HRDF WORKSHOP ON INTEGRATING DRAMA AND MUSIC INTO STORYTELLING (FREE)

Background

Storytelling in early childhood settings (childcare centres and pre-schools), is usually during circle time - children sit on the floor to listen to the teacher relating the story.  Misbehaviour is not uncommon during this activity because not only are the children passive but they are also in close proximity to each other.

By incorporating drama into storytelling, children are actively involved, especially in interpreting the story. In addition, they identify with the character they are portraying and interact with the others in dramatizing the story.  When children are allowed to change any part of the story, learning is extended and creativity is encouraged.

Learning and development are further enhanced through integration of music into the drama or storytelling, whenever and wherever appropriate.

Objective

The objectives of the programme is to enhance the effectiveness of early childhood practitioners in facilitating language, socio-emotional, psycho-motor development of young children through fun learning. 

Facilitators

DATO’ FARIDAH MERICAN

Co-Founder & Executive Producer
The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)
The Actors Studio (Malaysia)
Known as the First Lady of Malaysian Theatre, Faridah’s early acting credits include such plays as “Lela Mayang”, “Tok Perak”, “Uda dan Dara” and “Alang Rentak Seribu”, works that defined the Malaysian theatre in the 60s and 70s, and determined the direction that theatre would take in the next few decades. In the early 60s, she joined Radio and TV Malaysia. Simultaneously, she was involved in the formative years of Malaysian Advertising, and is today, a member of the board of directors of Ogilvy & Mather. She also sits on the board of several other institutions.
Faridah Merican was awarded the BOH Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award for 2004. In July 2005, Faridah was conferred the ‘Darjah Dato’ Paduka Tuanku Ja’afar’ by the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan on the occasion of His Highness’ 83rd Birthday. In August 2006, she received an Honorary Master of Letters at University Sains Malaysia’s 35th Convocation. Finally in 2014, Faridah received the Outstanding Achievement award under the Arts, Culture and Entertainment category from the Inaugural Malaysian Women of Excellence Awards. Faridah now sits on The Laureate Advisory Board and is the Executive Producer and co-founder of The Actors Studio, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre and the Performing Arts Centre of Penang (penangpac).

JOE HASHAM OAM

Co-Founder & Artistic Director
The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)
The Actors Studio (Malaysia)
Joe was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, did his schooling in Sydney, Australia, moved to Malaysia in 1984 and is now a proud permanent resident of his adopted country. Joe is Artistic Director and Co-Founder of The Actors Studio, klpac and penangpac, which he set up with his wife Faridah in 1989. Joe is a graduate of NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) at the University of NSW, Sydney, Australia. Before he made the decision to come to Malaysia, he was one of the most sought after actors in Australia. Joe is a multi-award winning film director, actor, writer and recording artist.
Joe was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), within the Australian Honours System “For Service to the performing arts through The Actors Studio (Malaysia) and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre; and, as an actor, writer, producer and director”.

MARK BEAU DE SILVA

Resident Director & Writer / Facilitator
Mark Beau de Silva has been working in the arts since 2002, first as a stage manager, then a playwright with The Actors Studio Academy. His first play Stories for Amah was directed in 2002 by Joe Hasham and garnered great reviews and full houses. Since then, Mark has written and directed many other plays namely “Oh My God”, “Bottom Top”, “Kaki Blue the Musical”, “ADAM the Musical”, and “Big Head Potato Head” which won 3 awards in the 2010 ADA Theatre Awards. In
2009, Mark spent 3 months working with South Korean company Nottle Theatre on a devised piece, and staged his first play in Singapore; “Mama‟s Wedding” with Action Theatre. In 2011 Mark won Best Director in the Short+Sweet Theatre Festival, and in 2013 the musical that he wrote “Marrying Me” won Audience Choice Award at the 2013 Cameronian Arts Awards. “Marrying Me in Concert” was staged in New York in September 2014. Mark recently won Best Director in the Short+Sweet Festival 2014 for Theatre Category.

OMAR ALI

Resident Director / Facilitator
Trained as a graphic designer and copywriter, Omar stumbled onto the stage by accident, liked it, and decided to stay. He does a bit of acting, directing, and set design.
His more recent adventures include Tragedi Hamlet (Aug 2016), Dato' Seri (Jun 2016), Zak Zebra's Malaysian Safari (Sep 2015), Uda dan Dara (Apr 2015), Zak Zebra's African Safari (Feb 2015), Sinbad: The Musical (April 2014), Rashomon (Jul 2013), Broken Bridges (May 2013), Philadelphia, Here I come! (Jan 2013).
In set design, he works alongside scenographer Yusman Mokhtar. Their recent works include The Taste of Water (Jul 2015), SuperMokh: The Musical (Nov 2013), Philadelphia, Here I come! (Jan 2013), and Paper Crane (Aug 2012) which won Best Set Design at the 2012 ADA Theatre Awards.
In 2013, Omar was awarded the Short+Sweet Festival Director's Award, and in 2014, his group won Best Overall Production as well as the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Creative Excellence Award at the annual Short+Sweet Festival. Omar is currently a resident director at klpac and is trying his miserable, clumsy hands at writing.

TUNG JIT YANG

Resident Director / Facilitator
Tung Jit Yang graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA (hons.) Drama in 2016. At Tisch, Jit trained in the Meisner approach to acting at The Meisner Studio; commedia dell'arte in Florence, Italy; Shakespeare's works at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London; and devising and directing for the stage at the Playwright's Horizons Theatre School. He has also trained in improv at The Second City, Chicago for a summer. Some past acting credits include: The Plots of a Tyrant (nyoba Kan); Trojan Women 2.0 by Charles Mee (The Meisner Studio); an adaptation of Lars Von Trier's Dogville (Tisch Stageworks); Timon of Athens by Shakespeare (RADA); Macbett by Ionesco (dir. Kelvin Wong); Unity (1918) by Kevin Kerr (The Meisner Studio); Crave by Sarah Kane (dir. Chris Ling); Hamlet by Shakespeare (dir. Chris Ling). Jit's professional directing credits in New York include “The Tribe” (2015) and “Chasing Light” (2016) – both new original works - with Shout Alone Theater Company. Upon returning to Malaysia, Jit was the Artist-in-Residence with theatrethreesixty and directed a newly devised experimental piece “Riwayat” (2016). He has now just begun his directing residency with The Actor's Studio at klpac.