Gripping: Students acting out a scene from Butterflies and Moths.
RELATIONSHIPS form a crucial part of human existence – an essence that can easily get lost in the hustle of daily life.
Through the recent staging of their short plays, students from the Department of English Studies at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) shone a spotlight on these relationships.
Titled Butterflies and Moths and Table for Every(one) I Love, the shows – which formed the Rasa Sayang: A Malaysian Tapestry production – were both sold out.
Butterflies and Moths, written and directed by Megan Leong Yi Mun with assistance from Eunice Koh Jing Yi, explores the intricate bond between mothers and daughters.
Table for Every(one) I Love, penned and directed by Jazmine Darshini Charles, features a Sino-Kadazan protagonist and delves into how individuals reflect on their loved ones.
In coming up with the plays, Leong and Jazmine drew from their own experiences, ranging from family ties to everyday encounters within a Malaysian context, according to a Sept 10 press release from the varsity.
For the students, the project provided hands-on experience in theatre production, from scriptwriting to marketing.
Reflecting on their journey, Leong said the production was a success because of “everyone’s commitment, from the crew to the cast”.
“Although we had to balance our studies at the same time, everyone committed to their role in the production and ensured it ran smoothly,” she shared.
She emphasised that good teamwork is “very crucial in these types of productions”.
Jazmine said her biggest takeaway from the experience was realising that they had the ability to reach their potential.
“The final result was so well received from almost everyone that it made the late-night rehearsals worth it,” she shared.
She added that with the right team who shared the same values and with lecturers who gave them space to explore their creativity, they managed to create a show that “became so much more than we imagined”.
“I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!” she said.
