them when I had more to spare. We didn’t stay long at the book store as they didn’t have the book that my travelling companion was looking for but they did direct us to their branch at Bugis Junction mall which could reserve a copy for us to come and pick up.

We left Orchard Road around 4pm and proceeded to Bugis Junction which was not far from where our hotel was. We thank and said goodbye to our gracious Singapore host there as it would be our last stop before taking the MRT to the airport. We soon made our way through the crowd at Bugis Junction and found the Kinokuniya bookstore fairly quickly as we wanted to make sure that we were at the station before the afternoon rush hour started. After getting the book from the bookstore, we proceeded to the Bugis MRT station to get on the MRT heading towards Tanah Merah station. From there, we had to switch trains and get on the one that serviced the extension line between Tanah Merah station and Changi Airport.

After checking in for our return flight, we went to have an early dinner at the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits fast food chain at the terminal. We choose it since we both can’t remember is we ever seen the chain in Malaysia and it was near where we checked in for our flight. Once we were done with our dinner, we proceeded to the gate where our plane would be taking off and was soon enough on board for the flight back. Other than a little turbulence on the way in thanks to the raining weather, the flight itself was uneventful. We touched down on time at LCCT and continued our journey on to KL Sentral by the Skybus service. We finally reached home at around 10pm after taking a cab from KL Sentral.

Singapore was not quite like what I expected prior to coming on this trip. Having not been able to spend a lot of time outside of the hotel or office in previous visits, I was pleasantly surprised by the architecture that have been restored and incorporated into the more modern surroundings. There was still a lot of charm to be found in the restored neighborhoods despite the proliferation of more modern buildings in Singapore’s skyline. I would definitely like to spend more time next time to walk around and seem more of what they have restored. Having the opportunity to make new friends on this trip was an added bonus and I look forward to see them again the next time we come into town. Fortunately for me, that would not be too long as we already made plans for a return visit in June for the Singapore Arts Festival.

“AIR CON" at KLPac

Instant Cafe Theatre & KLPac Presents

AIR CON

Synopsis:

Chep and Burn are top students in SM Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah, an elite school in Kedah. Burn is the school’s golden boy (Head Prefect, Captain of the Hockey Team) and his best friend Chep is feared and admired by the younger boys for his quick temper and skill on the hockey field. The school is well respected for its strong academic and sports record.

However the discovery of a dead prostitute in the abandoned railway tracks near their school unravels the status quo and we discover a less golden world of bullying, sex crimes and violence. Best friends William and Asif go from innocence to experience as they are caught up in the repercussions of the murder. But who is responsible for the murder and will they be held accountable?

Air Con challenges and interrogates the hypocritical habit of turning youth into scapegoats in times of moral panic. Ultimately, it casts a gentle albeit unflinching gaze at the perilous path of male adolescence, and interrogates the heartbreaking ways in which society often expects boys to become men.

Presented in Bahasa Malaysia (Kedah dialect) and English.
With English Subtitles.
For Mature Audiences.

For more information, please visit the production website at http://www.blogger.com/www.instantcafetheatre.com.

Director: JO KUKATHAS & ZALFIAN FUZI

Writer: SHANON SHAH

Cast:
AMERUL AFFENDI, DARA OTHMAN, FIRDAUS CHE YAHYA, HAZARUL HASNAIN, NICK DAVIS, RYAN LEE BASKARAN & ZAHIRIL ADZIM with NAM RON, CHEW KIN WAH & NA’A MURAD

Date & Time:
15 - 18 APRIL 2009 @ 8:30 PM
18 - 19 APRIL 2009 @ 3:00 PM (Matinee shows)
19 APRIL 2009 @ 8:30 PM AIR CON FUNDRAISING NIGHT - minimum donation of RM100

Venue:
PENTAS 2, THE KUALA LUMPUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (KLPac)

Ticket:
RM 47
RM 27 (STUDENTS, DISABLE & SENIOR CITIZENS)

