First published in New Sunday Times
22 March 2009
Behold, real life
MAX KOH
A group of people living with HIV/AIDS takes the unconventional road to raise awareness on the dangers of drugs addiction and the diseases, writes MAX KOH
ONE Saturday morning, the quaint town of Batu Arang was awash with excitement as people gathered at SMK Tuanku Abdul Rahman for the first BA Pesta Komuniti (Community Festival).
The Fallen Leaves Theatre Group (FLTC) was performing a play about the dangers of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS, amid a string of short talks by community leaders and representatives from the Malaysian AIDS Council.
Despite the heat, all eyes were on the performance Jangan Main!, a story about a guy named Zam and how he became ensnared in the world of drugs.
There was an air of ubiquity to how the cautionary tale unfolded — Zam skipped school with friend, Zam was peer-pressured into smoking, Zam drank cough syrup and soon, Zam was hooked on hard drugs.
Gritty realism that captured the attention of the audience
Sure, you must have heard a version of the story before but there is a gritty realism to how the events were portrayed in the play.
The “actors” were uncannily successful in capturing the audience’s attention. The scenes were based on the actual experiences of the cast themselves.
FLTC comprises recovering drug addicts and people living with HIV/AIDS.
Abdul Manap, who plays the older Zam, soliloquises: “Siapakah aku di dunia ini? (Who am I in this world?)”
Garbed in a white T-shirt with a pink ribbon on the sleeves, Manap is a-fire about the dangers of drug abuse and, through performances and workshops, tries to reach out to those at risk of drug addiction.
FLTC had its origins in June 2006, when Cloudbreak Creative Centre was invited to help residents of Positive Living Community (PLC), a local HIV/AIDS hospice in Batu Arang, in a drama therapy programme.
Company’s strongperson and producer Jade Ong relates how the weekly workshops sparked their imagination and soon, a new breed of writers eager to share their stories emerged.
However, it was only after a trip to a theatre performance (the members had not, until then, seen a live theatre performance) that they had the idea to develop their personal stories into a play that would raise awareness of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.
The first show was at The Actors Studio in December, 2008, and it was sold out. It met positive response and highlighted the stigma faced by those living with HIV/AIDS.
The company brought the show to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang and Malacca.
In Jangan Main!, we watched as Zam fell deeper into the world of drug addiction.
The message that sharing needles and indiscriminate sex were dangerous really drove home when acted out so realistically, even against the lighter moments such as busking (the cast played instruments).
The play also touched on the stigma that AIDS patients faced. In one scene, a reformed Zam burned the clothes given him by his late friend afflicted with AIDS.
The scene was simple but poignant.
The Pesta Komuniti was held for the first time in Batu Arang, a small town that houses a few drug rehabilitation centres and HIV/AIDS Hospices.
About 500 people turned out for the two-day event which included a workshop with the students of SMK Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
A chat with a cast member reveals that more work needs to be done to increase awareness.
“Even here in Batu Arang, a primary student suffering from HIV was kicked out of school when one of the parents found out about it. And it happened again in the next school he was enrolled in.”
Nevertheless, the work continues.
While the focus is still on the members’ recovery process, the group is also working to renovate its studio, Cloud 9, and to manage themselves independent.
Currently, individuals from Cloudbreak make up part of FLTC. George Wielgus is the director while Ong is the producer.
At Cloud 9, the residents were eager to show visitors around.
The spacious house had its interior walls adorned with mahjong paper that visitors were welcomed to write a lyric of their favourite song, a poem or even draw a self-portrait.
On another hanging from the wall, the team members had written or drawn their goals and visions for the group this year.
“We hope more people will invite us to perform because the dangers of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS still remain unspoken in our country,” says Ong.
After each performance, the actors would engage the audience in a forum as well as involve them in a form of participatory theatre.
“After all, the drama-based approach has proven to be rather powerful and effective,” she adds.
For more information, visit fallenleavestheatrecompany.wordpress.com.
