Esplanade Presents

Theatre

Kemas

Teater Kami 
Written and directed by Moli Mohter (Singapore)

17 Feb 2023, Fri, 8pm

18 Feb 2023, Sat, 3pm & 8pm

19 Feb 2023, Sun, 3pm

1hr 30mins

(Intermission: None)

Esplanade Theatre Studio

This event is over.

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Synopsis

We begin in a housing estate: Salma is the new neighbour, who lives with a husband that’s either absent or always arguing with her when present. Then, there is Arah, who thinks her mother favours her brother and blames her for the way their lives are now. Finally, we have Juminah, who dwells on her past as her present is too lonely to bear—she holds on to the memories of her first love, the happiest days of her life. 

 

The walls between the flats are too thin and everyone is always listening to one another. How do you keep what happened behind closed doors private? How do you pretend not to know when you have heard too much? How do you love your neighbours when you know every little dirty secret that they try to keep hidden? 

 

In Malay, kemas means tidy or neat—organised, well-placed, well-managed. This work explores the myriad meanings of kemas through the stories of these three women, Salma, Arah and Juminah. 

 

Kemas is  written  by  Moli  Mohter  and inspired  by  her  experience  and  interactions  with neighbours of her estate. The script was first read at Cipta Cita 2022 to a closed-door audience, made up of writers, theatre makers, producers from the local theatre and entertainment scene. The script’s development is also  under  the  advice  and  consultation  of Atin Amat, the artistic director of local  theatre  company. Teater KAMi. 

 

Teater KAMi is proud to take on the role of producer for this staging, and to work once again with Esplanade after several years on this commissioned work. 

Advisory:

Coarse Language. Contains some references to mental illness and suicide.

 

Mask-wearing is optional. However, audiences are encouraged to continue to exercise responsibility and caution, such as wearing masks when in crowded places.

Recommended Age: 16 and above.
Admission Age:
13 and above.
Language: Malay
Surtitle Language: English
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Artist Information

Moli Mohter - Scriptwriter

Moli is a theatre practitioner whose vast experience spans between being an actor, educator, facilitator, as well as a writer and director.

She has written, directed and produced memorable works such as Penantian in 2013 and Sembelit Lagi in 2012. As an actor-facilitator, she was part of forum theatre play - Trick or Threat by Drama Box, and through that was given an opportunity to tour to the World Forum Theatre Festival in Austria in 2009.

 

Moli was the leading artist for Both Sides, Now, an arts-based community engagement project, in 2021 and 2022. She also got to direct and write interactive plays such as Waktu which was performed by Suhaili Safari at Heartbeat @ Bedok.

 

As an arts educator, she works with Buds Theatre, Teater Kami, and Drama Box to teach children and youth. She has also worked with youths-at-risk in Singapore Girls’ Home, Singapore Boys’ Home, and the Institute of Technical Education. Currently, she is a befriender at Tak Takut Kids Club where they get to play dress-up, sew costumes and try out make-up.

 

In 2019, Moli founded Makaia Arts to produce more educational drama programmes. However, she was unable to develop this further due to COVID-19. Nevertheless, she hopes that she will be able to create more works with under Makaia Arts in the near future.

Dalifah Shahril, Actress

Dalifah Shahril is a performer and a drama educator who is effectively bilingual in English and Malay. She is also a voice actor and voiceover talent for various companies and television productions. A graduate of the National Institute of Education (Arts Education), Dalifah enjoys working with young children and teaches speech and drama in Ministry of Education schools. Dalifah was named Best Actress at the 2018 Straits Times Life Theatre Awards and was nominated for the same category in 2019 for Lanang (Hatch Theatrics). 

Rusydina Afiqah, Actress

Rusydina Afiqah received her BA (Hons) in Theatre Arts from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Notable productions include Here and Beyond! (Toy Factory); Step Outta Line (M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2018 and NAFA); Off Centre by The Necessary Stage and Anak by Noor Effendy Ibrahim. 

Mahyonis Mahfudz, Actress

Mahyonis Mahfudz is a veteran actress, well-known for being part of the Sriwana Bangsawan team and acting on television dramas since the early ‘80s. This is her return to stage since retiring from acting a few years ago. 

Suhaila M Sanif

Suhaila began her involvement in theatre at the age of 18. Her first involvement was with Teater KAMi Ltd in 2001 where she started as a crew. On a more practical level, she has had the opportunity to be involved in Youth Productions in 2002. Productions she was involved with include Balada Tun Fatimah (2012), NGACO (2014 & 2020) Rindu Di Bulan by Rupa Co. Lab for M1 Singapore Fringe Festival (2022).

Date & Time

17 Feb 2023, Fri

8pm

Esplanade Theatre Studio

18 Feb 2023, Sat

3pm

Esplanade Theatre Studio

8pm

Esplanade Theatre Studio

19 Feb 2023, Sun

3pm

Esplanade Theatre Studio
Tickets & Prices
Standard

Students, NSFs, Seniors & PWDs
(Limited)

Price $35 $28

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