YEAR 2017 Wrap Up

This time last year, I was very excited to set up my own website. There are a lot of people with the same name as me. Especially in other countries. 

Luckily for me, there are only 2 “Anwar Hadi” that I know of, living in Singapore. And lucky for me, I can put my name in the website url and there you have it. www.anwarhadi.com
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I would like to thank everyone who have visited my site on its inaugural year. I hope you will continue to visit this website. And as for my part, I will try to keep the pages updated.

Here is a wrap up on the happenings of 2017.

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ARENA PENTAS 2017

With the theme “Cakap Kosong” (Empty Talks) the members of Pentas Karyawan were tasked to produce, write, direct and perform their own playlets. This Arena Pentas series has been very popular among students and their friends. The quality of the playlets have improved over the years and everyone constantly look forward to the upcoming editions.

​This year’s edition was also the first time external judges were invited to “grade” and comment on their playlets. I think this is a very good idea as the members were given the opportunity to hear feedbacks from other people apart from myself. (This is good too, so that they will realise that I am not the only one who will say the same thing… haha) At the the end of the day, small tokens were given to the most outstanding playlet and individual with no competitive ideas (among the members) in mind. All in the name of education and fun.

​ASSEMBLY SHOW

After many years, I stepped back on to the school stage doing assembly shows and mascot works for Reader’s House. I never thought that I will be doing it again after the good old ACT3 days but, for some income and fun, why not? Good thing too that my “boss” here is a former schoolmate, Saadah, and to be doing work again together is definitely a nice experience. (Fun fact: the last time we worked together was when we rowed in the same two-man  canoe back in our primary school camp in 1991!)

BANGSAWAN WORKSHOP

Late last year and early this year, I conducted a bangsawan workshop to “Higher Malay” students in Anderson Secondary School. I have always enjoyed working with this school and I appreciate that they always engage my services. The students were taught basic bangsawan performance which include Palace Decorum, Malay dance, Silat, Movement and dialogue delivery. The students then presented a short bangsawan skit at the Malay Tongue Learning Symposium. Well done Anderson Secondary School!

OCEAN REVOLUTION

As much as I avoid handling primary schools, I just have to do it for a good friend. Mr Isham Rahmat managed to persuade me to write and direct a short piece for Juying Primary School in their effort to participate in an inter-school drama competition. Yes I struggled but Isham had faith in me and I trusted him. I wrote and directed “Ocean Revolution”, a 10 minute piece on leatherback turtles conservation effort. This piece then won 2nd place in the South-West ECO Skit competition 2017. Congratulations Juying Primary School!

RESERVIST DUTIES

Though not part of my arts related work but definitely a significant milestone in my life. After 17 years, I have finally completed my military service. Well though in the army terms, I am still a Military Reserve personnel but that’s good enough for every NSman in Singapore. 
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Enlisted: 13th June 2000
ORD: 12th December 2002
MR: 31st March 2017

Definitely a birthday present well worth the wait.

CLAUSTROPHOBIA

Pentas Karyawan’s year end production. I couldn’t help it. I haven’t been acting for awhile, I carved out a role for myself. Haha! PK’s attempt at an absurdist play. Look at the setting. Nice right? Unfortunately, this was to be our last production at the LAB as the venue will be handed over to another department. Thank you LAB. It was beautiful while it lasted.

​More photos at  : 
www.facebook.com/pg/anwarhadiramli/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1859057917641933

6th BATCH

April 2017 and we welcomed another batch of students joining Republic Polytechnic’s Pentas Karyawan. Another year of contract renewed and I am on to my 6th batch. 
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Very healthy batch this one. Do look forward for their upcoming performances!

Do also like our facebook page!

www.facebook.com/pentaskaryawan/

PK RESEARCH PRESENTATION

After a semester of training, the members of Pentas Karyawan were given their first task. To present their research on Performing Arts in the Malay Archipelago. This year is the first time  we opened the presentation to the public. In the previous years, it was an “internal” event, but this year we took a step further. Some close friends were invited and good feedbacks were received. Looks like a good adventure and we aim to present the next instalment to a wider group of  audience.

PK OUTREACH WORKSHOPS

This marks the 2nd year of running outreach workshops. We had feedbacks that the time to conduct these workshops are not the best in a secondary school’s calendar year, but it was also the most probable period for us. We managed to conduct a few workshops with very supportive schools and we were very happy that both PK members and the secondary school students from Anderson Secondary School and Spectra Secondary School benefitted from the workshops. Definitely a win-win experience for all.

SYAIR BIOLA

I thought it will never happen. I actually got a performing role. A bit part though but no role is too small. It feels good to be on stage and just being an actor. I could concentrate on acting and I definitely had a lot of fun.

More photos at 
​www.facebook.com/pg/anwarhadiramli/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1937536069794117

ANUGERAH PERSURATAN

This was definitely a surprise. Yes I am thankful and grateful but still definitely a surprise. For someone who doesn’t have paper qualifications in the job that I am doing, I badly need this. I worked hard for years and I tried hard to win something. Many people unfriended me because they think that I work for the accolades rather than the art. It’s always easy for them to say because they have all won something and the one paying my own bills is myself. Yes I work for the art but I still need money.  After years of not winning anything, I gave up on the thought. Especially when I realised that many awards are “nominated” and “won” by the own circle members. Call me negative and pessimistic but everyone know this but just avoiding it. So being an outsider, to achieve something is…. okay…. let’s see where this leads to.

SAYEMBARA TEATER 2017

After many years, a drama competition returns. This was pretty exciting. The prizes were also very good. I was given the task and trust to be a member of the jury panel. I looked forward to every meeting, preliminary rounds, finals and prize presentation. It was an exciting event. Congratulations to all winners.

Congratulations too to Pentas Karyawan for winning second place and other awards in the Tertiary Category. Yes, they are my students. But no, I was never involved in their preparations for the competition. This is not a disclaimer. I am very clear and at peace with this. The students had basic drama trainings during official PK training hours. They made good use of the knowledge gained and train outside of official training hours to prepare for a competition.

My stance has always been consistent over the past many years. A student competition is a student’s competition. It is never a “trainers’” competition. Unless it is a school competition. I have always believed in this and let the students explore their capabilities from the years of past Sayembara Teater and Pesta Peti Putih competitions since 2003. I am proud of their achievements as how I was proud of the previous students’ achievements. To more achievements in the future, Pentas Karyawan!

Best Script
Best Lead Actor
Best Lead Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Best Technical Directions
​Overall 2nd Placing

​REFLECTIONS 2017

While the “Sayembara Team” prepared for their competition, myself and Gloria Tan were preparing the members of Pentas Karyawan, Operation Theatre and the Indian Cultural Group to perform in the annual Republic Polytechnic arts festival. The members collaborated to perform Haresh Sharma’s “Lanterns Never Go Out”

More photos at 
​www.facebook.com/pg/anwarhadiramli/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1958336341047423

​LAGENDA BUDAK BAWAH BLOK

After a long year that felt like a minute, I ended the year with this production.

​WRAP!

And that’s a wrap for 2017.
This time, last year, I was very excited to set up my own website.
Now I already have my own website.
This time, this year, I am excited to start work at my new office.

To a more productive 2018! Maybe we might just cross path and work together.
Thank you for reading.