Front Row

This is an edited version of a live recording of BFM's Speak Easy at The Joke Factory as part of MAP Fest 2019. In part one, host, Sheena Baharudin is joined by a lineup of polyglot poets as they explore the creative art of multilingualism.This is an edited version of a live recording of BFM's Speak Easy at The Joke Factory as part of MAP Fest 2019. In part one, host, Sheena Baharudin is joined by a lineup of polyglot poets as they explore the creative art of multilingualism.

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Aman Ali is a storyteller, comedian and social media personality from New York City who uses the power of narratives and humour to explore issues related to Muslims in America. Ali was in Kuala Lumpur recently for a series of performances and workshops, and we speak with him about why he thinks sharing our stories is the best way to reach across societal divides.

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The odissi dance form, which originates in the state of Odisha in India, has taken root and evolved in Malaysia in its own way. An event called “Samprajna” aims to connect contemporary odissi with the history of the dance, by bringing some of its most renowned exponents to Kuala Lumpur for both conversations and performances. We speak with the event’s curator.

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“The Tempest” is often considered to be one of William Shakespeare’s best plays, combining tragedy, comedy, and romance in a story that brings together magic, intrigue, and art. The play is being reimagined for an upcoming staging in Kuala Lumpur, by David Glass, who is renowned to be one of the founders of the physical, devised and applied theatre movements. We speak with Glass about the unexpected ways in which he has applied his approach to the Shakespeare play.

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The whirling dervishes of Turkey are a familiar sight. It is perhaps less known, however, that the whirling dervishes are a part of the Mevlevi order, which was founded in the 13th century by the Persian poet Rumi. A recent whirling dervish performance in Kuala Lumpur gave audiences the opportunity to see how poetry, music, movement, and worship come together. In honour of World Poetry Day, we learn more about this ancient practice founded by one of the most revered poets in history.

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In this age of constant image-making and instant shareability, how do we draw the line between the real and the image? Artist Ivan Lam examines this idea in his exhibition “FAUX”, where oil painting, still-life, and interestingly, Whatsapp images come together to question what is real and what is a copy - and what this says about the way we relate to the world today. We speak with Lam on the process behind putting the exhibition together.

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As the arts and culture fields in Malaysia move forward, there is an increasing need to see them as part of a larger ecosystem. One such aspect is sustainability, which is where the idea of building a creative economy comes in. But what exactly does this entail, and how can this be translated into the field in Malaysia? We speak to Tarek Virani, who is an expert on the field from the UK, on the subject; and with Florence Lambert from British Council Malaysia about how the British Council has been working with creative hubs globally with the aim of growing their local creative economies.

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Homegrown performing arts company TerryandTheCuz is taking Malaysian theatre international. Last year, they premiered a show off-Broadway in New York City, and now they have a slew of international productions up ahead. We speak with the company’s founders to find out more.

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“Pesta Filem Kita” by Projek Dialog is a short film festival that emphasises diversity. Following the election of a new government last year, the festival’s theme this time around focuses on what this “new” Malaysia means to the young people of the country. We speak with the festival curators to hear what we can expect from the films being screened.

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Two homegrown singers, each with her own approach to music, are coming together for the first time for a concert celebrating International Women’s Day. We speak with Zee Avi and NJWA about the latest updates on their music, and what it is like to share the stage with each other.

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Please note that this concert has been postponed to June 22, 2019.

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