4 days ago
Hush The Theatre debuts its Children's Theatre Festival with three quirky shows
This weekend, Hush The Theatre opens its doors to families for its first-ever Children's Theatre Festival – an event bursting with colour, laughter, and playfulness. Designed for children but sure to charm adults too, it proves that the best theatre doesn't always have to be quiet, but can be loud, joyful, and wonderfully spontaneous.
The independent theatre group, based in Glomac Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, will stage three original productions, mixing music, slapstick, mime and more.
The public can catch The Non-Essentials and Crayons Gone Wild! this Saturday (July 19), while Bohemian Kats: The Great Escape takes the stage on Sunday (July 20).
'I was always keen on producing theatre for kids and families because I believe in the power of theatre,' said Sharanya Radhakrishnan, Hush The Theatre founder, who wrote and directed all the shows.
'Children's theatre can speak to everyone in the room no matter their ages. When I was young, I was bullied and became extremely shy. Studying theatre is what pulled me out of my shyness and saved my life. I believe that putting a smile on a child's face, even for just a few seconds, can help them feel included,' she added.
The three productions were staged separately just a few months ago, and the Children's Theatre Festival is where they finally come together – creating one lively weekend of shared stories, laughter, and discovery.
'There's something really exciting about blurring those lines, between adult and child, comedy and heartbreak, polished and spontaneous,' says Sharanya. Photo: Hush The Theatre
(Next week, extra shows reserved for children's NGOs and community groups will further Hush's mission to make theatre accessible to all.)
'We saw really mixed audiences, parents who came for Crayons Gone Wild! ended up buying tickets for The Non-Essentials, and adults who came for Bohemian Kats were surprised at how much they enjoyed something made for kids. This blend is exactly what I hope to keep growing,' said Sharanya.
Each show promises plenty of fun and mayhem.
Crayons Gone Wild! asks what happens when a box of crayons decides they have had enough of being scribbled about without having a say. What follows is a riot of colours, chaos and heart.
The Non-Essentials flips the spotlight onto characters usually left backstage, background trees, castle guards, even 'The End', as they audition for their moment to finally take centre stage.
Bohemian Kats is exactly as offbeat as it sounds, a wordless, physical theatre romp where a group of rebellious meerkats break out of the zoo and boogie their way to freedom to the soundtrack of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
'Bohemian Kats: The Great Escape' a performance set entirely to the timeless music of Queen. Photo: Hush The Theatre
Behind the festival is Hush's Resident Actor Programme, Sharanya's passion project to nurture original, inclusive theatre and support young talent.
The cast – Putrina Rafie, Naveen Raja, Lew Li Ling, Qayleef, and Deena Dakshini – each bring their own spark, from improv comedy to dance and movement.
Putrina and Naveen have spent the past few years making their mark in theatre, while the rest of the cast are promising new voices finding their footing.
'The goal for the Resident Actor Programme was simple. It was my way of creating a safe but slightly chaotic space where emerging actors can help bring my original children's scripts to life,' said Sharanya.
'They (the cast) bring unfiltered energy to the table and they're not afraid to try something completely ridiculous and turn it into something meaningful.
It's this spirit of playful risk-taking that Sharanya believes gives each show its spark.
'As a director, I've learned not everything needs to be polished from the start. The best moments often come from silly improv. If we can make a six-year-old and a thirty-six-year-old laugh at the same scene, we're on the right track,' she concluded.
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