YA ANAK ABU! AWAS KAU!

​Haven’t been writing a blog post in almost a year. Haven’t contributed in this series for almost 3 years. 


It’s not that I have been inactive in doing art works but just that I have been unmotivated to write or post anything.  I think I have said before (though I didn’t promise anything), I will try to write as much as I can, whenever I can.


So recently I completed a job. A writing, training and directing job for a school theatre production. Well, you can say that is a school job and not mainstream theatre work, but to me it is still a job, I get paid for it, I enjoyed it, I am proud of the students, the teachers, my team and the product. I am so happy about it that even will all these years of being unmotivated to write, I feel I should blog this down as it is worth being documented.


Early 2024 I was contracted again by Bukit Panjang Government High School to create, craft,  write, train and direct a stage play for the students. I roped in my friend Saiful to manage this so I can concentrate on the creative works. 


The school would like to present stories from the chronicles of Abu Nawas on stage. 

​I remember watching and reading stories of Abu Nawas when I was a boy. But I don’t remember its exact details. So I went on to read up about it again. Cikgu also helped me with providing some reading materials for me to read. 


There are many many stories about Abu Nawas’ adventures. I have to admit, some of the stories are quite dated. They didn’t appeal to me and I think they won’t appeal to audiences much younger than me. There are also good stories and we finally settled on two stories that we believed could be interesting to stage. 


And thus the writing and training processes began. 

​I am going to be a bit biased. I have been serving in this school since 2007, and it still is my favourite place to go. I really really wish that they have a Malay drama CCA or something that I can go to. But since it is Singapore, there are only 3 schools that offer Malay drama as a CCA and they are all tertiary schools. So all Malay drama engagements in schools are all on project basis. Since 2003 I have been to many schools conducting Malay drama workshops and lessons but this school is still my favourite. The students are highly energetic and smart. Intelligent but eager to learn and never once think too highly of themselves. A good balance of discipline, responsibility and playfulness. A good mix of good behaviour and naughtiness. Perfect recipe for a theatrical drama production. And this has been going on for almost 2 decades. The school has definitely been doing something right. Definitely a good place to be.


The training process was fun. The students are great. 
30th April 2024 we hit Victoria Theatre and the end product was wonderful. 


I enjoyed it very much and to be honest, I haven’t felt “puas” doing a theatre production in quite awhile. So much so, it even motivated me to write in this pretty dormant web log. 


Anyway it was definitely a highlight of the year so far and for the past few year. It reminded me why theatre works can be addictive.

​Thank you everyone who made it happen.


Thank you everyone who worked with me to bring the stories of Abu Nawas on stage. 


I really hope I can meet everyone again sometime in the future in other capacities.