Lovely Bunch of Coconuts!

2007 is wrapping up with a handful of surprises! Some good, some not so good. Some…Great! first, dad had a heart attack. can’t say if it was a minor or major one but it sure was a scary experience. I recieved another surprise when the publicist at KLPac called me while I was visiting my dad at the hospital. They’ve managed to secure a slot with NTV7’s The Breakfast Show! And they want Dasha and I to go down to be featured as one of next Friday’s guest! So, if it’s going to be a live interview, be sure to tune into NTV7 on Friday, January 4th from 8.00am onwards! Its a 2 hour programme but the interview should only be a few minutes. It’s going to be my first TV appearance and I must say…….EEPS!

So…my directorial debut is being staged at KLPac in January, what else could an aspriring ‘theatre kaki’ ask for huh? was in taiping the past day and whoopee, everyone got to open their presents early! or at least, some of them. So far, i’ve got a long sleeve shirt

also just returned from my brief work/holiday trip to KL. would be much easier to just summarise all the excitement….
1. Marks & Spencer @ KLCC….the extravagant display of imported chocolates, christmas cards, wrappers and gifts!
2. Chocz @ KLCC…only had the chance to just stare at display chocs as my brother told me off that they were just things not worth indulging on!
3. The Illusion @ Dram Projects…had a bloody headache at the beginning but it turned out to be a very good production. Plus, my brother kissed on stage! hahaha
4. Sentul Park…took me 2 hours to get to the place thanks to Mark’s fantastic sense of giving people directions.
5. KLPac…friendly bunch of people and had a good tour round Pentas 2!
6. Central Market…some lovely rude T-shirts on sale there. but they were just a bit too expensive.
7. Dunkin’ Donuts @ Avenue K…spent 3 hours writing my new script over peach tea and 2 donuts.
8. TGV Cinemas @ KLCC…watched a movie there for the first time. I Am Legend…Sam rocks!
9. Lion-O, the big ball of fur @ SS2…Mark’s brand new pet. Quiet, little fella that just loves to have his paws all over your face and tongue all ’round your earlobes while you’re sound asleep.

So what else is there to look forward to?
1. Xmas
2. The new semester
3. News for You @ KLPac
4. The Platform @ KLPac
5. latest production….scheduled for staging by Aug/Sep 2008!

Hi everyone!

It is my pleasure to announce that following the recent successful staging of my directorial debut at TAS@Greenhall in Penang, the show is now travelling down to Kuala Lumpur.

This is indeed a great honour for everyone on the team for we shall be the first show from Penang to perform at PENTAS 2 at THE KUALA LUMPUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (KLPac)!

Here’s the official info…

THE ACTORS STUDIO in collaboration with
THE MINISTRY OF TRUTH
with the support of
THE KUALA LUMPUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

presents

JOHN SHEBAT de SILVA’s
NEWS FOR YOU: Termination of the Teenage Population

Featuring
IMRAN OSMAN ~ NICHOLAS CHONG ~ DASHA LOGAN
BEN SINGH ~ BILL REITBERGER ~ FADZRINA ARIFFIN

Written & Directed by
JOHN SHEBAT de SILVA

Co-Directed by
KUGENESH

FROM PENANG FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY + another afternoon!
at PENTAS 2, KLPac @ Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan
(off Jalan Ipoh)

JAN 19 @ 8.30pm / JAN 20 @ 3pm

Tickets RM 10.00 only!

Dear Friend,

I don’t expect that you would be able to stumble across this entry by your own knowledge but here it goes anyway.

I have been involved in Malaysian theatre since 2003 with the sold-out production of ‘The Pimple Years’, followed by ‘Dangerous Children’ in 2004 (which was staged at both TAS @ Greenhall Penang and TAS @ BSC Kuala Lumpur), ‘Krismas in Kulim’ also in 2004, Executive Producer for ‘Teacher’ which had several sold-outs, an encore, and a staging at BSC in 2005, Executive Producer for ‘Cheet Chat’ in 2006, also staged at Greenhall and BSC.

Now, all of the above productions were of my brother Mark Beau de Silva’s. Whom prior to the staging of "The Pimple Years" in Penang, received 5 nominations for the Cameronian Arts Awards for his play "Stories for Amah", directed by Joe Hasham with Executive Producer Dato’ Faridah Merican.

I have recently staged my directorial debut and I must say that the response and feedback was better than I had anticipated. I am also pleased to announce that NEWS FOR YOU shall be making its way to Kuala Lumpur in 2008 to be staged at Pentas 2, KLPac (the venue is yet to be confirmed).

Now to come to the real reason behind this entry.
I have recently been told that YOU have informed a former cast member of my show during its pre-production stage not to be involved in any of the "de Silva boys’ shows…it’s theatre suicide"

It is unlike me to respond to here-say, but just in case it were true, I’d like you to ponder upon your actions. You are a highly decorated, and admired member of the performing arts scene. I have every respect for you in that sense.

If it is indeed a fatal decision to be involved in a de Silva production, please explain why are de Silva plays still being produced till this day in both Penang and Kuala Lumpur. If it is suicide, why are former cast members of de Silva productions still active actors?

If our works are not your cup of tea, so be it. Or if we have unintentionally offended you in the past, please accept our sincerest apologies. However, Performing arts is not intended to be presented in just what academics wish it to be. I think you should know that don’t you?

Anyway, I can only hope that what I heard WAS made up. Looking forward to have the privilege of working with you in the near future.

Thank you.

JOHN SHEBAT de SILVA