Ma'ma Yong (About Nothing Much To Do) House Programme

Esplanade Presents

Pentas

22 OCT & 23 OCT 2015, THU & FRI, 3PM & 8PM 24 OCT 2015, SAT, 8PM ESPLANADE THEATRE STUDIO

About Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Esplanade is Singapore’s national performing arts centre and one of the busiest arts centres in the world. Since its opening in 2002, the centre has presented more than 31,000 performances, drawing an audience of 22 million patrons and 84 million visitors. This architectural icon, with its distinctive twin shells, houses world-class performance spaces complemented by a comprehensive range of professional support services. Its two main venues are the 1,600-seat Concert Hall and a Theatre with a capacity of 2,000. In March 2014, Esplanade’s Concert Hall was listed as one of the “world’s 15 most beautiful concert halls” by Hamburg-based building data company Emporis.

Esplanade’s vision is to be a performing arts centre for everyone and it seeks to enrich the lives of its community through the arts. The centre’s programming is guided by its mission – to entertain, engage, educate and inspire.

Its year-long arts calendar of about 3,000 performances presented by Esplanade, its collaboration partners and hirers cater to diverse audiences in Singapore and span different cultures, languages and genres including dance, music, theatre, visual arts and more. More than 70% of the shows that take place each year at the centre are non-ticketed. In May 2015, Esplanade was chosen as one of SG Heart Map’s 50 special places.

Esplanade regularly presents world-renowned companies and artists that attract international attention and add to Singapore’s cultural vibrancy. The centre is also a popular performance home for arts groups and commercial presenters who hire its venues to stage a wide range of programmes. These carefully curated presentations complement Esplanade’s own diverse offerings for audiences.

Esplanade works in close partnership with local, regional and international artists to develop artistic capabilities, push artistic boundaries and engage audiences. The centre supports the creation of artistic content and develops technical capabilities for the industry nationally.

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Visit www.esplanade.com for more information.

Board Members Mr Lee Tzu Yang (Chairman) Mr Benson Puah (Chief Executive Officer) Dr Beh Swan Gin Mrs Rosa Daniel Ms Kathy Lai Dr Jennifer Lee

Mrs Christine Ong Mr Ramlee Bin Buang Ms Saw Phaik Hwa Mrs Mildred Tan-Sim Beng Mei Mr Yap Chee Meng Mr Andre Yeap

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Esplanade’s Community Programmes are supported by Tote Board Family, comprising Tote Board, Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club.

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SYNOPSIS

Young love birds Claudio and Hero are about to be married. On the eve of their wedding, Claudio comes to the conclusion that Hero was unfaithful to her. The next day, Hero is humiliated at the altar and dies from grief.

Meanwhile, his cousin Beatrice is at loggerheads with Benedick. Both are perfectly suited for each other but are in denial. The others plot to get them together, and the couple is tricked into confessing their feelings for each other.

Adapted from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Ma’ma Yong (About Nothing Much To Do) is a romance comedy set against the backdrop of a mental asylum. Presented by an ethnically diverse group of actors, Ma’ma Yong serves you the local, the medieval, the cultural and the spiritual all on a single platter.

This production is commissioned by Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. (1hr 30mins, no intermission) Performed in Malay and various languages, with English surtitles.

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DIRECTOR’S NOTE First and foremost, I wish to express my utmost gratitude to Esplanade. A 1,001 terima kasih la sangat-sangat (thanks) for giving me the opportunity to restage one of my past works, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. This is the second time I am staging Ma’ma Yong (About Nothing Much to Do.) It was first performed at the Arts House Play Den in 2008, and has even been translated into Japanese by Mr Ken Takiguchi from Asian Shakespeare Intercultural Archive (A|S|I|A). This loose adaptation received rave reviews from the audience when it was first presented—it left them immensely entertained as evidenced in the raucous laughter that filled the theatre. Amidst the humour though, the play touches on aspects of life and is about what it means to be human. As it is said, art imitates life.

My initial intention for creating this work was to bring back teater rakyat (community theatre), in which the style of performance and discipline differ from most of what we see today. Actors are allowed to break the third wall and be out of character, to interact with the audience as themselves before switching back into character. This is why I chose Mak Yong (Ma’ma Yong) as the guiding form of this whole play. In Mak Yong, everyone present is involved—from the players to the musicians, even the audience. The interactions and responses are live and sincere. To me, this is theatre.

My main objectives for doing the production were, firstly, to have actors of different races perform a Malay play, which would make it more interesting and meaningful. Through my research, I came across a dissertation that explained Shakespeare’s intention in featuring characters of different European ethnicities in Much Ado About Nothing. The mix palette offered in this staging is my take on it.

Secondly, I found the need to make Shakespeare text more accessible and easier to understand. Hence, the language was appropriated for the local audience—this is Shakespeare told by a Singapore Mat [pronounced ‘mut’, meaning ‘Malay man’].

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Finally, there was a strong desire to share my culture, whether with people of different backgrounds or those who may share the same culture as me but unfamiliar to it. I have immense love for my cultural arts—I have been practicing dikir barat [traditional Malay dance] for a very long time and am also versed in silat [a Malay martial art form]and traditional Malay music. There are other Asian traditional forms that actors and audiences may be more familiar with, yet I find that the traditional Malay arts has its own similar yet unique type of discipline, groundedness, spiritual focus and respect for the stage, which is worth sharing.

I am honoured to be collaborating once more with Gerentak Network and their extraordinary line up of musicians Aidil Akmal, Jeffri Natawate, Armanfly, and Ridwan Ramli, under the direction of Fadhli Ramlee, a young musician whose range and depth continues to amaze me. I am humbled to have two otais [old-timers], lighting maestro Abang Farez Aljunied and Datuk Hazli Haz on the soundboard, with me on this quest. It has also been a tremendous honour working with such extraordinary performers and a production team who have poured their hearts and souls into this.

