Backstage Bites: Theatre Management Edition

Ever wondered what it takes to build and manage a performing arts centre?

Join Ian Chow, Group General Manager of The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) and The Actors Studio, for an interactive sharing session on the conceptualisation and management of one of Malaysia's leading performing arts centres. Through an open discussion moderated by Nawfal Zamri, gain insights into klpac's journey, how it operates, the challenges of running an arts organisation, and the role it plays in nurturing Malaysia's arts and cultural landscape.

Afterwards, embark on Backstage Bites, klpac's signature guided tour. Explore Malaysia's only fully-integrated arts centre, housed within a 124-year-old heritage building, and venture into areas normally off limits to the public, including the catwalk and backstage. Discover the stories behind the spaces and ask our team any burning questions along the way.

For private groups and customised tour experiences, please email: karyeewong@klpac.org

Date: 25 August 2026 (Tuesday)
Registration Time: 1:30pm | Start Time: 2pm
Gathering Point: Studio AD, Lvl 3, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)

Itinerary
1.30pm – Registration at Studio AD, Lvl 3, klpac
2.00pm – 2.45pm – Interactive Sharing Session with Ian Chow: The Conceptualisation & Management of klpac
2.45pm – 3.30pm – Backstage Bites Guided Tour

Fee

Age Limit
Recommended for ages 10 and above. Parents or guardians are responsible for accompanying and supervising their children.

Please note:
● The sharing session and tour will be conducted in English.
● Limited to 40 participants only.
● Participants should be dressed comfortably and closed toe shoes must be worn for safety reasons (no heels, no sandals etc).
● You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness as the tour involves walking up and down stairs. Studio AD and backstage areas are not wheelchair accessible.
● Please arrive at least 15 minutes early for registration.
● There will be no replacement session / tour for absentees.
● The fee is non-refundable.
● In the event that the tour does not commence, klpac will refund the fee fully to the participant.
● Please ensure that you qualify for the tour based on the age stated (10 years old and above) before completing your purchase. No refunds will be entertained.
● By joining this event, you understand that on occasion videos and pictures of you/your child will be taken and recorded for archiving and promotional material.

As Malaysia’s only fully integrated arts centre, our non-profit organisation has weathered through the Asian Financial Crisis and rebounded from a Global Pandemic, celebrating our milestone 21st anniversary in 2026.

In 2025 alone, klpac housed almost 130 shows & events attended by 65,000 arts lovers. We ran 82 courses & workshops for over 1,000 students and distributed free tickets for students to experience the magic of live performances. Through the year, we created 9,335 job opportunities for artistes, production and technical personnel.

For the coming year, we will continue our mission to nurture Malaysian talent, cultivate locally produced shows, spearhead performing arts education and broaden our reach to more Malaysians.

To support our cause and mission, do consider making a donation.

Thank you for supporting Malaysian theatre. 

About the Speaker

Ian Chow
Ian is currently attached to The Actors Studio (Malaysia) and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) as its Group General Manager. He is also the Company Director of the Young Choral Academy as well as Board Member of The Actors Studio Foundation.

Since his foray into the arts in 2002, he has been involved in more than 100 local productions in various management and creative roles. This includes sitting in the director’s chair of a multitude of music productions, his forte, some of which were nominated and have won various Malaysian BOH Cameronian Arts Awards since 2014.

He is currently the Co-Festival Director of the Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF), Malaysia’s largest free-for-all arts festival.

When time calls for it, Ian has and will continue to work with various government agencies to play a role as one of the voices for change in the country’s art policies and development.