After a three year hiatus, the Penang World Music Festival (PWMF) is coming back - bigger and better than before with 18 local and international bands. Get ready to dance in the Botanic Gardens!
CausewayEXchange: Lit Up KL, Plays, Film, Poetry Slam
Singapore and Malaysia got together for a unique cultural programme, CausewayEXchange 2011, where Mallika Naguran joined fellow Singapore travellers to enjoy the weekend's literary affair in Kuala Lumpur.
15 August 2011, Kuala Lumpur. Singapore invaded the arts scene in Kuala Lumpur city in August 2011 for a brief period, bringing an artistic fabric sewn with a cultural thread that reflected the island nation's identity. Singapore and Malaysia share a common history and were in fact one country before 1965. They also saw the horrors of World War II, the Japanese occupation, and rode out many regional crises together.
A Singaporean and Malaysian playwright collaborated in theatreworks at CausewayEXchange
Plays, films, poetry slam (Malaysian wit put to test against Singaporean erudition), talks and photo exhibition – what a treat it was for art lovers and for city fugitives. The CausewayEXchange was organised by the Asian Culture Enterprise Singapore and DMR Productions from 4-7 August 2011. It reprised the 2010 event where 30 Malaysian artists performed to an audience of 3,000 at The Singapore Arts House.
On Friday 1 August 2011, two coaches hit the road from Singapore to the Malaysian capital city, taking some 60 people from the art, music and media industries, plus tourists who signed up for this unique programme.
The Singapore participants took in a tour of Johor on the way to Kuala Lumpur. First stop was to sample superlicious nasi lemak at Danga Bay, then learn about mushroom cultivation at Kampong Tewaka in Kempas, about an hour’s drive from the Causeway.
Kampong Tewaka mushroom farm in Kempas, Malaysia grows oyster mushrooms using organic methods
Back on the road the tour stopped again to sink its teeth into Anthony Fish Ball in Yong Peng, apparently the favourite of Colin Goh, CEO of The Arts House. Well, trust Singaporeans to spot the good eating-places, even in Malaysia.
Singapore - An Accidental Nation
Once at the destination of Kuala Lumpur, the main venue was the heritage grounds of Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre @ Sentul Park (KLPAC).
The two plays staged here reflected themes that both Singaporeans and Malaysians could identify with. Singapore playwright Desmond Sim collaborated with Malaysian writer Nandang Abdul Rahman to produce a series of short plays collectively dubbed Food, Sex and Death.
Nandang Abdul Rahman's 'The Five Stages of Grief' playlet as part of Food, Sex & Death theatre show
I caught up with Desmond Sim before the start of the play and discussed how special it was for Singapore to share its culture with Malaysia when Singapore – being connected to Malaysia by a couple of bridges - is not all that different.
Sim agreed. “Both countries were one before. If you think about it, Singapore is an accidental nation because of what transpired in Malaysian politics,” he says, referring to the split in party lines back in the sixties.
KLPAC's Theatre for Young People featured five actors who switch roles to enact different characters in a set of five plays written by Desmond Sim and Nandang Abdul Rahman, and directed by Christopher Lim. In four of the plays, humour laced the lines that also depict universal emotions of human relationships. In the fifth play titled 'The Five Stages of Grief', the theme of death was dealt with, demonstrating progressively disbelief, anger, blame and remorse that happen with the demise of a loved one. Poignant indeed.
Kuala Lumpur premiered On TheEmerald Hill, a dramatic monologue by Singaporean actor, director and playwright Jonathan Lim. Directed by Christina Sergeant, the play thrilled the audience from the second the curtain opened to reveal a believable cemetery (actually transformed theatre seats with stenciled gravestones). A reversed theatre it was, with the small room of audience sitting on the stage area, looking on to scenes of Emily of Emerald Hill at Choa Chu Kang Chinese Cemetery.
Jonathon Lim stars in the monologue 'On This Emerald Hill', which he also scripted
In the play, a gregarious Peranakan woman - Emily of Emerald Hill - meets an ordinary Chinese Singaporean man who is overwhelmed with having to bury his dead father in a hole that isn’t big enough. The re-enactment of Kuo Pao Kun’s The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole is brilliant as Jonathan Lim combines both iconic Singapore plays with amazing wit, humour and nostalgia.
Other programmes that entertained Malaysians were CausewayEXchangefilms, exhibitions, literary talks and poetry slamming. There was the screening of filmmaker Tan Pin Pin’s highly acclaimed Singapore Gaga. And anyone could walk in to appreciate the exhibition of cartoonist Heng Kim Song’s works and JFlash Studio’s photographs of Singaporeans from all walks of life.
Lit Up KL featured writer Ken Mizusawa, an award-winning Japanese educator and playwright who lives in Singapore.
