Directors of Production (left to right): Reyhaneh, Lor Qian Hui, Kim Ki Ho, Keith Toh & Nurin Naqiyah
Taylor’s University and The Actors Studio (TUTAS) Performing Arts Conservatory Degree students entertained the audiences with an array of performances that skillfully combined culture and the contemporary. Titled 5:4:3:2:1, the graduation production of the final year students, drew upon the histories, observations and aspirations of its 5 Directors to present stunning collages of life. 5:4:3:2:1 was highlighted by 6 main publications and received glowing reviews with The Star newspaper calling it ‘A Stunning Performance!’.
"Taylor's Night", an evening began with an inspiring speech by Taylor’s University Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Chief Academic Officer, Prof. Dr. Pradeep Nair who said “We designed our Bachelor of Performing Arts to be a conservatory programme where students spend most of everyday doing what they absolutely love all the while working closely with experts and not just the usual lectures that you would get at university. In the conservatory programme there is intensive artistic training in a creative environment where most of the training takes place at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) and designed to push aspiring students to become wonderful Artists”.
The Director of Production, Nurin Naqiyah’s explosive opener was a movement piece, a meditation on image, glamour and fashion. The students paraded down the catwalk providing laughs and some food for thought. Lor Qian Hui’s play followed next, with two of the TUTAS students bringing life to a story on revenge. The third and fourth piece by Keith Toh and Reyhaneh drew upon the cultures of the directors, Iranian and Terengganu, to showcase colourful vignettes from other lands. The last piece, by Kim Ki Ho from Korea presented a beautiful story on piety, complete with dance and traditional costumes.
The production benefitted from the guidance of its Adjunct Professors Joe Hasham OAM and Dato' Dr. Faridah Merican, and Lecturers, Mark Beau de Silva, Tung Jit Yang and Ian Chow, who are the industry experts with years of experience.
In his speech, Joe Hasham mentioned that even before graduating, the students of TUTAS are already being sought after in the performing arts industry, as testament to the efficacy and excellence of the programme. It's no wonder then, that students from the programme have been hailed as the trailblazers of the industry in Malaysia and globally.