The Actors Studio and MUKA Space will be throwing the late Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang a rather peculiar 90th birthday. Seven up-and-coming theatre makers put a fresh spin to the National Laureate’s works in “Don’t Let Usman Awang Know”. It is set to open on 11 July, one day before what would be his 90th birthday, and run until 14 July as part of The Actors Studio’s 30th anniversary celebrations made possible by Yayasan Hasanah.
This multi-lingual, multi-genre tribute aims to show his work in a new light to new audiences.“Don’t Let Usman Awang Know” showcases seven short works by Easee Gan, Giant Liang, Mon Lim, Zhafir Muzani, Apple Yong, Zheng Xi Yong, and Fauzi Amirudin. Join us as we celebrate and honour this Malaysian icon and literary giant.
*English surtitles will be screened
𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒 
Presented by The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat & MUKA Space 木卡空间
Supported by The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)
Presented by The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat & MUKA Space 木卡空间
Supported by The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)
Date & Time:
11 – 13 Jul @ 8.30pm
13 & 14 Jul @ 3pm
Venue: Pentas 2, klpac
11 – 13 Jul @ 8.30pm
13 & 14 Jul @ 3pm
Venue: Pentas 2, klpac
𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭:
Regular: RM 60
Concession: RM 50 (TAS Card Members / Students / Senior Citizens / Disabled)
Regular: RM 60
Concession: RM 50 (TAS Card Members / Students / Senior Citizens / Disabled)
𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (Ends 30 June)
RM 90 for package of 2 tickets
RM 90 for package of 2 tickets
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Flat Rate RM 50 (3 shows ONLY): 11 & 12 Jul (Thu & Fri) 8.30pm & 13 Jul (Sat) 3pm
Flat Rate RM 50 (3 shows ONLY): 11 & 12 Jul (Thu & Fri) 8.30pm & 13 Jul (Sat) 3pm
** Senior Citizens: 60 years old and above.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌
Executive Producer | Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican
Artistic Director | Joe Hasham OAM
Producer | Easee Gan
Stage Manager | Kit Hui Min
Lighting Designer | Mohamed Fairuz @ Boy
Sound Engineer | Khairil Imran
Technician | Ijai
Subtitle Operator | Cathrine Chan Yong Chi
Host | Megann Teoh
Publicist | Megann Teoh & Maggie Ong
Executive Producer | Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican
Artistic Director | Joe Hasham OAM
Producer | Easee Gan
Stage Manager | Kit Hui Min
Lighting Designer | Mohamed Fairuz @ Boy
Sound Engineer | Khairil Imran
Technician | Ijai
Subtitle Operator | Cathrine Chan Yong Chi
Host | Megann Teoh
Publicist | Megann Teoh & Maggie Ong
All-Star Creative Team
1. Guru Oh Guru (Theatre/ Cantonese)
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s poem Guru Oh Guru which was a tribute to our teachers and their invaluable contribution in our nation-building.
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s poem Guru Oh Guru which was a tribute to our teachers and their invaluable contribution in our nation-building.
This story is set in an old folk’s home. Old Teacher Zhang and her nurse are chit chatting when an uninvited guest turns up asking for tuition lessons from Teacher Zhang. Puzzled by this person’s sudden request, Teacher Zhang sets out to find out the reason behind this unexpected visit.
Director: Mon Lim 林建达
Playwright: Sam Lim林贤山
Playwright: Sam Lim林贤山
Cast:
Shiuan Leow廖筱萱 as Aunty Ha霞姨
Maggie Ong翁美琪 as Nurse黄姑娘
Gan Mei Wei颜渼潓 as Chong Zi Ha 张紫霞
Shiuan Leow廖筱萱 as Aunty Ha霞姨
Maggie Ong翁美琪 as Nurse黄姑娘
Gan Mei Wei颜渼潓 as Chong Zi Ha 张紫霞
2. Calling 1969 (Theatre/ Mandarin)
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Kambing Hitam. This poem expressed the author’s thoughts on the May 13 racial riots that divided our country.
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Kambing Hitam. This poem expressed the author’s thoughts on the May 13 racial riots that divided our country.
Fifty years have passed. Many died in 1969 and yet many still live in 1969.
Director: Giant Liang Ka En 梁家恩
Devised by: Giant Liang Ka En 梁家恩, Winston Liew Kher Cheng 刘可成, Eugene Ng黄商权
Cast:
Winston Liew Kher Cheng 刘可成
Eugene Ng黄商权
Winston Liew Kher Cheng 刘可成
Eugene Ng黄商权
3. Trapped (Musical/ Mandarin)
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Jiwa Hamba which was written a number of years before Malaysia achieved independence. Usman Awang urged Malaysians to turn thoughts into action, to not just speak but truly strive for independence.
