Latest news with #TheCry
The Star
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
'Legacy Alive' keeps the flame going for three late Malaysian creatives
Project Future Malaysia, a community arts initiative, presents Legacy Alive – a tribute showcase honouring three visionary Malaysian figures: novelist K.S. Maniam (1942–2020), musician and drummer Lewis Pragasam (1957–2023), and visual artist Nirmala Dutt (1941–2016). Through this programme, Project Future Malaysia aims to inspire a new generation of artists by celebrating the enduring impact and creative legacies of these trailblazers. The showcase, to be held at Five Arts Centre, GMBB in Kuala Lumpur on June 28, features original works by Melizarani T. Selva (literature and theatre), Blank Malaysia (visual art), and Stan Calvin (music), fostering intergenerational dialogue through contemporary expression. Project Future Malaysia founder Kevin Bathman, who conceptualised the show, drew inspiration from his work with Australian arts NGO Diversity Arts Australia, where he worked on projects spotlighting culturally diverse artists. 'That experience made me reflect on how, in Malaysia, we often overlook our own creative figures until after they are gone. Even then, their names are rarely mentioned and their works quickly fade from public memory,' says Bathman. 'Over the years, other than Nirmala Dutt's retrospective exhibition at Ilham Gallery (in KL) in 2023, I have seen how easily these three artists' legacies have been forgotten, despite their significant and sometimes award-winning contributions to Malaysia's creative scene. This project is a way to honour their work and keep their stories alive,' he adds. Last year, Maniam's posthumous novel The Cry , published by Maya Press, was finally released. Bridging generations In Legacy Alive , writer and performer Melizarani reinterprets Maniam's 1990 play, The Sandpit: Womensis , through a theatrical playlet. 'I was drawn to the women in Maniam's writing. This piece lets them speak to each other, and to us, across time. It is a chance to rescue themselves from what once seemed inevitable,' she says. Maniam, best known for his novels The Return and In A Far Country , was also a founding member of the arts collective Five Arts Centre. His The Sandpit: Womensis is considered a significant contribution to the Malaysian performing arts canon, alongside The Cord (1983) and The Skin Trilogy (1995). Melizarani will reinterpret Maniam's 1990 play 'The Sandpit: Womensis' through a theatrical playlet. Visual artist A.J. Roberts, better known as Blank Malaysia, will unveil a new installation inspired by Nirmala's ecological concerns. 'Nirmala challenged systems and aesthetics. I want to echo her urgency for environmental justice, but in the language of today's climate crisis,' says Blank Malaysia. In music, Calvin continues the legacy of the immensely talented Pragasam, blending Carnatic drumming with contemporary bass lines. 'Lewis was a rhythm innovator. This piece is my way of keeping that pulse alive, by remixing heritage into something new,' says Calvin. Digging deeper Supported by the 2024 Hai-O Arts and Culture Grants, the project also received support from Cipta Seni Incubator, which provided mentorship and feedback to the artists during the development of their pieces. The Cipta Seni Incubator is part of the British Council's 2023–24 'Connections Through Culture' initiative. Bathman says that the involvement of the incubator programme really benefited the three artists. 'It gave them the space to experiment with new mediums and explore themes they may not have previously worked with. The feedback sessions allowed them to refine their ideas and push their work further. 'That kind of structured support is rare, and it made a real difference in shaping the direction and depth of their final pieces,' he says. Blank Malaysia notes that the lessons gained from this project have laid a strong foundation for his continued research-based approach to art. 'The advice given by the team helped refine ideas and find new approaches that would be a better fit to convey the information needed in a research-based art project,' he says. For Melizarani, the feedback and perspective from Cipta Seni Incubator founders Tom Curteis and Sharmilla Ganesan were valuable to her writing process. 'They were able to see how the playlet could live beyond being solely a tribute. Their feedback inspired me to consider the possibility of turning it into a full length play and flesh out the characters' even more,' she says. Remembering local talents Malaysia often fails to recognise its own talents until it is too late, says Bathman. 'Even after a veteran artist passes on, there is rarely a moment of collective reflection on the body of work they have contributed. We tend to look abroad for inspiration or chase the next big thing, without pausing to acknowledge the Malaysians who have spent decades working within local communities or highlighting issues that matter to Malaysians, he says. Despite its modest beginnings in an experimental theatre space, the Legacy Alive showcase stands as a significant platform for sparking dialogue and encouraging reflection. 'I hope this project serves as a call to commemorate and spotlight our local talent. It is about appreciating the work that has already been done, often quietly and without much recognition, but with lasting impact,' he concludes. Legacy Alive takes place at Five Arts Centre, GMBB, KL on June 28, 3pm-5.30pm. Free admission with RSVP (there are limited seats available). Open to ages 18 and above. The venue is wheelchair accessible; refreshments will be provided. Instagram: @projectfuturemalaysia.
