Front Row

From Wawasan 2020 in 1991 to Transformasi Nasional 2050 in 2017, Malaysians have been given several versions of their future as a developed nation. In theatre production “Version 2020”, five performers present alternative visions of Malaysia’s future by combining fact and fiction, and by leaping between the past and present. The creators of the show talk about how it was put together and what they hope to say about Malaysia.

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A brand new theatre company is staging its first public production, a tale about bullies and the bullied. The company, which bills itself as one with “big dreams” and with the desire to “change the world for the better” is focusing on an issue that has been headlined as a problem in schools. Get a view into this theatre company, and in the midst of a slew of offerings of a similar kind, what new insights it offers into this social problem.

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The problems women face in the workplace often remain unseen. “Invisible Women” is an art exhibition based on stories collected online of gender discrimination in the workplace. Organised by the Women’s Aid Organisation, the exhibition turns the stories and statistics of gender discrimination into art, visualising issues that are often discussed in abstract terms.

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In How Are You? I Am Well, Malaysian artist Chang Yoong Chia begins to tell the story of how and why he became an artist. Reaching back to childhood memories, he presents a new body of paintings, drawings, sketches and poems that explore the transformative magic of making art, and the relationship between the real world and the artistic imagination.

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Fresh off performing with Taiwanese-Canadian guitarist Denis Chang in a programme of ‘Gypsy Jazz’, our guest takes us on a tour of this music, unpacking to reveal its roots and the contemporary influences that give it its distinctive sound. And for those of us who missed the performance, catch some of that music.

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Created in Paris, the Festival du Féminin offers interactive, creative workshops guided by an array of facilitators. Among them are therapists, lecturers, writers, shamans, dancers, painters, singers, energetic healers, coaches, midwives and wise women. They aim to share and convey their deep experience to empower women to trust and follow their own path to reach their essence, their deepest, their most sacred and vibrant inner world. Monika Wyss, the founder of the Heart Sanctuary and facilitator of the festival in Malaysia, joins us to share more.

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From the best-selling picture book by award-winning children's author, Oliver Jeffers, the simple story of true friendship in 'Lost and Found' comes to life with puppetry, songs and music. The show will be performed by Little Blue Monster Productions (creator of “Dogs Don’t Do Ballet” and “The Selfish Crocodile” stage shows). We find out how the story is being transported from page to stage by cast members Emily Feltham and Martin Atkinson.

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Poetry and theatre are part of the same discipline, and yet there's often a perceived division between the two. Can we argue that all theatre is, in one sense at least, poetry performed? Seasoned theatre practitioner of KL Shakespeare Players and BFM’s own Lim Soon Heng weighs in on this contentious topic.

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The Kuala Lumpur Biennale 2017 exhibition which kicked off late last year, celebrates the theme of "Beloved", and features works by 114 individuals from across the continents, consisting of 103 artists from Malaysia and 11 international artists. The exhibition consists of specially-curated selections spanning several eras, and includes paintings and installations encapsulated within five pillars, namely, love for humanity, animals, nature, heritage and spirituality. We find out more Tan Hui Koon, a Curator with the National Art Gallery of Malaysia.

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A fundraising concert recital in aid of Cancer Research Malaysia, An Evening with the KL Piano Trio and Tunku Sara Ahmad, promises a mix of classical and contemporary pieces. We find out more about the concert in store from Prof. Dato' Dr. Tunku Sara Binti Tunku Ahmad Yahaya, the vocalist for the performance.

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