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Jiwa Hamba which was written a number of years before Malaysia achieved independence. Usman Awang urged Malaysians to turn thoughts into action, to not just speak but truly strive for independence.
This play aims to explore the trapped souls inside us. Are we able to free ourselves and be truly liberated?
Director and Playwright: Apple Yong 杨国平
Co-Director and Playwright / Lyricist: Tai Meng Wei 戴铭伟
Composers: Toh Shir Ling杜雪菱, Andrew Lim林楷宪, Jacqueline Teng邓絜予
Choreographer: Andrew Lim林楷宪
Musician: Koay Yee Fei郭奕飛
Cast:
Toh Shir Ling杜雪菱 as Mei Ling
Andrew Lim林楷宪 as Peter
Jacqueline Teng邓絜予 as Susan
Juno Chen秦军乐 as Jun Jie
Toh Shir Ling杜雪菱 as Mei Ling
Andrew Lim林楷宪 as Peter
Jacqueline Teng邓絜予 as Susan
Juno Chen秦军乐 as Jun Jie
4. Udara (Theatre/ Mandarin)
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Uda dan Dara. It is an age-old story of two star-crossed lovers from different backgrounds – a woman born into an affluent family and a man who grew up in poverty.
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Uda dan Dara. It is an age-old story of two star-crossed lovers from different backgrounds – a woman born into an affluent family and a man who grew up in poverty.
Nisan condong tegak bertaburan
gadis menangis kehibaan
tidak ada padang perjuangan
pahlawan gugur tergelimpangan
gadis menangis kehibaan
tidak ada padang perjuangan
pahlawan gugur tergelimpangan
Easee Gan’s Udara brings together Usman Awang’s Uda dan Dara and a famed Chinese legend The Butterfly Lovers which tells the tragic tale of a pair of lovers.
Director & Playwright: Easee Gan颜永祯
Music & Sound Designer: Lee Yueh Yi李月依
Cast:
Tan Li Yang陈立扬as UDA 乌达
Ruby Faye狄妃 as Zhu Ying Tai祝英台
Tan Li Yang陈立扬as UDA 乌达
Ruby Faye狄妃 as Zhu Ying Tai祝英台
5. ALMARI: Perjuangan (Dance Drama/ Bahasa Malaysia)
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Kekasih, Pahlawan dan Tanahair and Gadis di Kuburan.
Kekasih
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Kekasih, Pahlawan dan Tanahair and Gadis di Kuburan.
Kekasih
Celebrated as one of Malaysia’s greatest love poem, Kekasih uses sensuous metaphors to illustrate the author’s affection for his lover.
Pahlawan dan Tanah Air
Peppered with elements of patriotism, thie piece was an ode to those who fought for the independence of this country.
Gadis di Kuburan
Two lovers are forced to separate because the girl’s parents disapprove of their relationship as the boy comes from a less well off background.
The battle of youth has two meanings. One is about the love for the country and the love of si Arjuna. However, only the two hearts know what is the second meaning.
Pahlawan dan Tanah Air
Peppered with elements of patriotism, thie piece was an ode to those who fought for the independence of this country.
Gadis di Kuburan
Two lovers are forced to separate because the girl’s parents disapprove of their relationship as the boy comes from a less well off background.
The battle of youth has two meanings. One is about the love for the country and the love of si Arjuna. However, only the two hearts know what is the second meaning.
Director: Zhafir Muzani
Cast:
Mohd Fadhli bin Masoot
Mohd Akid Jabran bin Mohammad Jaafar
Mohamad Khairul Ridzuan Bin Abdullah
Mohd Fadhli bin Masoot
Mohd Akid Jabran bin Mohammad Jaafar
Mohamad Khairul Ridzuan Bin Abdullah
6. Pisang Goreng (Musical/ English)
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Penjual Air Batu. The author talks about the unfairness of our law and prejudice in our society which puts those in the lower socio-economic class at a disadvantage.
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Penjual Air Batu. The author talks about the unfairness of our law and prejudice in our society which puts those in the lower socio-economic class at a disadvantage.
This play is about a city council officer who finds a connection with a street vendor whom he is tasked to fine.
Director, Playwright and Composer: Zheng Xi Yong 杨政熹
Director, Playwright and Composer: Zheng Xi Yong 杨政熹
Cast:
Alia binti Nabil as Auntie Sara
Zheng Xi Yong 杨政熹 as Officer Heng
Alia binti Nabil as Auntie Sara
Zheng Xi Yong 杨政熹 as Officer Heng
7. Kekasih (Dance)
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Kekasih.
Inspired by Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s Kekasih.
Choreographer: Fauzi Amirudin
Dancer: Fauzi Amirudin
Dancer: Fauzi Amirudin
