What began as a small festival in Australia, the Short+Sweet Festival has since taken the world by storm. Now in its 17th year in Malaysia, the festival is held annually at The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) under the esteemed leadership of Festival Director, Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican, the First Lady of Malaysian Theatre. Short+Sweet Malaysia has become a cultural staple, offering a vibrant platform for both established and emerging artists to showcase their innovative works.
Short+Sweet is a multi-form arts platform presenting festivals in theatre, dance, music-theatre, comedy and cabaret co-ordinated in multiple counties globally. The unifying feature of all works presented at the festival is they must be no longer than ten-minutes.
This year, the festival's Dance and Theatre categories were dominated by students from Taylor’s University’s Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) Programme. In the Dance category, final-year students Jane Tee, Dhakshu Jeegatheswaran, Mitchell Liong, Evelynn Chua, and Serena Sok won Best Overall Production and the Creative Excellence Award. Their performance, rooted in Chinese cultural traditions in Malaysia, was skillfully conceptualized by their lecturer, Mohd Zhafir Muzani Mohamad, who also earned the Best Director award.
In the Theatre category, BPA students achieved similar success. Jane Tee, Dhakshu Jegatheeswaran, Harish Zaqwan, Jerry Pang, and Sarah Teshima led their team to victory, securing the Best Overall Production award. Directed by Senior Lecturer Mark Beau de Silva, their piece explored themes of cultural diversity in Malaysia, and Mark Beau was recognized with the Best Director award.
These achievements underscore the BPA programme’s commitment to nurturing high-caliber performing artists, highlighting its excellence in fostering creativity and cultural storytelling. The success of these students also signals a bright future for Malaysia’s performing arts, as they contribute to a new era of creativity, innovation, and cultural expression. At a time when the global arts industry faces numerous challenges, these accomplishments demonstrate that Malaysia’s next generation of artists is both resilient and visionary. Their work delves into important cultural narratives, showcasing how the performing arts can foster dialogue, understanding, and social progress.
Furthermore, their success highlights the value of arts education, particularly programmes like the BPA, which equip students with the skills to push artistic boundaries. By nurturing future creators, Malaysia is cultivating a new generation of performers and innovators who will shape the country’s cultural landscape, ensuring the arts remain a vital part of national life. This success story also inspires more young Malaysians to pursue the arts, proving that with dedication and opportunity, they can achieve recognition both locally and internationally. As these students step into the spotlight, they bring renewed excitement and hope for Malaysia’s flourishing performing arts industry.