What an awesome year it has been! I don't even know where to start. I lost all the past years photos from my phone due to a hardware malfunction. Thank god many photos are still available on the whatsapp group. Looking back, it was definitely a fruitful and packed academic year. It feels like I've just written a blog post on the last acad year's wrap up and here I am writing one again. Yes time flies when you're having fun. It fly by so fast it's scary. I hope this post can help to retain some memories of what was a wonderful year for Republic Polytechnic's Pentas Karyawan Academic Year 2017/2018.

Every year we start with the CCA fiesta. This time around we decided to make our booth more professional looking. It was a start. And it was definitely a good start. As acad year president Azerina mentioned, "looks legit!"

We got ourselves a healthy number of 32 members across all 3 levels this year. I have to say, the CCA fiesta booth, members and excos did a magnificent job recruiting members. 

And without wasting much time, we started training for the year's upcoming productions. As usual, PK's trainings put the actors in training through a whole rounded training routine which will prepare their mind, body and skills. 

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. (Who is Jack by the way?) It's never dull here. Even at work. But of course we fit in some fun activities in our schedule too. We had our Geylang Serai info hunt during the fasting month. Which was followed by our Hari Raya outings. Within school too, some of us were involved with Ignite, representing PK. There was also the annual Flame Awards which for the first time in my many years here, were attended by all PK members in dedicated outfits. 

Hari Raya outing photos here :  
www.facebook.com/pg/anwarhadiramli/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1901299146751143

Pentas Karyawan members were also tasked to share their knowledge learnt to younger students. We try to reach out to a number of schools to achieve this objective. This year we managed to visit 2 secondary schools during the September holiday period. It was tough for the members but definitely a fruitful challenge. An eye opener for members who intend to pursue theatre trainings as a prospective career.

We would like to thank Anderson Secondary School and Spectra Secondary School for allowing our members to share their time and knowledge to the students of the respective schools. Hopefully it has benefitted both parties. We definitely enjoyed ourselves though!

Ok back to work in school. After a semester of training, the members are tasked to research and present the different art forms in the Malay Archipelago. This project has been ongoing for a few years. This time, we pushed the members to present it to a closed audience. We had good feedbacks from our adviser and close friends. A step forward in making this project available for the public.

Training's over. The members are now put to the test they have been training for since day 1. Productions. Lucky for the members, a theatre competition that has long been missing was held this academic year. Lucky for us, we have a healthy number of members to take part. So we broke ourselves up into 3 teams. 

1) Reflections Arts Festival Team
2) Sayembara Teater Competition Team
3) Crew and Emcee team

Some of our members were part of the team in the show "Lanterns Never Go Out". A collaborative effort amongst 3 theatre groups in RP, ie. Pentas Karyawan, Ops Theatre and the  Indian Cultural Group. I think they did well collaborating with the other IG members to come up with a memorable show. Contacts made. Friendship bonded. 

Lanterns Never Go Out photos here:
www.facebook.com/pg/anwarhadiramli/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1958336341047423

CREW AND EMCEE TEAM

Some of our members did crew and administrative work for "Lanterns Never Go Out" Some members did emcee duties for other performance during the festival. Here we have Syaza Nur Adlina and Nadhilah Zaidi being the Master of Ceremony for "Sedasa Sedulur Seirama"

SAYEMBARA TEATER TEAM

A number of the members formed the competition team to take part in a theatre competition. While I was busy with Reflections Arts Festival, these members had to work on their own to prepare for the competition. It was definitely a tough challenge for them and a test on whether they absorbed their 1st semester trainings well enough. 

Looking good in their jackets. They look like athletes! Because one of our commandment is, "THEATRE IS A TEAM SPORT"!

Good job and good effort team. Pentas Karyawan didn't manage to clinch top spot in the competition. But the team brought back a number of awards for themselves. 

1) Best Script : Sarah Mardyah Haermie
2) Best Male Actor (Main) : Md Nor Hisyam
3) Best Female Actor (Main) : Nur Asfarina Ishak
4) Best Female Actor (Supporting) : Nur Amirah Suhaimi
5) Best Technical Direction : Nuri Hafiqah Hazmi / Ainin Alfiyani Jailani
6) Overall 2nd Position

​Not bad I must say. 

Another Pentas Karyawan favourite. This 2017 production is the 5th instalment in its series. With the theme "Zoned" the members are broken up into 5 teams to write, direct and perform their playlets revolving around an absurdist genre. 

For the 1st time in its series too, makeshift lights were experimented and placed in a normal dance studio venue. Its results were eye catching. 2 nights with 5 plays each for free of charge. Was an experiment to remember. 

Check out the photos 
www.facebook.com/pg/anwarhadiramli/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1979092212305169

With the success of the lighting experiment in Dance Studio 1 for Arena Pentas, we pushed the boundaries even further by attempting our year end production in the dance studio. To do justice to the venue, Pentas Karyawan attempted its first movement piece. Every year, we try to do something different for the members and what better genre fitting for a dance studio than a movement piece?! 

Very tough, very demanding, aches and bruises and all. Seeing them from the 1st day of the academic year and through the various trainings, I strongly believed that this batch can pull it off. A fitting end to the academic year.

More photos of End of Year Production "MAHAMERU" here:
www.facebook.com/pg/anwarhadiramli/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2019066478307742

And that's it for the academic year. There are many other activities that I didn't mention such as Create Management Camps, Ceramic workshops, Open House, Open Class and maybe a few more that I can't remember now as the photos have disappeared from my phone. But from this post, we know it has been a wonderful year. 

Take a bow PENTAS KARYAWAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ACADEMIC YEAR 2017/2018. Will never trade this year for anything else. Job so well done that I still look for you guys when in need even though you have officially handed over. Big big shoes for the upcoming excos to fill. Awesome job Aizatul Azerina Sazali, Nur Syafiqah Kamarudin, Nuri Haqirah Hazmi, Siti Khalisah Khair, Seri Mustika Md Nor.

Graduating seniors. My 1st batch of fresh turnaround members. You will be missed. Good luck in your future endeavours.

Pentas Karyawan Academic Year 2017 / 2018 signing off!! The new year begins tomorrow! Thank you every single one of you.

Do like RP Pentas Karyawan's page on Facebook.

www.facebook.com/pentaskaryawan/

Also follow our twitter and instagram. Just a simple search and you will find us. Stay updated for academic year 2018/2019!