Most importantly, I would especially like to thank all of you who have joined us today in completing the experience.

NAJIB SOIMAN DIRECTOR

Photo Credit: Bright Ong (@el_brighto)

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THE DIRECTOR / PLAYWRIGHT A prominent figure on stage as well as screen, Najib Soiman is an award winning actor present in both the Malay and English scenes. Having been in the scene for over two decades, Najib has done numerous work locally, regionally as well as internationally.

Some of his notable appearances include works in Croatia, Austria, Italy, Japan and China. Besides being known for his acting chops, Najib is also an avid writer, playwright and director. His visions are boundless, displaying themselves in a slew of platforms; from black-box theatre to musical stage, and even concert halls and rock concerts.

Taking an active role in theatre education, Najib is currently a trainer of drama at Temasek Polytechnic and an adjunct lecturer of acting and production at Singapore Polytechnic.

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THE PLAYERS Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit Fatimah and Ma’ma Yong Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit graduated with a degree in drama from Queensland University of Technology, Australia. Aidli writes, directs, acts, teaches and designs lighting and costumes, and has produced arts education programmes for schools. She has worked extensively with local theatre companies like The Necessary Stage, Teater Kami, Wild Rice, Cake Theatre, Toy Factory, The Theatre Practice, Teater Ekamatra and Drama Box. Together with Noor Effendy Ibrahim and Alfian Sa’at, Aidli published an anthology of Malay plays in the book, BISIK. She is also an experienced practitioner of Forum Theatre. She has toured Scotland, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Romania, Hong Kong and Hungary to perform Singapore theatre. Aidli is the founder and director of Panggung ARTS and is the recipient of the Young Artist Award for Theatre in 2008. She is currently Section Head of the Arts Division in the Student and Alumni Affairs department at Temasek Polytechnic, and is also pursuing her Master of Education.

Aidil Akmal Priest Aidil Akmal is currently pursuing a diploma in music production and audio engineering at Orita Sinclair.

He is a part of AltoAura and Keris, a dikir barat group. Music has always been a passion and an art that he loves, and he is honoured to be part of this wonderful production working alongside talented artists and musicians. He hopes that this production will be the start of a beautiful journey.

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Al-Matin Yatim Don Pedro and Guard 3 Al-Matin Yatim first began acting in 2007 as a member of Temasek Polytechnic Malay arts group, Titisan Temasek. Since then, he has worked with theatre and dance companies and organisations including National University of Singapore Malay dance group, Panggung Arts, People’s Association, Teater Artistik, Teater Kami, Theatre Lab, Cake Theatrical Production, Chowk, DramaBox and Hatch Theatrics.

He is a graduating student of Intercultural Theatre Institute.

Arman Abdul Rahman Priest Arman, or better known as Fly, is a guitarist and self-employed sound engineer who owns ArmanFly Music Crew. A former member of Wirama, Fly has also recorded and released music with local Malay gothic rock metal band MAMBANG, as well as with local reggae band, Shine. A versatile musician, Fly loves traditional Malay music and reggae.

Other than weddings and corporate events, Fly has performed at Esplanade, at festivals including Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts and Muara Festival, to name a few. He was also represented Singapore at the Folk Dance & Music Festival in Switzerland with Sri Warisan. Fly is currently pursuing his dream in orchestrating and preserving traditional Malay music, with guidance from Syawal Kasim.

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April Kong Min Qi Antonio, Messenger, Ursula, Conrade and Guard April Kong has been passionate about performing since the age of five. Her passion for the arts grew when she was in ITE. In 2013, she participated Sing A Nation with her group, HeartVox standing on the national stage at the floating platform singing the National Day opening theme song for 2013. This year, she is back taking her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Theatre Arts.

Bib Mockram Hero, Borachio Shadow Play (Act 2), Margaret Shadow Play and Guard A passionate dancer and an aspiring choreographer, Bib Mockram admits to being in a convoluted love affair with theatre, the stage and the human body. Having studied fine arts, she is also an avid painter with a particular affinity to charcoal. Bib has a background in traditional Malay dance and contemporary Malay dance theatre.

For over a decade, she has been actively training, performing and choreographing with Perkumpulan Seni, Singapura. In 2009, she co-founded youthcentric Malay dance group, Kres Dancers. She went into theatre in 2010 when she became part of the pioneering batch of Teater Ekamatra’s youth theatre incubation programme, Mereka. In 2012, she pioneered the Kaizen Residency Programme, in which she was under the tutelage of renowned international dance masters Ery Mefri of Nan Jombang Dance Company, and Silvester Parmadi of Institut Seni Indonesia, Surakarta. She is currently artist and choreographer with multidisciplinary arts group, The Kaizen M.D. In 2010, Bib returned to her alma mater and is presently resident choreographer of Malay Dance at Raffles Girls’ School.

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Bright Ong Don John and Guard Bright is a graduate from the National University of Singapore and is also an alumni scholar of the Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Young Co. Apart from acting, he is also a puppeteer who has worked on both stage and international television programmes.

Theatre credits include: Macbeth, Shakespeare in the Park, SRT, 2011; Lan Fang Chronicles, Singapore Arts Festival, 2012; Lord of the Flies, SRT Young Co, 2012. mOOn ballOOn, Patch Theatre & Esplanade, 2013; Marco Polo, Theatreworks, 2014; 2 Houses, directed

by Lim Yu-Beng for the Georgetown Festival, 2014; Words and Music, NUS Festival of the Arts, 2015; Ragnarok, Skinned Knee Productions, 2015; and Pretty Things, by Pat Toh, 2012, which was nominated Best Production of the Year and Best Ensemble at the 2013 Life! Theatre Awards.

He is veritably honoured to get to work on Najib Soiman’s Ma’ma Yong.

