TEN: Theatrical Lightning Strikes Gowri Paary

Sweat, tears, joy, laughter, pain, insomnia. These are some of the components put together by the Theatre for Young People Programme (T4YP) to manifest TEN: Theatrical Lightning Strikes Human Relationships. Staged from 12th to the 15th of June 2008 in Pentas 2 KLPAC, six shows in total and with seats sold out at most shows. Very impressive for a bunch of youths, who are making their first debut performance on Malaysian stage.

TEN has created a platform for young theatre enthusiasts from various different backgrounds to come together and pour out their love for the arts that creates a myriad of colours that so beautifully blends in each scene.

This could never be done without the ingenious lighting effects done by lighting guru Sandee Chew. Credits of course go to the brains behind T4YP, director Christopher Ling and his assistant Qahar. The coordination of stage management by our beloved stage manager cum stage mom, Syat and her ever so efficient assistant, Az’farr Baginda. This would all be of course nothing without our wonderful audience. Who supported us by applauding, woo-ing, and laughing at the right moments! We would be nowhere without our audience.

The retarded actions in the dressing rooms, the gossips, the lame jokes, the manifestation of our dearest goldfish named Shamsuddin, the make up, costumes, the numerous amounts of pictures and the insanity that comes along with a production were priceless!

This was definitely the high point of my life to date. The nervousness of waiting behind the curtains which what seemed like hours! The exhilaration of being on stage and being in character, the thrill of people cheering for you and of course the tears shed at curtain call. To top it all off, coming out of backstage and into the foyer where you are greeted by friends and family who are your fans!

All this beats the joy of obtaining a science degree at 21, I daresay! This was most definitely an experience that will be embedded in my heart, forever. I love T4YP, they are my new family and KLPAC is my 2nd home! I have found my calling and if I died tomorrow, I’d die happy!!!