KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with International Women's Day today The Actors Studio (TAS) with support from the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPaC) and the Performing Arts Centre of Penang (Penangpac) have put together an online show that premieres at 8.30pm tonight.
The programme comprising of poetry, songs, dances and short plays featuring the wonderful talents of KLPaC and TAS, will be hosted by Malaysia's First Lady of Theatre, Datuk Faridah Merican, and Joe Hasham.
The show on YouTube will also feature Ian Chow, Omar Ali, Mark Beau de Silva, Ho Lee Ching, Zhafir Muzani, Leeya Mohamad and many more.
"We are absolutely delighted and thoroughly enjoyed doing the show knowing that we are doing it for a great cause – number one, it is International Women's Day, and number two, we are desperately raising funds for Penangpac," said Joe after the recording session of the show.
Faridah added: "We love supporting the arts and we love very much supporting Penangpac."
"We do need your money because without it Penangpac cannot survive. Penangpac is really in dire states so please dig deep and help the performing arts," she said.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has put Penangpac under a serious financial crisis. Since 2020, all of its 12 permanent staff had gone through compulsory 30 per cent salary cuts.
The inability to receive live audiences has also caused the one and only fully functional performing arts centre in the Northern Region of the country to continue struggling and dependent on public donations for its survival.
The International Women's Day Celebration 2021 with Faridah Merican which premiers on YouTube at 8.30pm tonight (March 8) will remain available until 11.59pm on March 31.
To enjoy the 45-minute show, send a text message via WhatsApp to Desmond at +60164112459.
Upon making a minimum donation of RM15, you will be given the YouTube link. Please do not share it with others.
Penangpac will also be presenting a string of other shows and activities to raise funds.
Among the activities that viewers will get to enjoy are theatre and musical workshops, wellness classes and streaming of previously staged shows as well as pre-recorded new shows.
All activities are offered for a minimum donation of RM15 and will take place on various platforms such as Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube.
For those wishing to participate in our online activities, please follow our social media accounts for updates via Facebook (facebook.com/penangpac) and Instagram (Instagram.com/penangpac).