Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (informally, KLPac) or Pentas Seni Kuala Lumpur in Sentul West is one of the most established centres for the performing arts in Malaysia. It is a non-profit company whose aim is to "cultivate and sustain the performing arts for the betterment and enrichment of communities within the Klang Valley and for the Nation."^[1] Located in Sentul West Kuala Lumpur, KLPac was founded by Joe Hasham and Dato' Faridah Merican, below Dataran Merdeka.^[2] Each year, KLPac and the Actors Studio plays host to more than a hundred major events, as well as many other workshops, classes, film screenings and more. Many of KLPac's events are self-directed, self organised shows, as KLPac also rents out their facilities, equipment other for individual performing arts events.

History

Origin

In 1995, Faridah Merican and Joe Hasham created the first privately owned and operated theatre in Malaysia below Dataran Merdeka, called The Actor's Studio at PlazaPutra (now known as Dataran Underground). In 2003, flash floods in Kuala Lumpur destroyed the underground complex. In May 2004, Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia, YTL Corporation Berhad and The Actors Studio Malaysia created a new jointly-owned platform to develop the performing arts, which became the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac). KLPac opened its doors in May 2005.

Building

The impressive KLpac building has in fact a long history. The railway warehouse was in Sentul Park, a piece of land which came under YTL ownership with the acquisition of another company. The remodel features glass windows along the front of the building, as well as a walkway leading up to the building. In the 1800s, the building was a wood-crafting workshop and sawmill. In 1906, it became part of Sentul Works becoming the region's most important railway depot & workshop. It then was bombed during tail end of WWII but was soon rebuilt. It was converted into a makeshift golf clubhouse in the late 1960s, but became abandoned in the early 1990s.

Performing Arts Venues

KLPac

The four main areas of the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre are:

• Pentas 1 (a Proscenium Theater): 504 seats
• Pentas 2 (a Black Box Theater): 192 seats depending on configuration
• Indicine (A film screening room): 100 seats
• Academy: 9 Studios for rehearsals and training

• 
  Studio 1, one of the rehearsal and training studios in KLPac

A view of the seating and stage at The Actor's Studio

The Actor's Studio at Lot 10

The Actor's Studio at Lot 10, Bukit Bintang, has a 198-seater Hanamichi Thrust Stage. The Actor's Studio has been moved, from its original space at PlazaPutra, to Bangsar, and eventually to its current space on the rooftop of Lot 10.

Penang Performing Arts Centre (penangpac)

The Actor's Studio in collaboration with Eastern and Oriental Bhd to establish a similar performing arts centre in Penang. This will be Northern Malaysia's first non-profit arts centre.^[3] It will have a 300-seater proscenium theatre, a Black Box theatre, and rehearsal and training facilities.

Events and Programmes

An abandoned railway station at the entrance of the KLPAC complex, often used as a performing venue.

Theatre

KLPac regularly puts on theatre shows and musicals, which are directed and most of the time, written by KLPac's own directors-in-residence, such as Joe Hasham, and choreographer-in-residence Lex Lakshman Balakrishnan, and executive producer and director Dato' Faridah Merican.

Actors such as Patrick Teoh, Sharifah Amani, Ahmad Zamil, Joanna Bessey, David Knight, and Colin Kirton, among others have graced the stages of KLPac and The Actor's Studio. Notable Shows include Julius Caesar, Cinderella, Aladdin, Going North, Passion, and The Odd Couple. In addition, shows such as Kudan Project Production, and Macbeth, have been performed by touring theatre companies on KLPac stages.

Events

KLPac has also played a major role in events such as the HSBC Classics music festival, French Art Festival, Malaysian Dance festival, SHORT+SWEET festival and Urbanscapes.

Academy and education

The KLPac academy has served more than 1500 students who have participated in its classes, a number which includes students from a community outreach program to members of underprivileged communities. The academy believes that performing arts training "aids creative thinking and helps build confidence, listening skills, discipline and respect for others and for oneself."^[4] Education Programs include Theatre for Young People (T4YP) as well as many classes on music, dance and drama and related concepts.

Orchestra

The notion of a community orchestra is very much in keeping with the vision of The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), which is to foster creative excellence and develop and nurture performing arts culture in Malaysia.

Driven by the obvious need for a community orchestra to cater for the growing numbers of classically trained music students and amateurs, the first auditions were held in October 2006. The klpac Orchestra's debut concert in December 2006 was Candlelight Christmas, conducted by the Orchestra's founder and klpac's first Music Director & Resident Conductor, the late Mr. Brian Tan. Since then, hundreds of musicians have been a part of the klpac Orchestra and its many concerts throughout the years. It is currently under the leadership of Mr. Lee Kok Leong.

In setting up the orchestra, klpac hopes to provide enriching and engaging musical experiences for people with varying musical backgrounds, in an environment that promotes fellowship and respect. The founding of the klpac Orchestra provides more opportunities for aspiring musicians, amateur or professional while helping to promote orchestral music.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.

• KLPac Official Website
• The Actor's Studio Official Website

Coordinates: 3°11′10″N 101°40′48″E / 3.186°N 101.68°E / 3.186; 101.68