Forced to close by Covid-19, KLPac's founders to tell stories online

Joe Hasham and Datuk Faridah Merican have become online storytellers to ease the stress during this movement control order period, especially for children. Photo: KLPac

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), despite being shut until March 31, continues its social engagement with Malaysians via an online storytelling initiative in light of the government’s movement control order.

Called Storytime With Uncle Joe & Aunty Faridah, a recent family-friendly video on KLPac’s Facebook page saw its co-founders Datuk Faridah Merican and Joe Hasham putting on their storyteller hats.

“This project was cooked up over WhatsApp on March 15 and recorded on March 16 before closing our theatre in hope of spreading some warmth and love, ” KLPac's Facebook post read.

Every two days, at 8.30pm, Hasham and Faridah will be reading bedtime stories for families with young children in a bid to provide some light content in this trying period.

“Big theatres and fancy lights aside, what do we do, really? We tell stories. We wanted to spread some warmth and cheer for little kids (and big kids) in this difficult time and so we decided to read a couple of bedtime stories, ” says Hasham in an interview.

“Let’s not forget the children amid all this. And let’s not stop creating, sharing and looking out for each other, ” adds Faridah.

To kick things off, Hasham and Faridah brought their cute side by reading from British author Quentin Blake’s Angelica Sprocket’s Pocket illustrated book. They even reminded their young viewers to wash their hands before continuing on with the video.

While Hasham, 70, acted as the main storyteller, Faridah, 80, played a very entertaining and almost child-like co-host. The dynamic duo of Malaysian theatre also shared some comical banter in the video.

Look out for the remaining three videos in the coming days on KLPac’s Facebook page. The next one is slated for tonight (March 20) at 8.30pm.