Box Office:
(KLPac) 4047 9000

Venue Website: http://www.klpac.com/

Facebook Event link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=49515791373

“A Madman’s Diary … After Gogol" at KLPac

The Australian High Commission & KLPac Presents
in conjunction of
Australia Month @ klpac

A MADMAN'S DIARY...AFTER GOGOL

Synopsis:

The Diary of a Madman is one of the best known works by Russian writer Nikolai Gogol and sits amongst some of the most important works of world literature. It certainly bears the trademarks of Gogol's writings where a perfectly ideal world is turned upside down by a single event or action.

This brilliant short story that has been adapted into a riveting one-act play by Will Gluth and will be staged in conjunction with australia month @ klpac. KL audiences will be the first to witness the end result of an electrifying collaboration between three equally remarkable Australians - director Joe Hasham, actor Will Gluth and designer Mark Wager.

Originally set in 1840's Russia, it has been transported to a contemporary setting. The story centres on the life of a low-ranking civil servant who yearns to be noticed by a beautiful woman, the daughter of a senior official. His diary records his gradual slide into insanity. As his madness deepens, he begins to to suspect two dogs are having a love affair and subsequently declares himself to be the King of a certain kingdom.

Get ready for a weekend of powerful theatre as consummate actor Will Gluth draws you into his world of madness.

Director: JOE HASHAM

Writer: NIKOLAI GOGOL

Cast:
WILL GLUTH with NICOLE-ANN THOMAS

Date & Time:
9 - 11 APRIL 2009 @ 8:30 PM
12 APRIL 2009 @ 3:00 PM (SUNDAY Matinee shows)

Venue:
PENTAS 2, THE KUALA LUMPUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (KLPac)

Ticket:
RM 30
RM 15 (STUDENTS, DISABLE & SENIOR CITIZENS)

Box Office :
(KLPac) 4047 9000

Venue Website:
http://www.klpac.com/

Facebook Event link : http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=72120484280

Singapore Trip '09 – Day 02: A Day at the Theaters

After the late night out, we woke up around 10 am on the second day we were in Singapore. The first show that we had scheduled to see on that day would only start at 3pm which meant we had a few hours free to explore the area. After a quick shower, we went around the corner from the hotel to Purvis St. for a light brunch at a nearby noodle shop. Like many streets in the area, Purvis St was a collection of old shophouses of which some have had their interiors renovated with a more modern look. I definitely loved how they were able to preserve the old building facades and retain the charming character of the area. We were soon joined by our host in Singapore who would be going with us to watch the shows that we had planned that day.

After a wonderful brunch of noodles, we walked towards the Bras Basah Complex for a bit of book shopping. Consisting of 5 floors of book shops, the complex was definitely a book lover’s heaven. There were several shops in the complex that offered used books in a wide range of subjects as well as a big Popular bookstore for the newer releases. There was even a comic book shop on the 3rd floor there for me to indulge myself although I didn’t end up buying anything there as their back issue bins were not really well laid out for me to check their offerings. In the end, we spent nearly 3 hours there just browsing for used books and occasionally finding something that we wanted to get for ourselves.

Before the show started, I made a pit stop back at the hotel to stash away our book purchases before walking down the block to the Singapore National Library building. The show that we were watching that afternoon, Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” presented by the W!ld Rice Theater Company, was being staged at the Drama Center Theater located inside the National Library building. We met up with some friends who were there to watch the same show at the theater foyer for some light refreshment before proceeding to the theater to watch the play.

I have not actually seen a production of or even read the play despite it being one of Wilde’s most enduring pieces. The W!ld Rice production further spiced things up by casting an all male cast for the play and not having actors who play the female roles dressed in drag. They were instead dressed in Victorian inspired suits which, while tailored for men, had a distinctively female feel in cut and embellishment to the design to set them apart from the suits that the male characters wore. I will definitely keep this production in mind as a baseline for comparison with future productions that I might go and see.