Jeffri Natawate Priest What initially started as a hobby for Jeffri Natawate soon developed into a deep passion in Malay percussion with Orchestra Melayu Marsiling. While studying in Singapore Polytechnic, he was a part of the Malay performing arts group, which exposed him to various forms of arts aside from music.

Jeffri has represented Singapore at dance and music festivals in Riau, Jakarta and Karimun, to name a few. He is currently a member of Orkestra Sri Temasek and AltoAura.

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Noris ‘Wandy’ Mustafa Claudio and Guard 1 Noris ‘Wandy’ Mustafa has been involved in the theatre scene since early 1994. He has developed into a stage performer whom people have come to know as Noris.

Following his last performance, Merah Pawana, in 2011, he took a four-year hiatus. Ma’ma Yong marks his return to theatre, fuelled and hungry for more.

Norisham Osman Benedick, Borachio Shadow Play (Act 5) and Guard The first Singaporean to hold the title “24-Hour Dancer”, Norisham stumbled upon traditional Malay dance in secondary school. His passion deepened, and for 11 years danced with People’s Association and Era Dance Theatre Ltd, exposing himself to various local and international festivals. Besides traditional Malay dance, he also attended choreography workshops by well-known choreographers including Tom Ibnur (Jakarta), Ibu Hartati (Jakarta), Bimo Wiwohatmo (Jakarta), Ery Mefri (Padang), Silvester Pamardi (Solo) and Osman Abdul Hamid (Singapore).

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Pramila D/O Krishnasamy Dr Lim, Borachio and Dogberry Pramila D/O Krishnasamy, or more affectionately known as Pam, is a theatre student from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. She has done puppet shows for schools and night festivals with Paper Monkey Theatre. She is also currently a speech and drama teacher at various pre-schools. Known for her proficiency in Mandarin, she has done shows and hosted corporate events in Mandarin as well. She has also worked with Ravindran Drama group in several productions including All Is Well, Anton Chekov’s Vaudevilles and the recent Danny Crowe Show.

Ridwan Bin Ramli Priest A professional percussionist with a penchant for traditional music, Ridwan is a sought-after freelance percussionist majoring in traditional Malay percussion instruments and a sound engineer who performs with Nadi Singapura and Sri Gemilang Traditional Band. Aside from music, he is also involved in dance performances and is an actor.

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Selma Alkaff Beatrice, Guard 2 and Bird Selma is a theatre practitioner of Arab and Swedish descent and speaks Malay as her second language.

She graduated from the School of The Arts (SOTA) in 2014 with an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in Theatre. Outside of school, Selma participated in SRT’s the Little Company’s competition, The Write Stuff, in 2008 where she came in 2nd-runner up for her original play. She also participated in Drama Box’s Project Mending Sky: US in 2012. Earlier this year, Selma acted as Lauren in the Pangdemonium production, Circle Mirror Transformation.

Sharon Joy Frese Leonato, Don John Shadow Play and Guard Sharon Frese is a British Afro-Caribbean theatre practitioner who has been residing in Singapore since 2009 and is loving every moment of being in Ma’ma Yong. She spent 10 years in Germany working with Juks Theater Giessen (Children & Business Theatre), Keller Theater Giessen (US Military), and another six years at The English Theatre (ETF) Frankfurt. A Rose Bruford Alumni, Sharon has lectured at NUS and performed with local and expat theatre companies and drama schools including LASALLE, Tisch NYU Asia, The Necessary Stage, Teater Ekamatra, Wild Rice, TheatreWorks and French Stage. Recent acting and directing projects include The Extraordinary Travels of Miss British, Anak Mak Satu, MediaCorp‘s Whispers of The Dead, The Faith of Anna Waters, Ma Vie avec Mozart and George and The Music Box.

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THE TEAM Fadhli Ramlee Music Director Fadhli Ramlee started in the arts in 2003. Over the years, he has worked with various theatre companies including Teater Ekamatra, Teater Titisan, Teater Artistik and Sri Anggerek Bangsawan.

A musician in the traditional Malay music scene, he majored in the accordion, the Middle Eastern oud and the violin. Fadhli has directed music in various productions, produced music and artistically directed for Malay Heritage Centre’s neighbourhood sketches, Langkah Nada Kita, featuring Najib Soiman. His latest arrangement was used in Temasek Polytechnic’s TeatroFest production, Salammalas, written and directed by Soiman.

Fadhli is also an arts educator teaching traditional Malay music and theatrical form, Bangsawan.

Norhaizad Adam Choreographer Norhaizad Adam is an assistant choreographer, dance instructor and senior dancer at Azpirasi. His choreography is a fusion of contemporary dance and traditional Malay techniques and vocabulary.

Norhaizad was selected by National Arts Council to represent Singapore in ASEAN Cultural Youth Camp in 2011. He also represented Singapore the 24-hour Solo dance competition in celebration of World Dance Day 2014.

He has worked with Azmi Juhari, Osman Hamid (Era Dance theatre), Dance Master Tom Ibnur (Indonesia), Ricky Sim (Rawmoves), Elysa Wendi (Arts Fission), Ming Zhi (Re Dance Theatre), Norisham Osman (The Kaizen M.D.) and Davit Fitrik (Indonesia).

Muhammad Syaiful Hairi Set Designer Hairi is also an aspiring spatial designer. Some of his notable works include an exhibition for The Heritage Festival, set design for Lagenda Rock Singapura 2012, and set installation work for Untitled by The Kaizen M.D. With an eye for spatial beauty and a deep love for dance, Hairi is on a continuous journey to expand his creativity in movement art, dance theatre and theatrical design.

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Fares Aljunied Lighing Designer Fares Aljunied has worked on many events including concerts, fashion shows, awards, music festivals and museum exhibitions in and out of Singapore as a lighting designer or lighting system engineer. In addition, he is responsible for lighting of many corporate events in Asia as well. Since 2008, he has been the official trainer for MA Lighting consoles in the Asia Pacific Region.

