Friday 29 Mar 2024
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The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) is abuzz as the eighth installation of the annual Short + Sweet Malaysia festival draws closer. The almost two-month long festival is a platform to showcase aspiring talents in a creative, collaborative, competitive and professional environment, and will kick off this Wednesday to a jolly start with the first category of stand-up comedy. 

Speaking to festival director and executive producer Datuk Faridah Merican, the infectious excitement surrounding the festival quickly becomes apparent. With two newly-introduced categories, there is bound to be something for every fan of the performing arts. “People were even sitting on the floor! It is really lovely and the tickets are quite affordable,” says Faridah, who recently returned from Penang, as she describes the atmosphere at the prize giving night there.

“It’s the exposure, it’s the fun element and getting to know what the arts can do for them and what they can do as well for the arts. Many participants for Short + Sweet are new and young. Some of them have never been on stage, written or acted before. This is less daunting — it is only 10 minutes or less — so they feel much more comfortable being part of the scene and they love it. We love it! It lets your adrenaline flow,” Faridah explains when asked what drives the participants. 

Like any competition, one of the motivating factors is the prize. However, Faridah believes that prize money is not the main reason behind participation. One of the most coveted rewards is the Creative Excellence Award by Mercedes Benz, one of the festival’s major sponsors, which can be awarded to any member of the production in the dance, music and theatre category. Quite apart from earning the artist bragging rights, there is a cash prize of RM5,000 for each title winner. Another highly sought-after prize is the People’s Choice Award.  

Last year’s winner of the Creative Excellence Award for the musical category, Nick Choo, went on to restage the 10-minute musicals at different venues. One example being Dreaming Outside the Box. “There is a life after Short + Sweet.” Faridah quips as she proudly points out that throughout the years, there have been instances where local participants submit their scripts to the script bank in Australia and from thereon, if selected, the script will be performed in one of the countries that host the festival as well.

Short + Sweet is no stranger to the performing arts scene locally and abroad. What began in Sydney in 2011 has since grown in influence across the globe, travelling to India, New Zealand, the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore and of course, here in Malaysia. Every year participants attend  workshops and auditions before being shortlisted.

Dance, music and theatre remain as the popular categories, as reflected through the two weeks dedicated to each, compared with one week for all others. According to her, introducing a new genre could possibly help generate the popularity for it. “This year we have introduced classic and chorus as choir groups are very popular in Malaysia, including in schools. There are lots of young Malaysians who study classical instruments — they learn to play the piano, violin, cello and on top of that, KLPac has three community-based orchestras.” 

Not only has the festival expanded in categories over the year, but Faridah sees that it is gradually extending its reach to new participants and audiences each year. Commenting on the perception of some that the festival sees familiar faces each year, Faridah disagrees with the statement and tells me how in Penang alone, approximately half of the participants and audiences were first timers. 

Faridah is spirited and holds high hopes for the future of Short + Sweet. “I wish Short + Sweet can be performed in more cities besides Penang and Kuala Lumpur. I wish, for instance, Ipoh, Malacca, Johor Bahru, Kuching or Kota Kinabalu will take it on — it is not impossible … I’m sure there’s talent there and KLPac can point out the logistics of conducting this festival. You just need to have a centre such as this, for rehearsals and workshops. You can begin small.”

The festival aims to nurture the creation and production of original works in all Malaysian languages and in doing so brings together individuals who have a love for performing arts. “People bring their friends and family, grandmothers and grandfathers — it’s so much fun! Joe [Hasham] and I are the emcees every night at the show where we thank the sponsors, introduce the judges and make it a bit lively. You must come!” Faridah exclaims. 

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Short + Sweet kicks off on Sept 9 and will run until Nov 1 at Pentas 2, KLPac, Jalan Strachan, off Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. Visit klpac.org for the full festival schedule. Tickets are priced at RM35 (adults) or RM25 (students, the disabled and TAS card holders), and can be purchased at www.ticketpro.com.my.

This article first appeared in digitaledge Daily, on September 7, 2015.

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