We left the Drama Center at around 6 pm to head out to the Esplanade Theater where they were staging Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale” directed by Sam Mendez as part of The Bridge Project. This was the play that we had planned the trip around and I was excited to finally be there to watch it. We made a stop at one of the shops at the Esplanade Mall for some souvenirs before proceeding to the nearby ThaiExpress café by the Bay for a Thai dinner. We made a stop at Max Brenner Chocolate Bar for desserts afterwards and stayed there just until they called the show. Thanks to our friend in Singapore, we managed to get seats which I fairly sure was among the best seating locations in the house where we settled down and waited anxiously for the show to start.

“A Winter’s Tale” was also one of the Shakespeare works that I have never read about before so I came into the show with not knowing what to expect. As the show progressed and I was able to catch on with the language, I found myself mesmerized by both the story and the wonderful performances by the actors on stage. There were parts that was a bit slow and, being as tired as I was already by that time, hard to focus on but there were quite a few moments both in the story and performances that managed to keep me hooked on what was happening on stage. The production was not exactly what I imagined a Shakespearian production to be as while they kept the language of the original text, the production was set in a different setting and age than it was in the original text.

The show ended around 11pm and we took a walk back from the Esplanade to Bugis Street. We stopped for a late night supper where I tried the Singaporean version of Roti Canai and Murtabak. I have to say that I personally felt that the Singaporean Roti Prata was not as good as our local version since they don’t fluff it up like they do here to make it softer. As for the murtabak that I had, it was definitely different than what we know as murtabak here. I didn’t end up enjoying the murtabak I ordered as I had to pick out small pieces of chicken bones that got mashed up with my murtabak filling. Once we done with our supper, we walked down the street back to the hotel where we ended out day at the theaters that day sometime around midnight.

Singapore Trip '09 – Day 01: Getting There and the Night Out

This trip came about early last year when we heard that “The Winter’s Tale” was coming to Singapore as part of The Bridge Project world tour. With the help of a friend in Singapore, we were able to get really good seats for the March show and with that we started to make flight and accommodation plans to attend the show. It was later that we also found out that Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” was being staged by the Wild Rice theater group during the same weekend that we were there. Having not seen a production of the play before, I agreed to include a matinee performance of it in our trip itinerary and got tickets for the show too. In the end, the Singapore trip turned out to be more of a cultural excursion than my usual type of trips abroad.

Since my travelling companion was working on the Saturday that we suppose to travel, we decided to take an afternoon flight into Singapore. We departed from Sunway at around 2pm and reached KL Sentral just in time to catch the Air Asia Skybus to go to LCCT. We were cutting it close since the bus was scheduled to arrive at LCCT around an hour before boarding. As luck had it, the bus that we were on experienced a mechanical failure and we had to switch buses on the way to LCCT. Fortunately we did not have to wait long by the roadside before the replacement bus came but it was sufficient for us to be anxious about missing the flight. We eventually arrived 15 minutes later than scheduled at LCCT and were able to check in 10 minutes before the flight boarded.

Due to the current renovation work, LCCT was bit of a mess. The new international departure terminal was not opened yet the last time I was at the airport coming back from my Langkawi trip last December. It has been now and we were directed to go to the departure gate at the international departure terminal. To get there, we had to go out of the checking area and walk around the building, go up a set of escalators before clearing immigration at the immigration area. It was then another walk down a set of escalators before reaching the departure gates. On the plus sides, there are more shops at the departure area but getting there is a bit of a walk until they finish the renovation work in the area that connected the international departure with the flight check in area.

Our flight took off late due to problems with the power unit that ran the internal air conditioning system. Suffice to say that all of us were happy to finally be in the air after sweating it out for at least 10 minutes while the got the problem resolved. The remainder of the flight passed without incident and eventually we touched down at Terminal 1 of Changi Airport in Singapore. The airport seemed smaller than I remembered it but I quickly realized that the last time I was in Singapore, I came through Terminal 2 via a MAS flight which was much larger. After almost an hour to clear immigrations, thanks to the long queues from several flights coming in at the same time as ours, we made our way to the MRT station at Terminal 2 to catch a train to town.