Hazli Bin Mokhlas Sound Engineer As a sound engineer, Hazli Moklas’ diverse experience in both theatre and the rock and roll scene allows him to explore new possibilities in the arena of ‘live’ performance.

He hopes to break new ground and infuse the ‘live art’ scene with alternatives that will create a cathartic experience for the audience. He has worked on projects such as Pesta Gendang Nusantara Melaka, Singing in the Rain and Forbidden City. He is currently a technical advisor and tutor at Raffles Institution for the music department.

Azyy Alias Stage Manager Azyy Alias is an NTU graduate with a degree in English Literature, Drama and Performance. She is a freelance stage manager and has worked with local theatre companies including The Necessary Stage, W!ld Rice and Cake Theatrical Productions.

Hidayah Adnan Assistant Stage Manager A graduate of Republic Polytechnic, Hidayah has a Diploma in Technology and Arts Management and is currently exploring her limits. She hopes to gradually develop her skills in various aspects of this industry and is excited to discover what life has in store for her.

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PRODUCTION CREDITS Director/Playwright Choreographer Production Manager Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Lighting Designer Set Designer Sound Engineer Make up Make up Assistant Surtitlist Crew Producer Curation Production Management Publicity Photography

Najib Soiman Norhaizad Adam Sazali Hussain Azyy Alias Hidayah Adnan Fares Aljunied Hairi Cromo Hazli Mokhlas Mehroon Hafiz Alwi Muhammad Sufiyan Adam Tan Jia Hui

Fezhah Maznan (Esplanade) Pentas programming team (Esplanade) Isis Koh (Esplanade) Ruey Loon @ 36frames

Performers

Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit Al-Matin Yatim April Kong Bib Mockram Bright Ong Noris ‘Wandy’ Mustafa Norisham Osman Pramila D/O Krishnasamy Selma Alkaff Sharon Frese

Musicians

Aidil Akmal Arman Abdul Rahman Fadhli Ramlee Jeffri Natawate Ridwan Ramli

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special Thanks to

Azrin Abdullah Imaginator Studio Iswandiarjo.b.wa Kampung Collection Moephosis Nadzyrah Pillow The following students from Swiss Cottage Secondary School: Arsyad B Abdul Jalil Soo Yi Tao Lim Zhi Qi Rachel Maeve Koh Khor Vanessa Loo Yu Qing, Lester Celeste Lye Zi Yan Michel Ho Yeng Kit Chia Jin Yang Dyan Hanira Bte Mohamad Darus Caslyn Phang Yun Shan Chee Yu Mei Sara Under the mentorship of Mr Erman Abu Bakar.

Masks courtesy of Swiss Cottage Secondary School. Photo credit: Erman Abu Bakar

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5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT

Ma’ma Yong, being set in a mental asylum, was inspired by Najib’s sister, a staff nurse at the Institute of Mental Health.

This is Najib’s first production after a five-year hiatus from directing.

The cast comprises multicultural performers who speak English, Malay, German, French, Jamaican, Swede, Mandarin, Tamil and Thai.

All non-Malay speaking cast members went through intensive lessons to speak and sing in Malay.

The instruments that you hear during the performance include an oud (lute), gendang (drum), rebana (tambourine), violin, flute, accordion, rebab (two-string bowed instrument), drums, guitar, bass and keyboard, among others.

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SINOPSIS

Sepasang kekasih muda, Claudio dan Hero, akan diijab-kabulkan.

Malangnya, sehari sebelum hari pernikahan mereka, gara-gara termakan fitnah, Claudio telah menuduh Hero berlaku curang. Hero dimalukan di atas mezbah dan dikatakan telah mati akibat terlalu sedih.

Manakala sepupunya Hero, Beatrice, sentiasa bertengkar dengan Benedick. Kedua-duanya bagaikan pinang dibelah dua tetapi sering bercakaran. Kaum kerabat bersama teman-teman berkomplot untuk menyatukan mereka; Beatrice dan Benedick terpedaya dan akhirnya, mengaku perasaan cinta mereka.

Sebuah adaptasi dari Much Ado About Nothing oleh Shakespeare, Ma’ma Yong (About Nothing Much To Do) adalah sebuah komedi romantis yang menceritakan akan sebuah pementasan yang berlaku di sebuah hospital sakit jiwa. Dengan barisan pelakon yang terdiri dari pelbagai bangsa dan budaya, Ma’ma Yong menjanjikan sajian yang beraneka citarasa, dari genre lokal ke feudalisma langsung ke budaya dan spiritual dalam satu hidangan.

(1 jam 30 minit, tiada waktu rehat) Dipersembahkan dalam Bahasa Melayu dan sarikata dalam Bahasa Inggeris.

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KATA-KATA ALUAN PENGARAH Pertama sekali, saya ingin mengucapkan jutaan terima kasih saya kepada Esplanade kerana memberikan saya peluang untuk mementaskan kembali salah satu karya saya yang merupakan naskah adaptasi daripada Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing. Inilah kali kedua saya mementaskan Ma’ma Yong (About Nothing Much To Do).

Ia telah dipentaskan buat pertama kalinya di Arts House Playden pada tahun 2008 dan telah diterjemahkan kepada bahasa jepun oleh Encik Ken Takaguchi dari Asian Shakespeare Intercultural Archive. Apabila dipentaskan buat pertama kalinya, pementasan ini telah mendapat sambutan yang baik. Penonton rasa sangat terhibur sekali. Di sebalik gelak ketawa itu , pementasan itu telah mengutarakan tentang aspek kehidupan dan erti untuk menjadi seorang manusia. Seperti yang sering dikatakan, seni mencerminkan kehidupan sebenar.

Niat pertama saya untuk menghasilkan karya ini adalah untuk mengembalikan semula teater rakyat di mana cara persembahan dan disiplinnya berbeza dengan apa yang kita dapat lihat sekarang ini.