22 March 2009
Behold, real life
MAX KOH
A group of people living with HIV/AIDS takes the unconventional road to raise awareness on the dangers of drugs addiction and the diseases, writes MAX KOH
ONE Saturday morning, the quaint town of Batu Arang was awash with excitement as people gathered at SMK Tuanku Abdul Rahman for the first BA Pesta Komuniti (Community Festival).
The Fallen Leaves Theatre Group (FLTC) was performing a play about the dangers of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS, amid a string of short talks by community leaders and representatives from the Malaysian AIDS Council.
Despite the heat, all eyes were on the performance Jangan Main!, a story about a guy named Zam and how he became ensnared in the world of drugs.
There was an air of ubiquity to how the cautionary tale unfolded — Zam skipped school with friend, Zam was peer-pressured into smoking, Zam drank cough syrup and soon, Zam was hooked on hard drugs.
Gritty realism that captured the attention of the audience
Sure, you must have heard a version of the story before but there is a gritty realism to how the events were portrayed in the play.
The “actors” were uncannily successful in capturing the audience’s attention. The scenes were based on the actual experiences of the cast themselves.
FLTC comprises recovering drug addicts and people living with HIV/AIDS.
Abdul Manap, who plays the older Zam, soliloquises: “Siapakah aku di dunia ini? (Who am I in this world?)”
Garbed in a white T-shirt with a pink ribbon on the sleeves, Manap is a-fire about the dangers of drug abuse and, through performances and workshops, tries to reach out to those at risk of drug addiction.
FLTC had its origins in June 2006, when Cloudbreak Creative Centre was invited to help residents of Positive Living Community (PLC), a local HIV/AIDS hospice in Batu Arang, in a drama therapy programme.
Company’s strongperson and producer Jade Ong relates how the weekly workshops sparked their imagination and soon, a new breed of writers eager to share their stories emerged.
However, it was only after a trip to a theatre performance (the members had not, until then, seen a live theatre performance) that they had the idea to develop their personal stories into a play that would raise awareness of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.
The first show was at The Actors Studio in December, 2008, and it was sold out. It met positive response and highlighted the stigma faced by those living with HIV/AIDS.
The company brought the show to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang and Malacca.
In Jangan Main!, we watched as Zam fell deeper into the world of drug addiction.
The message that sharing needles and indiscriminate sex were dangerous really drove home when acted out so realistically, even against the lighter moments such as busking (the cast played instruments).
The play also touched on the stigma that AIDS patients faced. In one scene, a reformed Zam burned the clothes given him by his late friend afflicted with AIDS.
The scene was simple but poignant.
The Pesta Komuniti was held for the first time in Batu Arang, a small town that houses a few drug rehabilitation centres and HIV/AIDS Hospices.
About 500 people turned out for the two-day event which included a workshop with the students of SMK Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
A chat with a cast member reveals that more work needs to be done to increase awareness.
“Even here in Batu Arang, a primary student suffering from HIV was kicked out of school when one of the parents found out about it. And it happened again in the next school he was enrolled in.”
Nevertheless, the work continues.
While the focus is still on the members’ recovery process, the group is also working to renovate its studio, Cloud 9, and to manage themselves independent.
Currently, individuals from Cloudbreak make up part of FLTC. George Wielgus is the director while Ong is the producer.
At Cloud 9, the residents were eager to show visitors around.
The spacious house had its interior walls adorned with mahjong paper that visitors were welcomed to write a lyric of their favourite song, a poem or even draw a self-portrait.
On another hanging from the wall, the team members had written or drawn their goals and visions for the group this year.
“We hope more people will invite us to perform because the dangers of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS still remain unspoken in our country,” says Ong.
After each performance, the actors would engage the audience in a forum as well as involve them in a form of participatory theatre.
“After all, the drama-based approach has proven to be rather powerful and effective,” she adds.
For more information, visit fallenleavestheatrecompany.wordpress.com.
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