We got of the Bugis MRT station and walked down the road to look for Middle Road where our hotel was located. It turned out that it was not far from where the station we got off and soon enough we arrived at our hotel. Just as we were checking in, our friends who we already made plans to go out with that night arrived to pick us up. We asked them to wait while we went up for a quick shower and to stow our bags away. Once we came back down, the four of us hailed down a cab right in front of the hotel to go to Clarke Quay for dinner.

Clarke Quay was an interesting place to walk around at night. Consisting of 5 blocks of refurbished warehouses, Clarke Quay offers a variety of dining and entertainment options for visitors and locals alike. I loved the way that the original warehouse facades were retained and incorporated into the modern architecture design of the area. Even with the giggle inducing canopy support struts (look at them from the opposite sides to understand why), it was a nice place to spend the evening at and I hope to get back to again since I didn’t really get to spend much time there during our evening walk which eventually led us to the Japanese themed Central shopping mall. We proceeded down to the food court below it to have dinner at a recommended eatery which served dishes at a fraction of the price that one would have to pay for a similar item in a normal restaurant. Once dinner was done, we took a cab just outside of the food court to go to Kreta Ayer Road in Chinatown.

We started our walking tour of the area at DMYK for drinks. Since we arrived very early in the night, around 9pm or so, the place was totally empty with the exception of us and the staff. We stayed there for just the first rounds of drinks before we decided to move on to the next place just as people started to come in. We walked around the corner towards Tantric and unsuccessfully tried to find a place to sit at the outdoor seating area. We didn’t really want to hang around inside Tantric as the place was filling up fast and they didn’t really have a lot of seating inside that we can go to. After the cursory round inside Tantric, we decide to walk down Neil Street towards Duxton Plain Park to head into Tanjong Pagar.

We ended up at a friend’s drinking establishment near Duxton Hill where we spent most of the night with good drinks and bar food. Since we had an early day the following morning, we decided to call it a night at around 1 am and return to our hotel. We walked down a bit near the area where the Thian Hock Keng temple was located. Like most of the shophouses that we saw during our walk that night, it was beautifully preserved in its original state surrounded by the more modern establishments. I wished that I had more time to walk in the area and enjoy the preserved architecture but we were there to get a taxi back to our hotel at Bugis Street. We finally arrived at the hotel around 1:30am tired but thoroughly enjoyed our night out in Singapore.

Note:
I did bring my camera along in this trip but somehow other than the very few pictures that I took of the hotel room, I didn’t take any pictures at all of the places that we went to. I guess it was due to a combination of not wanting to hold people up while I took pictures and the whirlwind pace of our itinerary there that prevented me from taking the usual travel pictures to accompany my travel blog entries.

Calling All Budding Stage Writers and Directors!

KLPac Presents

As part of the Australia Month at KLPac, Short+Sweet theater festival returns to the venue from 3 – 5 April 2009. This time around, Short+Sweet dance festival is also offered in conjunction of the event for those who wish to explore dance as a performing art. Among the activities lined up are the scriptwriting and directing workshops conducted by Alex Broun from Australia. Anyone who wants to try their hand at either are encouraged to join and explore the possibilities.

Workshop Date: 3 – 5 April 2009
Workshop Venue: klpac
Registration Fee: RM10
To Register: e-mail sesha@klpac.org / ashraf@klpac.org

Workshop schedule

Friday April 3, (7pm – 10pm) Playwriting - Beginners

Saturday April 4, (10am - 1pm) Directors - Beginners
Saturday April 4, (2pm - 5pm) Playwriting - Intermediate

Sunday April 5, (10am - 1pm) Directors - Intermediate
Sunday April 5, (2pm - 5pm) Directors / Playwrights – Intermediate (combined session)
Sunday April 5, (7pm – 9pm) Public Reading / Showcase

Workshop description :

Short+Sweet Scriptwriting Course: Beginners

This course is designed for people who have often thought about writing for the theatre but have never given it a go. It aims to inspire you to start writing and give you the tools to write that 10-minute play to enter for Short+Sweet Malaysia.