Malaysian Versus Singaporean Poets
Heng Kim Song's telling cartoons featured
Later that night, the poetry slam was great fun as youths from Singapore and Malaysia pitted their literary strengths against each other. While the Malaysians raged about political and education systems in their country, Singaporean poets took on a more artistic stance to display literary art forms in verses – rhymed or blank.
Special mention has to go to Marc Daniel Nair from Singapore for his amazing talent in writing and delivering good poetry, with good use of allusions, imagery and metaphors. His poem on Hector and Mbuyisa Makhubo titled How Secrets Are Made was particularly touching. Ben Chua was also a favourite, as he recited his highly imaginary and funny poems, each about three minutes long, all from memory.
Poetry slam winners (from right): Marc Nair (2nd, Singapore), Michelle Lee (3rd, Malaysia) and Thato Ntshobele (tops, Malaysia). Watch the videos on Gaia Discovery YouTube station.
The judges’ top favourite was the animated Thato Ntshobele who roused chuckles within the audience as they snapped their fingers and stamped the floor in appreciation of his rap beat and rhythm in poetry reading.
If you want to get a closer look at the poetry slam, why not watch the short videos I took?
The overall winner - Thato Ntshobele - was not strictly speaking a Malaysian, but an African studying in Malaysia, so the Singaporean supporters were left confused as how he could represent Malaysia in the next big challenge - the Asia Pacific poetry slam. But you know what Singaporeans are like - they play by the rules, almost robot like.
Maybe it takes an exchange programme like this with Malaysia to appreciate that sometimes, rules can be bent, just a little, just because they can. As we tucked into Portuguese delights in the famous historical Malacca town on the bus ride home, we were still struggling with the answer.
Nonetheless, we all thoroughly enjoyed the three-day cultural encounter with our best neighbour, and look forward to the next CausewayEXchange.
Photos by Mallika Naguran
For more information, please visit www.klpac.org ; www.causeway-exchange.com or www.facebook.com/causewayexchange.
Organisers:
Contact Danny Chan
Producer| Asian Culture Enterprise (S) Ltd
Contact Shawn Lourdusamy
Director
14th Rainforest World Music Festival a Wonder
CausewayEXchange 2011 Bridges Art and Culture Between Singapore and Malaysia
Singapore and Malaysia find a common ground in the arts through a unique cultural expose called CausewayEXchange. The flavours of Singapore in the form of photo exhibition, theatre and film productions will drift over the causeway bridges to be staged at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre @ Sentul Park (KLPAC) over three days, beginning 4 August 2011.
Rainforest World Music Festival 2011 Showcases Record 22 Performing Acts
Once again the magic of Sarawak's iconic Rainforest World Music Festival has begun. World Music lovers from around the world can look forward to an incredible line-up of world class acts among the 22 bands - the highest in its 14 years of existence. Presented by Sarawak Tourism Board, the RWMF has a reputation for rocking the worlds of concert-goers, folk instrument aficionados and plain fun seekers over three days.
Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2011 features Nobel Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta
Borneo Jazz Festival, Miri, Sarawak
Maria Muldaur will croon to the Oasis at Miri
MIRI JAZZ FESTIVAL will see Grammy nominee Maria Muldaur headline the show on the Borneo Jazz stage this year. To be staged at the Parkcity Everly Hotel in Miri, the Borneo Jazz will be held on May 12 until 15, 2011. So get your limited tickets for the ‘3-day Borneo Jazz Extravaganza’ at RM200 inclusive of Entrance Ticket, Dinner at the Opening Night on Thursday (Marina Bay Seafood Restaurant) as well. The festival will see performances from various countries including the US, France, China, Holland, India, Japan and Brazil and will feature a range of jazz genre from gypsy jazz to traditional jazz.
Venue: Parkcity Everly Hotel in Miri, Sarawak
Date: 12-15 May 2011
Sarawak Rainforest World Music Festival 2011
Government ministers got in the groove at the launch of the Rainforest Music Festival in February
The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) held each year in Sarawak is slated for 8 to 10 July 2011 at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching. Confirmed performers are coming from France New Zealand, Iran, USA, Georgia, Eastern Europe, Canada, Finland, Senegal, Mexico, Australia, and Latvia – as well as many other countries. Organisers hope to attract at least 21,000 for the three nights of the Festival. Besides the music there will also be a wide variety of local, fusion and international food as well as stalls selling festival memorabilia – and all with a distinctly more green slant this year, say the organisers.
Venue: Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Date: 8th to 10th July 2011
Tickets: www.ticketcharge.com.my
Website: www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com
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Coming full circle...Darwin Festival 2010
Darwin, 14 August Thirty one years since its inception, the Darwin Festival then entitled the Bougainvillea Festival has come full circle.
