Page 91 - Westport Guide To Malaysia

THE GUIDE TO MALAYSIA 83
performers and nurture freedom of expression, Instant Café first gained a cult following with its merry social and political satire. Works range from Shakespeare to satire
to new Malaysian plays including Air Con, Hero, Parah, Raj and the End of Tragedy, Flies and Foreigners.
Contact: Jo Kukathas Artistic Director
T (03) 7866 0360
W instantcafetheatre.com
Pentas Project
Malaysia’s leading
Chinese language company, founded by
Loh Kok Man in 2005, focuses on contemporary theatre. Pentas uses multimedia tools to create experimental works staged without apparent walls
or boundaries. Some productions are multilingual or have subtitles or audio translations.
Contact: Loh Kok Man Artistic Director
8-2, Amber Business
Plaza 2
Jalan Jelawat 1, Cheras 56000 Kuala Lumpur
Hp (017) 382 8637
W pentasproject.blogspot. com
Masakini Theatre Company
Founded by actress/ director/producer Sabera Shaik to produce her acclaimed one-woman play Lady Swettenham
and ensemble musical
My Bollywood Summer, Masakini is also the only company in Malaysia performing contemporary shadow theatre. Most works are staged in their zen-like theatre, Studio Ramli Hassan.
Contact: Sabera Shaik 8A, Tepian Tunku Bukit Tunku
50480 Kuala Lumpur T (03) 6206 4931
W masakinitheatre.com.my
Muka Space
This community-based company was founded
by brothers Dr Deric
and Easee Gan (also founders of the Malaysian Puppetry Association) to produce cross-disciplinary performances. Muka Space’s award-winning original plays and adaptations include Dear Elena Sergeevna, Richard III, Peking Man and a 5-hour theatrical version of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Contact: Dr Deric Gan Artistic Director
Hp (011) 2800 9919 W mukaspace.org.my
Rumah Anak Teater
The country’s leading Malay language theatre company is led by Artistic Director Nam Ron and several ASWARA graduates (see page 47). This skilled ensemble of actors, writers, comedians and musicians target issues close to the Malay heart and spark debates on topics of race,
marriage, politics, religion and identity.
Contact: Nam Ron Artistic Director
Hp (012) 229 0944 W facebook.com/ rumahanakteater
MOVERS & SHAKERS
A select group of people have made enormous contributions to the Malaysian performing
arts scene. We have namechecked as many
as possible in the above article and feel a few more deserve a mention.
Patrick Teoh: “the Voice of Malaysia” - a multi-award- winning film, theatre and TV actor, broadcaster and voice artist, with over 30 international film and TV credits.
Jo Kuthakas: actor, producer, director, comedian and Instant Café Theatre co-founder, famous for her much-loved comic characters YBeeee and Curry Spice.
Andrew Leci: actor and Instant Café Theatre co- founder, nowadays a journalist, novelist and TV presenter.
Jit Murad: Malaysia’s leading playwright, occasional actor and Instant Café Theatre co- founder. Works include Gold Rain & Hailstones, Spilt Gravy on Rice.
Zahim Albakri: actor, film
& theatre writer/director and Instant Café Theatre co-founder. Best known for Spilt Gravy on Rice (2015).
18 SS1/17 Kampung Tunku Petaling Jaya