KUCHING: To help move the theatrical activities in the state, Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs, Abdullah Saidol presented RM14,000 to various theatre activists in the state.
Each group received RM2,000 and these groups were presented this gift during the Sarawak Theatre Festival, held yesterday at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).
The seven groups were PERFILEM SARAWAK, Anak Seni SIDMA Sarawak, Grup Teater Permata Kenyalang II – UiTM Sarawak, Grup Teater ASIILAH, Grup Teater Berkaul Permata Kenyalang I – UiTM Sarawak, Persatuan Seni Persembahan SIFAR and Pertubuhan Teater Sanggar Kreatif Kuching.
In his brief speech Abdullah said that there were many times he would be attending festivals such as this as he was a theatre enthusiast.
“It is also in the world of art that I met my wife. I was an actor in my college days and my wife was a dancer.
“These days, we try to find time to come to events or plays like this. It reminds us how we share this same interest passionately.
“Therefore, to keep this culture alive, especially in Sarawak, I have given this present so that our talents will continue to inspire in the world of art,” said Abdullah.
The minister also presented the top two plays who participate in the Sarawak Theatre Festival.
Pertubuhan Teater Sanggar Kreatif won first place with their play ‘Metamorfosa Kosong’ winning themselves RM2,500 with complementary trophy and certificate.
Grup Teater ASIILAH followed in second with their play ‘Skizofrenia’ while Grup Teater Berkaul Permata Kenyalang I – UiTM Sarawak came in third with their play ‘Mariam’.
They respectively won RM2,000 and RM1,500 with complementary trophies and certificates.
Meanwhile the Best Director Award was won by Mohd Asri Ibrahim from Pertubuhan Teater Sanggar Kreatif Kuching with his play ‘Metamorfosa Kosong’ bringing home RM1,000 cash prize.
In the Best Technical Award, ‘Skizofrenia’ was awarded with the title winning the team RM800. Also, main actor of Skizofrenia, Shafa’at Zainal Abidin was awarded with the Best Lead Actor title.
For the Best Lead Actress, showing impressive performance as her character Fitri in the play Metamorfosa Kosong, Hartini Adurahman won the title for herself.
Both lead actors brought home RM500 for both supporting roles category (actor and actress), Mohd Zohren Deli and Dayang Norita won the titles respectively.
