Heads up! Instant Caf Theatre to launch WMD at Malaysiakini bash

comments     Roshan Jason     Published     Updated

World-renowned Instant Caf Theatre (ICT), a comedy group famous for its parody of Malaysian politics, will feature two of its 'Weapons of Mass Delirium' at malaysiakini's fifth anniversary bash on Nov 27 in Kuala Lumpur.

Veteran entertainers and crowd favourites Jo Kukathas and Patrick Teoh ( photo, left ) will be on hand to liven up the evening with their side-splitting comedy skills in a 40-minute sketch that promises to leave patrons in tears - albeit the happy kind.

Kukathas ( photo, right and below ) is ICT's director and one of its most enduring and versatile actors while Teoh is best known to Malaysian audiences as 'The Voice of Malaysia', having been a radio personality for over two decades now.

The duo have a combined 32 years as performers and have performed both domestically and internationally a wide spectrum of roles in theatre, television and on the big screen to rave reviews.

Most notably was Teoh's role in the Hollywood blockbuster 'Anna and the King', whereas Kukathas' own 'From Table Mountain to Teluk Intan' - a solo show where she plays all the characters - earned her an invitation to the chic and prestigious New York Fringe Festival.

"We often perform for charities, people or organisations that are somehow connected with freedom of expression and human rights," Kukathas told malaysiakini .

"What we do in our comedy routines is similar to what malaysiakini does ... we question or take a close look at what goes on around us."

Double whammy

Coincidentally, ICT celebrates its 15th anniversary on Dec 1, a date not too far off from Nov 20, the date malaysiakini was launched in 1999.

Acknowledging the past five years had been very challenging for the organisation, the news portal's chief executive officer Premesh Chandran said the struggle - both financial and bureaucratic - had been worthwhile as significant achievements have been made '... in pushing the limits of press freedom'.

" Malaysiakini has become a global case study on how the Internet can be used to introduce pluralism into a tightly-regulated media environment," he said.

Chandran added that the hugely-popular website's anniversary bash would be a celebration of its successes and the '... fact that Malaysians can be mature in discussing sensitive issues'.

"Not only has malaysiakini been able to offer our readers and subscribers a daily diet of independent news, we are proof that Malaysian media can function responsibly in the absence of government licencing," he said.

Meet the faces

With a target of 1,000 guests, the marketing team and staff of malaysiakini have to date sold hundreds of the anniversary dinner tickets thus far to readers, subscribers, donors and fans who have helped the independent news website survive and thrive against the odds.

Senior members of government, leaders of political parties, media members and the diplomats are also expected to grace the event to be held at the Hotel Flamingo in Ampang.

On what to expect that night, Chandran said guests will have a chance to meet the 'faces behind the web' and to hear first-hand the trial and tribulations of the website's pioneering five years.

The night, with the theme 'One click away from the truth' will begin at 7pm and will end with a chance for guests to walk away with free return air tickets in a lucky draw.

Tickets priced at RM50 to RM75 per person can be purchased by contacting the company's marketing department at 03-22835567 ext 105, or by logging on to malaysiakini's anniversary dinner webpage .

Tickets can be picked up at the door on the night of the dinner, however payment should be made beforehand.

Further enquires can be addressed to the marketing manager John Stothard at [email protected] or at the above number.



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