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Best limited series ever' with Department Q star now streaming
The hit series has a new streaming home Disney+ has added the 'best limited series ever' that features one of the stars from Department Q. Originally airing on BBC back in 2018, The Cry has a new streaming home on the platform that is also home to Marvel and The Simpsons. The series is based on the novel of the same name, written by Helen Fitzgerald. According to the synopsis, the four-part drama follows young parents Joanna and Alistair who travel from Scotland to a town in Australia to visit family and fight for custody of Alistair's daughter, Chloe, against his Australian ex-wife, Alexandra. However, on the drive from Melbourne to the coastal town of Wilde Bay, their baby son Noah goes missing. In the aftermath of this tragedy, under public scrutiny, their relationship collapses and her psychological state disintegrates. Jenna Coleman leads the series as Joanna. Coleman is known for her roles in Doctor Who, period drama Victoria and The Sandman. Also starring are Nine Perfect Strangers star Asher Keddie along with Kate Dickie who recently appeared in Netflix series Department Q. Many fans have praised the series online ever since its initial debut. One person advised other Disney Plus subscribers: "The Cry is in a class of its own. The acting is sublime. Set aside a day and binge-watch it." Another claimed: "One of the best TV dramas I've ever seen! Totally hooks you in and you never know what's gonna happen next! Jenna Coleman is incredible!" Someone else commented: "Honestly one of the best limited series I have seen in a long time. I binge watched it in one hit which at four episodes long is not hard to do!" They continued: "Sure, it isn't perfect, but who cares when the acting is this good, and the story so gripping, intriguing and surprising from the beginning right until the very end. "It's truly every parent's worst nightmare losing a child, but how this situation plays out is so different to other stories like this that I have seen." One viewer shared: "I can't stop thinking about this series and I want to watch it all over again. Jenna Coleman, brilliant and so believable; and Ewen Leslie is so convincingly unlikable and silently frightening. "I love the way time is shifted and your brain is forced to work a little harder. Continuity rules are broken, as are comfort levels."
Sydney Morning Herald
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Secrets and lies: This ABC thriller will make you look at your mother's group differently
LITTLE DISASTERS ★★★★ The darker side of new motherhood, once barely whispered about, has proven a fruitful starting point for any number of psychological parenting thrillers in which mothers fall under suspicion – think Jenna Coleman in The Cry, or Jessica De Gouw in The Secrets She Keeps. This six-part drama, adapted from Sarah Vaughan's novel by Ruth Fowler (who created 2022 corporate thriller Rules of the Game), stars Diane Kruger as Jess, an American living in the comfortable bosom of the middle-class UK, with a young son and a newborn daughter. The series takes the distressing premise of implied post-natal depression and spins outwards to give a gripping account of judgment, betrayal, mistrust and a burning ethical dilemma. The model of neo-maternal perfection in her circle of female friends, whose children were raised alongside one another, from cloth nappies to organic rusks, Jess would seem the last mother to screw up even the tiniest dietary detail. But when she presents her baby, Betsey, to the emergency ward with an unexplained bruise, questions must be asked. And who should be the attending doctor? One of Jess' closest friends, Liz (Jo Joyner). It's here that the narrative goes nuclear in a manner not unlike The Slap – the expected chain of events shattering their friendship and dividing the community, with fingers swiftly pointed in both directions, mothers of all descriptions being so easy to blame. An interview device more commonly used in mockumentaries and reality programs breaks the fourth wall and draws us back to the victim – baby Betsey – and encourages reflection on the conflicting moralities of the situation. While it can initially be jarring to be faced with Liz in scrubs, explaining her side of the story to camera, these interludes serve to ground the swirling emotional fallout. Loading As the unthinkable is investigated, it turns out that – shock! – no mother is perfect. Or father, for that matter. The ensemble (which includes Patrick Balardi, Shelley Conn, Ben Bailey Smith, JJ Field, Stephen Campbell Moore and Emily Taaffe) explores the herd response to such a bombshell dropped in the middle of a seemingly innocuous and untouchable group. How an atmosphere of fear and accusation permeates this polite society is intriguing to watch.