Para pelakon diberikan kebebasan untuk merentasi sempadan dan bermain di luar watak, dapat berinteraksi bersama penonton sebelum kembali semula kepada permainan watak mereka. Sebab itulah saya memilih Mak Yong sebagai pembimbing untuk pementasan ini.

Dalam pementasan ini, semua yang ada akan terlibat, sama dari para pelakon kepada para pemuzik, termasuk juga para penonton. Mereka akan berinteraksi secara spontan dan terlihat reaksi yang ikhlas.

Matlamat utama pementasan ini adalah, pertama sekali, untuk mendapatkan pelakon dari berbilang kaum di dalam satu pementasan Melayu. Ia akan menjadi sesuatu yang menarik dan lebih bermakna.

Semasa saya membuat kajian, saya terserempak dengan sebuah disertasi yang memberikan penerangan tentang niat Shakespeare mengetengahkan watak-watak dari pelbagai kaum di Eropa di dalam naskah Much Ado About Nothing. Saya mengambil percampuran menarik ini ke dalam karya saya.

Kedua, saya rasa ia amat penting untuk membuat naskah Shakespeare senang dinikmati dan difahami ramai. Sebab itulah bahasa yang digunakan di dalam pementasan ini sesuai dengan penonton tempatan, naskah Shakespeare yang disampaikan oleh seorang ‘Mat’.

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Terakhir sekali, saya mempunyai daya yang tinggi untuk mengongsi budaya saya bersama mereka yang berlainan latar belakang ataupun mereka yang sama seperti saya tetapi tidak mengenalinya.

Saya sangat mencintai budaya dan seni Melayu.

Saya sudah lama mempraktik seni dikir barat, silat dan muzik tradisional Melayu. Terdapat juga jenis tradisi Asia lain yang diketahui para pelakon dan penonton tetapi saya rasakan yang seni tradisi Melayu juga sama dan sangat unik dari segi disiplin, mempunyai sikap kesederhanaan, kerohanian dan perasaan hormat terhadap sesuatu. Ia adalah sesuatu yang baik untuk dikongsi.

Saya rasa sungguh berbesar hati kerana dapat bekerjasama sekali lagi dengan Gerentak Network bersama barisan pemuzik yang hebat belaka seperti Aidil Akmal, Jeffri Natawate, Armanfly, dan Ridwan Ramli di bawah arahan Muhammad Fadhli Ramlee yang merupakan seorang pemuzik muda tetapi pengalaman beliau amat menakjubkan saya. Saya amat terharu kerana dua orang ‘otai’, pereka pencahayaan iaitu Farez Aljunied dan juru audio, Datuk Hazli Haz yang sudi menjayakan pementasan ini bersama saya.

Peluang bekerjasama dengan seniman-seniman dan kumpulan kreatif yang telah bertungkus lumus untuk pementasan ini amat berharga sekali untuk saya. Yang paling penting sekali, saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada anda yang telah bersama kami pada hari ini dalam menyempurnakan pengalaman emas ini.

NAJIB SOIMAN PENGARAH

Foto ihsan: Bright Ong (@el_brighto)

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TUAN PENGARAH & PENULIS Najib Soiman merupakan seorang tokoh terkenal di pentas mahupun televisyen. Pelakon yang pernah merangkul beberapa anugerah ini telah menjayakan rancangan-rancangan Inggeris dan Melayu. Setelah lebih dua dekad berkecimpung dalam industri seni, Najib sudah menghasilkan banyak karya termasuk di peringkat serantau dan antarabangsa.

Antara kemunculannya yang berkesan ialah bagi pementasan di Croatia, Austria, Itali, Jepun dan Cina.

Selain dikenali dengan lakonannya, Najib juga seorang penulis, dramawan dan pengarah berbakat.

Visinya yang tidak terbatas disalurkan dalam pelbagai wadah; dari pentas black-box hingga muzikal, dan juga dewan konsert serta konsert rock.

Untuk memainkan peranan yang aktif dalam pendidikan teater, Najib kini seorang pelatih drama di Politeknik Temasek dan pensyarah sambilan dalam bidang lakonan dan pementasan di Politeknik Singapura.

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PEMAIN-PEMAIN Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit Fatimah and Ma’ma Yong Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit memegang ijazah dalam bidang drama dari Queensland University of Technology (Australia). Aidli menulis, mengarah, berlakon, mengajar, mereka pencahayaan dan busana. Beliau juga telah menerbitkan program pendidikan seni untuk sekolah-sekolah. Beliau telah bekerja rapat dengan banyak syarikat teater tempatan seperti The Necessary Stage, Teater Kami, Wild Rice, Cake Theatre, Toy Factory, The Theatre Practice, Teater Ekamatra dan Drama Box. Bersama-sama Noor Effendy Ibrahim dan Alfian Sa’at, Aidli menerbitkan naskhah antologi drama Melayu, BISIK. Beliau juga adalah pengamal Teater Forum yang berpengalaman. Beliau telah jelajah ke Scotland, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Romania, Hong Kong dan Hungary untuk mempersembahan teater jenama Singapura. Aidli adalah Pengasas / Pengarah kumpulan Panggung Arts dan penerima Anugerah Artis Muda untuk Teater pada 2008. Beliau kini bertugas di Politeknik Temasek sebagai Ketua Bahagian Seni, di jabatan Hal Ehwal Pelajar dan Alumni, sambil mengejar Sarjana dalam Pendidikan.

Aidil Akmal Paderi Aidil Akmal kini sedang menjalani pengajian dalam bidang penerbitan muzik dan kejuruteraan audio peringkat diploma di Orita Sinclair. Beliau merupakan salah satu anggota kumpulan AltoAura dan dikir barat, Keris. Sejak dari dulu lagi, beliau sangat meminati bidang muzik dan seni. Beliau juga berasa berbesar hati kerana dapat menjayakan pementasan ini bersama para artis dan pemuzik yang lain. Beliau berharap pementasan ini adalah permulaan yang baik baginya.