As can be expected, Darwin Festival 2010 will deliver a diverse program of events incorporating all genres for an August calendar culturally enriched by a multi-arts program that will appeal to a cross section of Darwin Festival’s ever supportive audience.
However, the distinction this year according to Artistic Director Jo Duffy is that the Festival has returned to the people. “Thirty-one years ago this was a festival for the people of Darwin, and now thirty-one years on Darwin’s local artists and art makers have developed to such a high standard, nationally and internationally, that the festival has now returned to them”, says Jo Duffy.
GL Lead Female Dancer Tara Robertson with Geese
Of the seventy-five different events appearing at this year’s festival forty-seven incorporate local artists and performers. “In terms of programming the festival, we have on offer a plethora of quality performances in all art forms coming from within the NT cultural community. Coupled up with the fact there is a strong and enthusiastic audience who want to see stories from the NT on stage. I’m extremely pleased to be in the role of Artistic Director at this stage of the Festival’s life”, explains Jo, “The community spirit is remarkable”.
Along side locals will be performances from Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Korea, France, India and of course from down south. Big names John Butler Trio, The Cat Empire, Tex Perkins and Tim Freedman to name a few will visit the Top End to strut their stuff.
The much loved [free] Santos Opening Concert held at The Amphitheatre will feature the 2008 sell-out sensation Liberty Songs, Emma Donovan and Dunganda Street Sounds who also can lay claim to this year’s Darwin Festival theme song. AFL star Russell Robertson and guitarist Phil Cebrano make an appearance.
Igniting The Lighthouse, Tim Freedman will perform with Redfern rocker Perry Keyes, and later in the night local funksters Barry Brown and the GetDown will undoubtedly bring the house down.
Brown’s Mart Theatre will be delivering an even greater number of theatrical performances. As usual Artistic Director Jo Duffy is committed to providing an intelligent level of engaging performance for children as much as for adults. One of the theatrical highlights for children [and adults] is The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik - Winner “Outstanding Solo Show” – 2009 New York Int’l Fringe [pg 12] and from Korea an emotionally compelling piece entitled When His Watch Stopped [pg 22]. After Hours at the Dinosaurs’ Museum [pg 24] is a must for all families, the mystery of behind the scenes after dark will be revealed to kids and the show will capture old and young alike.
Those seeking a good dose of immune boosting laughter will be pleased to know that former ROVE and The Glass House favourite Corinne Grant will perform early on in the Festival whilst Peter Helliar the veteran of live comedy will visit and perform his laidback, outrageously effortless comedy in the final festival week.
Wrong skin
The stellar highlights this year are too many to write here. However, for the growing base of opera lovers is one performance only of the La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini (sung in English). For those with a penchant for dance is the highly anticipated Goose Lagoon, Wrong Skin and from Indonesia a stunning and highly acclaimed piece from contemporary dance company Nan Jombang [pg 36]. We urge you to take the program to the hammock and get to know it intimately. From David Helfgott, Belle du Berry and David Lewis [FR], Christa & Dick Hughes the father and daughter honky tonk cabaret team are sure to set tongues wagging as Christa a former lead in Machine Gun Fellatio verges on vulgar as her charming father elegantly tinkers on the piano, Five Elements incorporates traditional musicians from India with Australian Jazz greats. From quirky, intriguing shows such as Sideshow Superstars, The Tent, Head Full of Love and a live radio play performed by Mr Delvin Pinkus and the New Time Radio Orchestra, the program keeps on keeping on for all 18 days and nights. Darwin based photographer Glenn Campbell presents his second photographic exhibition entitled SHRINE, and all this along the visual arts component of the program and a collection of play-readings will keep everyone busy day and night.
With a firm eye on providing a high level of cultural entertainment for all ages in the community Jo Duffy has put together a number of performances to capture youth attention. Silent Disco is back and a new concept pitched as a pedestrian-based event using iPods, mobile phones and the Darwin CBD / Waterfront En Route [pg 23] is presented by Melbourne and Darwin artists and is sure to provide you with an intriguing and unpredictable encounter with your city.
The Festival opens with a Welcome to Country by the Larrakia people and so it closes. But this time, [and for the first time] the highly regarded director Rhoda Roberts presents a new dance work entitled BodymARKS thanks to corporate citizens ConocoPhillips who present the [free] closing night event titled Wanga Mirak. This year the event is held on Mindil Beach. With the setting sun as the backdrop this ceremonial dance performance on a natural sandy dance ground is the perfect way to conclude this year’s Darwin Festival.
Darwin Festival will be held between August 12 – 29th 2010. For further information please visit
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CHRYSS CARR
0417 800 869