Short+Sweet Scriptwriting Course: Intermediate

This course is designed for people who have already written for the stage and perhaps come to the course with the first draft of a 10-minute play. It is also suitable if you’ve completed the Beginners Course.

It aims to equip you with further scriptwriting skills to refine your play and to workshop the first draft.

Short+Sweet Directing Course: Beginners

This course is designed for anyone who has ever thought about directing theatre but has never had the opportunity to try.

Short+Sweet Directing Course: Intermediate

This course is designed for people who have some experience in directing in theatre (or another medium such as film) and would like to learn more about the craft of directing or explore different approaches. It is also suitable for those who have completed the Beginners course.

Short+Sweet Directors & Playwrights (combined session)

In this final session you will work with actors to direct a short scene that will be presented at the end of the workshop, utilising the techniques you have explored during the course.

After scenes are presented you will receive feedback from Alex on further areas you might like to develop.

For more details, visit the KLPac events listing at http://www.klpac.com/Welcome.asp?c=whatsonpromotionsview&promoID=90&promocatID=5

Pledge your support!!! Spread the word!!! Switch off!!!

Everyone says that they are worried about the declining state of our environment. Most would say that they feel powerless to do something about it. Fortunately for us, on Saturday 28th March 2009 at 8:30pm, we can do something to make a difference. We could switch off our lights for one hour in support of the Earth Hour global event to express our desire to see a unified action on climate change within our lifetime. It may not seem to be much but with 1 billion people around the world pledging to do the same, our voice will have weight in an effort to change policies that affect the environment that we live and depend upon.

For 1 hour on the 28th March, individual and groups who have pledged to support this event are asked to switch off unused lights in nonessential areas within our houses and businesses. Electrical appliances that are on standby mode should also be switched off for that hour as the still consume electricity even in that state. Supporting the Earth Hour even doesn’t mean that you have a total blackout during that hour. One would not really have to turn off the refrigerator or security lights, for example, during this time to fulfill the pledge. It would be sufficient to at the very minimum to switch off all room lights between 8:30 – 9:30pm to show your support.

Change start with the one person who says that change must happen. Everyone can be that one person to initiate change. For Earth Hour, interested parties need only to register their support by logging on to the Earth Hour website at http://www.earthhour.org.my/ and filling up their details online. Once registered, fulfill your pledge by voluntarily switching off your lights and standby electrical appliances on the appointed hour. Think about ways of continuing message of the Earth Hour after 28th March by changing our consumption habits and ways of making our household more energy efficient as well as environmental friendly. We owe that much to ourselves and our future generations.

Pledge your support today at http://www.earthhour.org.my/
For more info on the Earth Hour 2009 event, browse their FAQs section at http://www.earthhour.org/mediacentre/my:en/article?id=eh1503222967117284609

Cambodia Trip '08 – Day 06: Getting back

Our last morning in Cambodia started really early as we had to check out of the hotel at 6:30am. After having the last breakfast at the hotel’s café, we loaded up our minivan with our collection of bags and proceeded to the Siem Reap International Airport that was about 10 minutes down the road where our hotel was. We said our goodbyes to our Cambodian hosts and thank them for their generosity while we were in their care. Once all the farewells have been said, the group proceeded to the flight check in area to check our bags in.