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Al-Matin Yatim Don Pedro dan Pegawal Ketiga Al-Matin Yatim mula berlakon sejak tahun 2007. Ketika itu beliau merupakan salah satu anggota kumpulan kesenian Melayu, Titisan Temasek di Politeknik Temasek. Semenjak itu, beliau telah bekerjasama dengan kumpulan teater, tarian dan organisasi seperti Kumpulan Tarian Universiti kebangsaan Singapura, Panggung Arts, People’s Association, Teater Artistik, Teater Kami, Theatre Lab, Cake Theatrical Production, Chowk, DramaBox dan Hatch Theatrics.

Beliau merupakan siswazah di Intercultural Theatre Institute.

Arman Abdul Rahman Paderi Arman atau lebih dikenali sebagai Fly, merupakan seorang pemain gitar dan bertugas sebagai juruaudio di dalam syarikatnya, ArmanFly Music Crew. Mantan anggota Wirama ini, juga telah merakamkan muzik bersama kumpulan ‘goth metal’ Mambang dan juga kumpulan reggae, Shine.

Seorang pemuzik yang versatil, Fly sangat meminati irama muzik tradisional dan reggae.

Selain acara korporat dan perkahwinan, Fly juga terlibat dalam beberapa festival seperti Pesta Raya - Pesta seni Melayu dan Festival Muara. Beliau juga mewakili Singapura dalam Festival Tarian dan Muzik Rakyat di Switzerland bersama kumpulan Sri Warisan. Kini, Fly sedang mengejar impiannya dalam mengorkestra dan memelihara muzik tradisional Melayu dengan bimbingan Syawal Kasim.

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April Kong Min Qi Antonio, Utusan, Ursula, Conrade dan Pengawal April Kong meminati dunia pementasan sejak beliau berumur 5 tahun. Cinta kepada dunia seni menggembang ketika beliau berada di ITE. Pada tahun 2013, beliau telah menyertai acara Sing A Nation bersama kumpulan beliau iaitu HeartVOX dan membuat persembahan lagu tema Hari Kebangsaan di platform terapung di upacara itu. Kini, beliau sedang menjalani pengajian Sarjana Muda Sastera (Kepujian) dalam Seni Teater.

Bib Mockram Hero, Borachio (Wayang Kulit) (Babak Kedua), Margaret (Wayang Kulit), Pengawal Bib Mockram adalah seorang penari yang bersemangat jitu dan beraspirasi untuk menjadi seorang koreografer. Beliau juga adalah pelajar seni halus dengan kemahiran melukis dengan arang.

Pengalaman tariannya pula adalah dalam tarian tradisional dan kontemporari.

Selama sedekad, beliau telah berlatih, membuat persembahan dan mereka tari bersama Perkumpulan Seni Singapura. Pada tahun 2009, beliau merajui sebuah kumpulan tarian belia, Kres Dancers. Pada tahun 2010, beliau berjinak-jinak ke bidang teater dan menganggotai sayap belia Teater Ekamatra, Mereka. Pada tahun 2012, beliau mengasas Kaizen Residency Programme di bawah naungan penari- penari antararabangsa yang tersohor seperti Ery Mefri dari Nan Jombang Dance Company dan Silvester Parmadi dari Institut Seni Indonesia, Surakarta. Kini, beliau merupakan artis dan koreografer bersama kumpulan seni pelbagai disiplin, The Kaizen M.D. Pada tahun 2010, beliau kembali ke sekolah lamanya dan kini menjadi koreografer tetap di Kumpulan Tarian Melayu Sekolah Perempuan Raffles.

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Bright Ong Don John dan Pengawal Bright merupakan siswazah dari Universiti Kebangsaan Singapura dan juga Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Young Co. Selain dari berlakon, Bright juga seorang dalang untuk teater dan juga program televisyen antarabangsa.

Penglibatan teater beliau termasuk Macbeth, Shakespeare in the Park, SRT, 2011; Lan Fang Chronicles, Singapore Arts Festival, 2012; Lord of the Flies, SRT Young Co, 2012; mOOn ballOOn, Patch Theatre & Esplanade, 2013; Marco Polo, Theatreworks, 2014; 2 Houses, arahan oleh Lim Yu-Beng for the Georgetown Festival, 2014; Words and Music, NUS Festival of the Arts, 2015; Ragnarok, Skinned Knee Productions, 2015; dan Pretty Things, arahan oleh Pat Toh, 2012, beliau juga pernah menerima pencalonan untuk Life! Theatre Awards 2013 bagi Produksi Tahunan yang Terbaik dan Ensemble Terbaik.

Bright amat berbesar hati menerima kesempatan untuk melibatkan diri dalam produksi Ma’ma Yong (About Nothing Much to Do) oleh Najib Soiman.

Jeffri Natawate Paderi Ia bermula sebagai sebuah hobi, kemudian menjadi sebuah minat yang mendalam terhadap genderang Melayu setelah Jeffri Natawate menyertai Orkestra Melayu Marsiling.

Semasa pengajiannya di Politeknik Temasek, beliau adalah salah satu anggota Kumpulan Kesenian Melayu. Di situlah, Jeffri didedahkan dengan pelbagai jenis kesenian selain daripada muzik.

Beliau pernah mewakili Singapura di festival tarian dan muzik di Riau, Jakarta dan Karimun. Kini beliau adalah anggota kumpulan Orkestra Sri Temasek dan Alto Aura.

