Front Row

Known for his wicked puns and outspoken comments, popular Burmese satirist and comedian Zarganar is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence, for criticising the Burmese government's handling of Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

'This Prison Where I Live' is British filmmaker Rex Bloomstein's documentary on Zarganar, which gives a brief but poignant glimpse into his life, while taking a larger look at the situation in Burma.

Rex discusses the making of this film, and the many seemingly crazy things Zarganar did and endured for love of his country, freedom and justice.

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A wickedly funny look at Indian culture and life in New Zealand, "D'Arranged Marriage" is a Bollywood-style parody which tackles love, sex, the Indian culture and vegetables.

Written and presented by Those Indian Guys, this irreverent one-man performance features the acting talents of Tarun Mohanbai, who discusses the the multiple roles he plays, while chatting about interfering families, love, marriage, and universal Indian stereotypes. 

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Described as melodically rich, harmonically daring and rhythmically subtle, Gwilym Simcock is a multi-award winning prodigious pianist and composer who hails from the United Kingdom. 

Here in town with his trio to perform for two nights only, he shares snippets of his life and his brand of music, which is a special blend of classic and contemporary jazz, spiced with a fusion of classical music.

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Described as an artist who has documented processes of disruption, corruption and the manipulation of the environment, Yeoh Kean Thai returns with his latest solo exhibition of works, collectively titled 'Code Red – Action to Neutralise.

Set to be presented at the Shalini Ganendra Fine Art gallery, the award winning Kean Thai shares some personal insight about his new works, and explains just how the show invites audience participation in heroism.

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The knockabout antics of the Commedia dell’ Arte characters come to life in The Greatest Show on Earth: A Circus Story, a colourful children's theatre production by Western Australia's Murdoch University Children’s Performing Group.

Associate Professor Jenny De Reuck, the writer and director of the work, tells us more about this multicultural collaborative effort with the The Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur, and the role of Theatre in Education.

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Described as  one of New York City's foremost cultural ambassadors, the Battery Dance Company has been teaching, presenting and advocating dance, on both a local and global scale for some three decades now. 

The company is in town to work with Malaysian dance students and choreographers, and also youth from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, to present a performance titled An Informal Showing of Dance.

Jonathan Hollander, the founder, choreographer and artistic director of Battery Dance Company, who helped moderate the whole program, tells us what's in store.

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Racism, love, jealousy, betrayal - this potent mix of human frailties comes to life in Shakespeare's Othello, which makes its way to the Malaysian stage this week.

Presented by Masakini Theatre Company, director Tage Larsen and actor Pavan J. Singh, who plays the character Cassio in the play, tell us more about their take on this classic, which, despite its age, still mirrors our times today.

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The concept of Pecha Kucha is simple enough - presenters give a slideshow of 20 images, each shown for only 20 seconds, with no brief to constrain them - they are free to present their thoughts however they think best, so long as they keep to the time and format.

Started in Tokyo, 2003, Pecha Kucha is now a worldwide phenomenon, and the 11th installment in Kuala Lumpur is set to take place next week, with the theme "Getting Social",

Journalist and social media advocate Niki Cheong tells us about the great minds he has gathered, who will share their views on how social media has revolutionalised the way we communicate.

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Founded in 1955, the World Press Photo organisation in known for organising the world's largest annual press photography contest.

The prize-winning photographs are then assembled into a travelling exhibition, and viewed by over two million people in some 45 countries worldwide. 

Jurre Jannsen, the project manager at the World Press Photo Foundation tells us more about this international competition, and this year's winning entries.

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A residential home converted into an art space, Core Design Gallery's latest exhibition is a series of works by artist Ong Oh Hup Hoe, collectively titled 7th Heaven.

Gallery owner and art consultant Scarlette Lee, together with the versatile self-taught artist Hup Hoe, introduce us to this unique space that blends science and art, and the works that it is currently hosting.

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