(Siem Reap International Airport Departures drop-off point)

The airport was quite empty when we arrive but the crowd soon grew as more people started to show up to check into the same flight that we were on. It was a good thing that we decide to start our day at the airport early as we did have 2 trolleys full of bags to check in. While waiting for the bags to be processed, I went and sat at the side to update my travel notes and take some pictures of the airport interior. After all the bags have been checked in, we went to pay the USD25 airport tax and proceeded to clear immigration which was quite a painless experience. There was not much to buy at the duty free shops there so we ended up just waiting until they called for flight boarding.

(Airport interior - nice decorations)

Our Air Asia flight back to KL came in about 10 minutes early that day and other than a little bit of turbulence over the Gulf of Thailand, the flight back was uneventful. We touched down at KL LCCT about 10 minutes earlier than expected arrival and said goodbye to the group that I have been travelling with the past 6 days in Cambodia. Since we were not looking forward to deal with buses and trains to get back, we decided to take a budget taxi back to Sunway and arrived safely at 2pm.

(Leaving Cambodia)

Cambodia was all that I expected and much more. It was an eye opening trip to see how they lived and the hardship that they had to go through in their recent history for myself. It was very inspiring to see that even after all that hardship, they are still surviving and for some even thriving as the country recovers from the dark national nightmare. There were many unspoiled beauty to be discovered in Cambodia and I was only able to scratch the bare minimum while I was there. It is definitely a destination that I plan to come back to again to spend more time when I am able to.

Travelling in such a big group was also a different experience that I was used to. Accustomed to making decisions on my own while travelling, it was a change to let someone else to do it and allow myself to enjoy the experience as they came. The outreach activities that they had planned allowed me to experience a side of travelling that I probably wouldn’t be able to experience on my own. In my own small way, I got the satisfaction that I was not only travelling but also helping those that I meet in my travels. I would definitely explore more ways of giving back to the locals when I travel in future destinations.

(Next destination - end March 2009)

Cambodia Trip '08 – Accommodation Write-Up: Princess Angkor Hotel, Siem Reap

As in Phnom Penh, our accommodations in Siem Reap were already organized by the trip organizers. Like the hotel we stayed at in Phnom Penh, the Princess Angkor Hotel was easily tracked down on the web using my trusty Google search engine. Their website was fairly well laid out and was helpful for me to have an idea of what to expect at the hotel. They do list their rates and promotions on line so I would assume that making reservations on line would be possible with the contact information provided.

Princess Angkor Hotel was located on the road heading towards Siem Reap International Airport and was about 15 minutes drive from the city center. Looking at the hotels around the area, I assume that the hotels here cater mostly for business travelers and families rather than the normal backpackers set that would probably be staying somewhere closer to the city. We were welcomed with the customary sweetened iced tea upon arrival while our bags were collected from our minivan and the organizers arrange the rooms for us at the front desk. The hotel lobby was quite spacious and benefitted fully from the floor to ceiling glass frontage that allowed maximum natural light to brighten the area. Beautiful teak furniture at the lobby/waiting area completed the serene scene that welcomed us after our long journey.

(Lobby area at the hotel)

(R: Teak furniture at the waiting area, L: Aspara Cafe entrance)

We were assigned a standard twin sharing room which was fairly big with all the standards that one expected to come with these types of hotels. The view outside of our window looked down towards the open air parking area which was not really that interesting. Due to the location of the hotel, taxis and tuk-tuks were waiting just outside the hotel entrance to pick up anyone from the hotel to go into the city. Since we already had our transportation around Siem Reap arranged, I did not get to try those transportation options out while I was there. As we droved it, I notices that there were a number of restaurants, both of international and local fares, nearby the hotel as well as a number of health centers that offered traditional messages.

(Our room at Princess Angkor Hotel)

(View outside the windows)

While we were there, we did get a chance to visit the hotel’s Health Center for a traditional Khmer full body message. Reasonably priced, visitors should drop by and make an appointment as there might be a wait for masseuses especially during the evening. The evening that we went for our message, we were told that they only had 2 masseuses on duty and they already have 4 people signed up before us. I would think that they would be tired after giving messages to that many people before us but fortunately they were professionals and their messages were very relaxing.