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Noris ‘Wandy’ Mustafa Claudio dan Pengawal Pertama Noris ‘Wandy’ Mustafa telah berkecimpung di dalam arena teater sejak tahun 1994. Pementasan Ma’ma Yong merupakan teater kembalinya beliau ke atas pentas selepas ‘menyepi’ selama 4 tahun. Kali terakhir beliau membuat persembahan adalah di dalam pementasan Merah Pawana iaitu pada tahun 2011.

Norisham Osman Benedick, Borachio (Wayang Kulit) (Babak Kelima) dan Pengawal Norisham merupakan warga Singapura pertama mendapat gelaran ‘Penari 24 jam’. Beliau berjinak-jinak dalam tarian tradisional Melayu ketika beliau berada di sekolah menengah.

Minatnya berkembang dan beliau telah bersama People’s Association and Era Dance Theatre Ltd selama 11 tahun. Di situlah, beliau didedahkan kepada pelbagai festival-festival di dalam dan luar negeri. Selain dari tarian tradisional Melayu, beliau juga menyertai bengkel tarian bersama koreografer tersohor seperti Tom Ibnur (Jakarta), Ibu Hartati (Jakarta), Bimo Wiwohatmo (Jakarta), Ery Mefri (Padang), Silvester Pamardi (Solo) and Osman Abdul Hamid (Singapura).

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Pramila D/O Krishnasamy Dr Lim, Borachio and Dogberry Pam adalah seorang pelajar teater dari Akademi Seni Halus Nanyang. Beliau telah membuat persembahan boneka untuk sekolah-sekolah dan festival malam bersama Paper Monkey Theatre.

Beliau kini mengajar kelas percakapan dan drama di beberapa pra-sekolah. Beliau terkenal dengan kebolehannya bertutur dalam bahasa Mandarin dan telah banyak membuat persembahan dan acara korporat di dalam bahasa itu. Beliau juga pernah berkerja di kumpulan Ravindran Drama di dalam beberapa produksi seperti All Is Well, Anton Chekov’s Vaudevilles dan baru-baru ini bersama Danny Crowe Show.

Ridwan Bin Ramli Paderi Beliau merupakan seorang pemain genderang professional dan penggemar muzik tradisional.

Beliau amat mahir di dalam setiap alat muzik genderang Melayu. Beliau sering membuat persembahan bersama Nadi Singapura dan kumpulan tradisional Sri Gemilang. Selain muzik, beliau juga melibatkan diri dalam persembahan tarian dan lakonan.

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Selma Alkaff Beatrice, Pengawal Kedua dan Burung Selma adalah seorang penggiat teater yang berdarah kacukan Arab dan Sweden, namun beliau fasih bertutur dalam Bahasa Melayu. Beliau merupakan penuntut dari Sekolah Kesenian Singapura (SOTA) dan mempunyai International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma di dalam jurusan teater. Di luar persekolahannya, Selma turut serta dalam pertandingan ‘The Write Stuff’ anjuran SRT’s Little Company di mana beliau menduduki tempat ketiga untuk naskahnya. Beliau juga menjayakan pementasan bersama Drama Box’s Project Mending Sky: US pada tahun 2012. Pada awal tahun ini, beliau berlakon sebagai Lauren di dalam pementasan Pangdemonium Production, Circle Mirror Transformation.

Sharon Joy Frese Leonato, Don John (Wayang Kulit) dan Pengawal Sharon Frese adalah seorang penggiat teater British Afro-Carribean yang telah bermastautin di Singapura sejak tahun 2009. Selama 10 tahun, beliau telah bekerja di Jerman, berkerja dengan Juks Theater Giessen (Children & Business Theatre), Keller Theater Giessen (US Military), dan selama 6 tahun di The English Theatre (ETF) Frankfurt.

Sharon yang merupakan alumni Rose Bruford, pernah menjadi pensyarah di Universiti Kebangsaan Singapura dan telah membuat persembahan bersama kumpulan teater tempatan, ekspatriat dan sekolah-sekolah drama seperti LASALLE, Tisch NYU Asia, The Necessary Stage, Teater Ekamatra, Wild Rice, TheatreWorks dan French Stage. Projekprojek lakonan dan arahan terkini beliau adalah The Extraordinary Travels of Miss British, Anak Mak Satu, MediaCorp‘s Whispers of The Dead, The Faith of Anna Waters, Ma Vie avec Mozart dan George and The Music Box. 27

ORANG-ORANG KUAT Fadhli Ramlee Pengarah Muzik Fadhli Ramlee memulakan kerjayanya pada tahun 2003. Beliau telah bekerjasama dengan kumpulan-kumpulan teater seperti Teater Ekamatra, Teater Titisan, Teater Artistik dan Sri Anggerek Bangsawan.

Beliau juga adalah ahli muzik di arena muzik tradisional Melayu dan mahir dengan alat muzik akordion, oud dan biola. Beliau juga pernah mengarah beberapa produksi muzik, menerbitkan lagu dan menjadi pengarah artistik untuk acara ‘Sejenak Di Kampung Gelam’ anjuran Taman Warisan Melayu yang turut dijayakan Najib Soiman. Karya muzik terbarunya telah digunakan untuk produksi Politeknik Temasek, Salammalas yang ditulis dan diarah oleh Najib Soiman.

Fadhli juga adalah seorang guru yang mengajar muzik tradisional Melayu dan seni bangsawan.

Norhaizad Adam Pereka Tari Norhaizad Adam adalah seorang penolong koreografer, jurulatih tarian dan penari kanan di Azpirasi. Gaya koreografinya adalah gabungan dari kontemporari dan teknik tradisional tarian Melayu.

Beliau telah dipilih Majlis Kebudayaan Kebangsaaan Singapura (NAC) untuk mewakili Singapura di Kem Budaya Belia Asean pada tahun 2011. Beliau juga mewakili Singapura di pertandingan Tarian Solo 24 jam sempena Hari Tarian Sedunia 2014.

