Independent Women: Mayang, Rokiah, Mariam, Dara - and Faridah Merican

✳️  INDEPENDENT WOMEN: Mayang, Rokiah, Mariam, Dara - and Faridah Merican

In the 1960s, in a newly independent country, Faridah Merican played some of the most fascinating female leads of the day.  She brought to life the iconic characters of Mayang, Rokiah, Mariam and Dara.

Syed Alwi, Usman Awang and K Das were three of the playwrights who wrote her such roles. How did she meet them and what drew her to them? Why were they drawn to writing such strong, independent women? What was that post-independence theatre movement like? Do these  female characters have anything to say to us today?

Join us for a reading of some of these iconic characters played by some of our finest contemporary actresses and listen in on a conversation between Faridah Merican and Jo Kukathas about Malaysian theatre in the turbulent 60s.

PS FUN FACT: Jo Kukathas’ father was one of those playwrights...

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ANNE JAMES

Anne James is an award winning actor, educator, and dancer with over 50 years of experience in the performing arts. She has worked with acclaimed directors from Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. Her more recent appearances include an absurdist play, Poly directed by Cheong Chua and a physical theatre-dance work, Tatata directed by new director, Weng Xin. She teaches Voice at ASWARA and is a member of Five Arts Centre.

ARIEF HAMIZAN

Arief Hamizan is a performer, writer, and director who has presented work across Malaysia and Singapore. He is a co-founder of Panas Panas Theatre, through which he organises community-based arts initiatives and explores socio-political themes. Alongside his artistic practice, he works in arts policy and advocacy with ERTI Research Collective and leads research for the anti-corruption organisation, C4 Center.

FIRDAUS SUFIYAN

Firdaus Sufiyan is a professional bilingual actor and voice actor with works in film, animation, video games, commercials and theatre. You can hear him next in the upcoming show Kisah Bawah Tanah (2025). 

GREGORY SZE

Gregory Sze has been a Malaysian thespian since 2006. He holds a BA in Drama from Deakin University, Melbourne. Major works include PARAH (2011, 2013) as well as being part of KLPac's 2009 T4YP ensemble.

Away from the stage, he has also been seen in a local TV series, GEMILANG (2011) and the UK's Channel 4's GAP YEAR (2017).

LEYSHA AL-YAHYA

Leysha Al-yahya is a jack of all trades while attempting to be a master of some. A film and theatre maker based in Malaysia, Leysha is a founding member of The Tulis Group, a playwrights support group that aims to add to local and original Malaysian plays. Leysha has worked in multiple film and theater projects. She has also had the privilege of traveling to countries such as South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore for her work.

MIA SARA SHAUKI

Mia Sara Shauki is an actor with over 20 years of experience in film and stage. Aside from acting in films such as “RIOT!” (2023, Astro Originals), to theatre productions “A Man For All Seasons” (2019, The Actor’s Studio), Mia is also a budding director. 

PERASSATH

PERASSATH, filmmaker and a student of metaphysics. His best works were in DUALITY, Silk & Strings, The Human Exhibit, They All Die At the End, Memoirs of a Masochist and KELING. He aims to explore South Asian Excellence and ancestral feminine energy through his works.

SHARIFAH AMANI

Sharifah Amani always knew she was a storyteller. Grateful for Sepet, Muallaf, and most recently La Luna, she has worked on screen and stage, from Nadirah in Tokyo, Beautiful Water in Japan and Jakarta, to playing multiple roles in Gold Rain and Hailstones 2019. Currently engrossed with her new role as Mohsein’s mum, she is also prepping to soar on stage and screen again. 

TERENCE SWAMPILLAI

Terence Swampillai began his acting in the early 1990’s, where he honed his craft playing roles from Shakespeare to Beckett.

Off-stage, Terence pursues his passion for teaching and training, leveraging on his experience and expertise in the Arts and the Corporate world to empower individuals to reach their full potential.

A dedicated performer, Terence remains driven to bring powerful performances to each role he takes on.

✳️ WANITA-WANITA MERDEKA : Mayang, Rokiah, Mariam, Dara – dan Faridah Merican

Pada tahun 1960-an, di sebuah negara yang baru mencapai kemerdekaan, Faridah Merican telah mementaskan beberapa watak wanita yang menarik pada zaman tersebut. Mayang, Rokiah, Mariam dan Dara merupakan antara watak-watak ikonik yang diberikan nafas oleh beliau di atas pentas.

Syed Alwi, Usman Awang dan K Das merupakan pencipta kepada watak-watak yang dilakonkan oleh Faridah Merican. Bagaimanakah Faridah bertemu dengan mereka dan apakah sebab beliau tertarik dengan watak-watak tersebut? Mengapakah ketiga-tiga penulis ini didorong untuk mencipta watak wanita yang berdikari? Bagaimanakah suasana gerakan teater pasca-kemerdekaan ketika itu? Apakah pesanan daripada watak-watak wanita tersebut buat kita hari ini?

Datanglah menyaksikan pembacaan skrip tentang watak-watak ikonik yang dibawakan oleh pelakon wanita terkemuka masa kini dan mengikuti perbualan Faridah Merican dan Jo Kukathas mengenai dunia teater Malaysia dalam era 1960-an.

Tahukah anda? Ayah Jo Kukathas adalah antara tiga pengarang drama yang disebutkan.

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Researching Remembering Reimagining

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✳️ 独立女性：Mayang, Rokiah, Mariam, Dara —— 以及Faridah Merican

很久很久以前的1960年代里，有一个刚独立的新国度，Faridah Merican 出演了当时其中最富有魅力的女主角。她让 Mayang、 Rokiah、Mariam 和 Dara 这些代表性角色在舞台上活了过来。

这些角色由三名编剧，即 Syed Alwi、Usman Awang 及 K Das 所创作。Faridah 是如何接触到她们？为何被这些角色所吸引？这些编剧为何想创造如此坚强、独立的女性角色？后独立时期的剧场运动是什么模样？这些女性角色对我们今日有什么启示吗？

来看读剧演出，一睹当代所出演的出众角色；来听对谈，跟着 Faridah Merican 与 Jo Kukathas 一窥六十年代马来西亚的戏剧界风云。

不说你不知道： Jo Kukathas 的父亲也名列上述编剧之中。

JOM BUKA PANGGUNG

Researching Remembering Reimagining

#JomBukaPanggung #WhatTheEldersLeftUs #Tungkus #ResearchingRememberingReimagining