(Mini gym at Princess Angkor Hotel)

The hotel also had a reasonably equipped gym that I stepped in but did not get a chance to try out as well as a fairly decent sized outdoor swimming pool. They also have what I think was a mini casino accessible from the open air parking area of the hotel. I did not get a chance to take a look at the mini casino due to time constraints but based on what was advertised on the outside, the mini casino consisted mainly of a few card tables and electronic jackpot machines. I’m fairly certain that they only accept either credit cards or US dollars there to try your luck.

(Night shots of the hotel)

Like the hotel that we stayed at in Phnom Penh, the Aspara Café which was located in the hotel offered halal cuisine for the Muslim travelers. We had to try their dinner and breakfast buffet spread at the hotel while we stayed there and I was quite satisfied with both. The spread that was provided was reasonable in both variety and tastes. Since breakfast was already included in the room rate and our farewell dinner there was organized by our Cambodian hosts, I didn’t really get to check how their food prices were.

(Hotel's pool accessed from the lobby on the ground floor)

The Princess Angkor Hotel in Siem Reap is definitely an easy choice to recommend as a place to stay at for visitors coming to the area. The comfortable rooms, good amenities, a halal food source in house and easy access to local transportation make it a convenient place to stay. While slightly on the expensive side, you do get your moneys worth staying here while you explore the surrounding and temples at Siem Reap.

Full Contact Details:

Address:

National route 6, Siem Reap
Kingdom of Cambodia

Tel: (855-63) 760 056-60
Fax: (855-63) 963 668
Reservation No: (855-63) 963 667

E-mail: info@princessangkor.com
URL: http://www.princessangkor.com/

The Stage Beckons !!!

Ever dream of being on stage? Acting in a play? Directing a play? Or even writing the next Great Malaysian Screenplay? Here's your chance if you fit the description

ARE YOU...
between 16 and 25 years old?
interested in theatre & the arts?
want to know how to get a leg in?
and have some fun?

Head to klpac for the

Open Audition for The T4YP Ensemble 2009

what is T4YP all about?

klpac's T4YP young people’s theatre programme is basically a platform for young people between the ages of 16 and 25 to express themselves by creating meaningful theatre. We provide a safe space for you to experiment, the guidance needed to learn, the support network to grow...

We welcome all young people to be part of the T4YP Ensemble for the 2009 Season. Previous theatre experience is not essential. However, commitment, creativity and dedication are …



when are the auditions?

Sunday, 22 Mar @ 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 6pm & 7pm - 9pm
IndiCine, Level 2, klpac

(psst...first-timers: CLICK HERE for driving instructions, public transport options & map)

what do i need to do?

please come prepared with:

a Classical monologue (2 - 3 minutes)
text in verse by Shakespeare, monologue must be memorised

and a Contemporary monologue (2 - 3 minutes)
text in prose from any contemporary 20th, 21st century playwright or any movie screenplay, monologue must be memorised

and/or a Song
sung acapella (minus accompaniment)

Audition is by appointment only!
call our (very friendly) production manager Ashraf on 03-4047 9037 or e-mail ashraf@klpac.org
perks of being part of T4YP ensemble...

• All T4YP 2009 productions will be casted from T4YP ensemble
• Be part of up to 8 productions part of T4YP 2009 season
• Exclusive place in T4YP Brainery "drama school" programme
• Chance to write or direct via T4YP Sweatshop programme
• Get an insider's guide to how an arts centre like klpac works
• Be involved in klpac productions
  
  MEMBERSHIP IS FREE - no registration fee.
  
  Visit http://www.klpac.org/ or t4yp.wordpress.com for more info on T4YP and its 2009 season

Looking for suitable monologues? Visit T4YP website for helpful places to start.

Further write-up : RAGE Article at http://tinyurl.com/b8qhaa