Beliau telah bekerjasama dengan Azmi Azmi Juhari, Osman Hamid (Era Dance theatre), Dance Master Tom Ibnur (Indonesia), Ricky Sim (Rawmoves), Elysa Wendi (Arts Fission), Ming Zhi (Re Dance Theatre), Norisham Osman (The Kaizen M.D.) dan Davit Fitrik (Indonesia).

Muhammad Syaiful Hairi Pereka Set Hairi merupakan seorang pereka ruang. Karya-karya beliau termasuk, pameran untuk festival Heritage, pereka set untuk Lagenda Rock Singapura pada tahun 2012 dan pameran Untitled bersama The Kaizen M.D. Beliau mempunyai mata yang tajam untuk ruang dan cinta yang mendalam untuk dunia tarian, Hairi kini dalam perjalanannya untuk menggembangkan kreativiti dalam pergerakkan seni, teater tarian dan rekaan teater.

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Fares Aljunied Pencahayaan Fares Aljunied telah menjayakan beberapa acara seperti konsert, pertunjukan fesyen, festival muzik dan pameran muzium di dalam and luar negeri sebagai pereka pengcahayaan dan juru sistem pengcahayaan. Selain itu, beliau juga bertangungjawab untuk acara-acara korporat di Asia. Sejak tahun 2008, beliau telah menjadi jurulatih untuk MA Lighting Consoles di kawasan Asia Pasifik.

Hazli Bin Mokhlas Juruaudio Sebagai seorang juruaudio,Hazli Mokhlas mempunyai pelbagai pengalaman di dalam arena teater dan muzik rock. Beliau berharap dapat merentasi sempadan dan menyemai arena seni dengan pengalaman bunyi-bunyian yang menarik untuk penonton semua.

Beliau pernah melibatkan diri di dalam projek-projek seperti Pesta Gendang Nusantara Melaka, Singing in the Rain dan Forbidden City. Beliau kini seorang Penasihat Teknikal dan guru pembimbing di Institut Raffles di bahagian jabatan muzik.

Azyy Alias Pengurus Pentas Azyy Alias adalah seorang siswazah dari Universiti Teknikal Nanyang dengan kelulusan Sastera Inggeris, Drama dan Persembahan. Beliau adalah pengurus pentas bebas dan pernah bekerjasama dengan kumpulan-kumpulan teater seperti The Necessary Stage, W!ld Rice dan Cake Theatrical Productions.

Hidayah Adnan Penolong Pengurus Pentas Bekas penuntut Politeknik Republik dalam bidang Pengurusan Teknologi dan Seni ini sedang menyebarkan sayapnya. Beliau berharap dapat meraih pengalaman dari pelbagai aspek yang ada di bidang ini.

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PENGHARGAAN PRODUKSI Pengarah/Penulis Koreografer Pengurus Produksi Pengurus Pentas Penolong Pengurus Pentas Pereka Pengcahayaan Pereka Set Juruaudio Tata Rias Penolong Tata Rias Penulis Sarikata Kru Penerbit Kurasi Pengurusan Produksi Pentad Biran

Najib Soiman Norhaizad Adam Sazali Hussain Azyy Alias Hidayah Adnan Fares Aljunied Hairi Cromo Hazli Mokhlas Mehroon Hafiz Alwi Muhammad Sufiyan Adam Tan Jia Hui

Fezhah Maznan (Esplanade) Tenaga Perancangan Pentas (Esplanade) Isis Koh (Esplanade) Ruey Loon @ 36frames

Pelakon

Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit Al-Matin Yatim April Kong Bib Mockram Bright Ong Noris ‘Wandy’ Mustafa Norisham Osman Pramila D/O Krishnasamy Selma Alkaff Sharon Frese

Pemuzik

Aidil Akmal Arman Abdul Rahman Fadhli Ramlee Jeffri Natawate Ridwan Ramli

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PENGHARGAAN Terimakasih

Azrin Abdullah Imaginator Studio Iswandiarjo.b.wa Kampung Collection Moephosis Nadzyrah Pillow Pelajar-pelajar dari Sekolah Menengah Swiss Cottage: Arsyad B Abdul Jalil Soo Yi Tao Lim Zhi Qi Rachel Maeve Koh Khor Vanessa Loo Yu Qing, Lester Celeste Lye Zi Yan Michel Ho Yeng Kit Chia Jin Yang Dyan Hanira Bte Mohamad Darus Caslyn Phang Yun Shan Chee Yu Mei Sara Di bawah bimbingan Encik Erman Abu Bakar.

Topeng-topeng sumbangan dari pelajar-pelajar Sekolah Menengah Swiss Cottage. Photo ihsan: Erman Abu Bakar

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5 FAKTA MENARIK TENTANG

Ma’ma Yong berlatarkan sebuah instituisi mental. Idea ini tercetus dari adik perempuan Najib yang bekerja sebagai seorang jururawat di Institut Kesihatan Mental.

Ini adalah pementasan pertama Najib setelah 5 tahun menyepi dari mengarah.

Barisan pelakon yang berbilang kaum dan fasih bertutur dalam, bahasa Inggeris, Melayu, Jerman, Jamaika, Sweden, Mandarin, Tamil dan Thai.

Pelakon yang tidak boleh bertutur dalam Bahasa Melayu telah menjalani latihan intensif untuk bertutur dan menyanyi dalam Bahasa Melayu.

Alat muzik yang anda akan dengarkan semasa persembahan merupakan alat-alat muzik seperti oud, genderang, rebana, biola, seruling, akordion, rebab, gitar dan keyboard.

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UEN: 199205206G Information correct at time of print.

Pe r r t form ev he F ing er IR t og in Si ST eth ng T er ap IM or e! E

fo

RAmli & NASiR

Brotherhood in Music

Sirih Pulang Ke Gagang 1 Jan 2016, Fri, 8pm Esplanade Concert Hall Standard Biasa:

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UEN: 199205206G Information correct at time of print.