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<\/p>\nMarriage rates are on decline, and divorce rates are on the rise! Bleak.<\/p>\n
Yet, for every successful or failed marriage, who\u2019s to take the credit or blame?<\/p>\n
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LakiBini 2.0<\/strong><\/a>, KreatiV OutBox\u2019s latest theatre production (where laki<\/em> means husband and bini<\/em> means wife in Malay) explores the tenuous yet comedic relationship between a married couple as well as a divorcee! Punctuated with local anecdotes, anyone would find this play relatable, be it in one\u2019s own relationships or observance of friends and family.<\/p>\n We had the privilege to go behind the scenes with the cast and crew of LakiBini 2.0<\/strong> to find out more about the transition of Suria\u2019s starlets to theatre, their views on the theatre\u2019s role in Singapore, the importance of multi-ethnic theatre here, and of course, more about the play itself!<\/p>\n Ainon and Den, I understand you\u2019re both currently acting together on Suria. Would this be your first instance with theatre? What made you decide to delve into it?<\/span><\/p>\n Den Sabari (DS): My first theatre production was seven years ago \u2013 a Malay rock musical in 2007. I recall it being a very tedious process over 4-7 months of rehearsals with character studies, pre-production work, programming and touring two countries! For LakiBini 2.0, I had time to commit so I decided to join in! I love the process of staged plays despite its long process. And LakiBini 2.0\u2019s got interesting characters and a good story line.<\/p>\n Ainon Talib (AT): Yes, LakiBini 2.0\u2019s my first theatre debut. My acting background\u2019s in television, on Suria but I thought this was a good opportunity to delve into theatre. Theatre actors have this X-factor about them! They have an ability to express certain emotions better. I wanted to learn new skills in acting too. Some might say theatre\u2019s easy but it\u2019s really not \u2013 you need to emulate emotions accurately and focus intently. I have trouble focusing. In filming for television, I only need to memorise a few lines at one go and deliver them. If I make a mistake, I can do it again but it\u2019s different in front of a live audience for theatre. There\u2019s so much to learn \u2013 character studies, voice projection, warming up, maintaining focus, knowing where to walk, how to emote, and internalising emotions. I\u2019ve never had to put in so much effort into acting!<\/p>\n You mentioned about thespians having an X-factor, what exactly would it be?<\/span><\/p>\n AT: The internalisation of character and ability to express emotions. Being able to act for television might not mean you can be in theatre. You need to pick up specific skills to be able to move a live audience.<\/p>\n DS: The toughest challenge for thespians is in becoming your character on stage. That\u2019s a skill not every actor can master.<\/p>\n Is the acting and creative process in theatre very different from that of doing so for television?<\/span><\/p>\n DS: I\u2019m lucky to have been involved in the pre-production for staged plays and television to experience both worlds. In terms of creativity, I enjoy the process of breaking down a script and at the same time have an overview of the story. I\u2019ll think about what we can do to develop a character or to enhance a play down to the lighting and involve everyone in executing a scene that\u2019s meaningful for both the actors and the audience. The biggest difference between theatre and television would be the proximity to an audience. For television, you can add music and edit a scene. With theatre, your actions have to be exaggerated but not over the top and you need a lot more control over your body language and facial expressions.<\/p>\n AT: On television, you get spoon-fed information about the characters, their background and of what to expect from the very first episode. There\u2019s no such spoon-feeding in theatre. The character build-up is different. I had to sit down and try to understand the character I\u2019m playing \u2013 what kind of person she is and why she\u2019s behaving in a certain way. Theatre gives the audience and actors more room for interpretation and imagination.<\/p>\n So perhaps you feel a greater sense of ownership with theatre as compared to acting for television?<\/span><\/p>\n AT: Definitely. Apart from Izad moulding me to character, I have to study the character too. If there are certain nuances I think I should express, I will tell Izad and he\u2019ll allow for the characters to evolve organically with feedback.<\/p>\n Now that you\u2019ve had a taste of both, do you have any preference for one?<\/span><\/p>\n AT: Well, it depends. For easy money and less work, television will be it. But I do enjoy the sense of ownership I have in theatre as it gives me greater satisfaction.<\/p>\n DS: Theatre, in terms of the satisfaction derived and in involving the whole team. I feel very happy after a performance.<\/p>\n Farez, you\u2019ve been in many theatre shows since your first professional theatre debut with Teater Ekamatra\u2019s Rendezvous Point in 2007. What made you decide to venture into theatre professionally?<\/span><\/p>\n Farez Najid<\/strong> (FN): I don\u2019t know when I made the conscious decision! I was quite a difficult child and I was advised to channel my energy elsewhere so I decided to try out drama. And when I didn\u2019t get to perform in the army, that was when I decided I\u2019d take on acting classes and make it a career.<\/p>\n Having worked with a couple of theatre companies in Singapore, what do you think makes one different yet similar from another?<\/span><\/p>\n FN: The destination is the same but the process and product is different. The destination being to entertain and inspire, yet we all have different ways of doing and seeing things. With Kreativ Outbox, they\u2019re very family oriented, I\u2019m allowed to question and have an input. If you\u2019re uncomfortable with something, it\u2019ll be taken into consideration. I don\u2019t see acting as just a job but it\u2019s like working with friends.\u00a0 We\u2019re essentially all coming together to do something for the community.<\/p>\n I think theatre, no matter how abstract or different it might seem, is at its heart raw and honest, and oftentimes a reflection of society.<\/p>\n![\"Kreativ](\"http:\/\/cms.peatix.com\/images\/blog\/Kreative_Outbox_-_Team.jpg\")
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