The Age
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Secrets and lies: This ABC thriller will make you look at your mother's group differently
LITTLE DISASTERS ★★★★ The darker side of new motherhood, once barely whispered about, has proven a fruitful starting point for any number of psychological parenting thrillers in which mothers fall under suspicion – think Jenna Coleman in The Cry, or Jessica De Gouw in The Secrets She Keeps. This six-part drama, adapted from Sarah Vaughan's novel by Ruth Fowler (who created 2022 corporate thriller Rules of the Game), stars Diane Kruger as Jess, an American living in the comfortable bosom of the middle-class UK, with a young son and a newborn daughter. The series takes the distressing premise of implied post-natal depression and spins outwards to give a gripping account of judgment, betrayal, mistrust and a burning ethical dilemma. The model of neo-maternal perfection in her circle of female friends, whose children were raised alongside one another, from cloth nappies to organic rusks, Jess would seem the last mother to screw up even the tiniest dietary detail. But when she presents her baby, Betsey, to the emergency ward with an unexplained bruise, questions must be asked. And who should be the attending doctor? One of Jess' closest friends, Liz (Jo Joyner). It's here that the narrative goes nuclear in a manner not unlike The Slap – the expected chain of events shattering their friendship and dividing the community, with fingers swiftly pointed in both directions, mothers of all descriptions being so easy to blame. An interview device more commonly used in mockumentaries and reality programs breaks the fourth wall and draws us back to the victim – baby Betsey – and encourages reflection on the conflicting moralities of the situation. While it can initially be jarring to be faced with Liz in scrubs, explaining her side of the story to camera, these interludes serve to ground the swirling emotional fallout. Loading As the unthinkable is investigated, it turns out that – shock! – no mother is perfect. Or father, for that matter. The ensemble (which includes Patrick Balardi, Shelley Conn, Ben Bailey Smith, JJ Field, Stephen Campbell Moore and Emily Taaffe) explores the herd response to such a bombshell dropped in the middle of a seemingly innocuous and untouchable group. How an atmosphere of fear and accusation permeates this polite society is intriguing to watch.
Saba Yemen
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Anti-Corruption authority commemorates Sarkha anniversary
Sana'a – Saba: The Supreme National Authority for Combating Corruption organized a speech event on Wednesday to mark Sarkha anniversary (The Cry) for the year 1446 AH. During the event, Dr. Habib Al-Rumaima, a member of the Authority, emphasized that the "Sarkha" in the face of the arrogant powers is a principled stance and an act of resistance that expresses complete rejection of the domination of oppressors and the acceptance of a reality imposed by force and deception. He explained—in the event attended by Authority members Engineer Harith Al-Omari, Dr. Maryam Al-Jawfi, and Secretary-General Ahmed Atef—that the arrogant powers fear conscious voices more than loud ones, as awareness is a more potent weapon against schemes of control, directed media, and falsification. A conscious "Sarkha" exposes, mobilizes, inspires, and raises a generation that refuses subjugation. Dr. Al-Rumaima highlighted the importance of commemorating "Sarkha" as a slogan that has been—and remains—an effective stance and weapon against global arrogance, a declaration of disavowal from the enemies of God and the nation, and a rejection of America's policies and crimes against oppressed peoples. It is also a practical response to the killings and violations committed by America and the Zionist entity in various countries worldwide. He noted that while the Saudi regime was bowing to Trump yesterday, the people of Yemen were striking the Zionist enemy with hypersonic missiles under the slogan of the "Sarkha," which has brought dignity, pride, independence, and freedom to Yemen and its people. Meanwhile, cultural activist Dhaifallah Al-Jaradi affirmed that the "Sarkha" has now become global because it is the voice of truth. He pointed out that the slogan emerged at a time when the nation was living in weakness and humiliation. He stated that the martyr leader, Sayyed Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi, launched this slogan out of a sense of responsibility before God, confronting oppressors, and disavowing the enemies of God, as well as his awareness of America and Israel's maneuvers amid the nation's suffering, submission, and weakness. Al-Jaradi explained that the "Sarkha" has achieved many goals, including breaking the wall of silence against global arrogance, elevating Yemen and the nation to take practical steps in confronting their enemies, building a reality resistant to infiltration, and transforming into ballistic , hypersonic missiles and drones that strike the strongholds of the Zionist-American tyranny. For his part, cultural activist Osama Al-Mahthouri noted that the martyr leader launched the "Sarkha" to confront global, American, and Israeli corruption at a time when the nation had reached a state of submission. The "Sarkha" then marked a shift for the nation from passivity to taking a stance against its enemies. He added that the "Sarkha" significantly curtailed America's influence and dominance over the world, as it is a slogan inspired by the Holy Quran with a profound impact on the nation's awakening, freedom, and independence. This necessitates preparation to confront the enemies who are provoked by this cry and infuriated by the nation's resurgence. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (Local)
