Big Nose Productions’ love extravaganza hits Penang

Big Nose Productions is set to enchant Penang audiences with a belated Valentine’s Day celebration through the theatrical masterpiece, “Her Story | His Story.” This captivating production, featuring six insightful monologues, explores the diverse facets of love, promising a blend of humor, surrealism, and deep introspection.

Scheduled to take center stage at Auditorium A, Komtar, Penang, from March 1st to 2nd, 2024, “Her Story | His Story” is the brainchild of producer/director Fa Abdul. Born out of the necessity for a creative outlet during the pandemic lockdowns, the play is a product of an online playwriting project initiated by Fa in early 2021.

Having successfully staged twenty monologues in 2023 in collaboration with The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre and The Actors Studio, Big Nose Productions aims to captivate the Penang audience with six handpicked, poignant monologues inspired by real-life experiences. These monologues, penned by emerging talents in the Malaysian performing arts scene – Binnu, AC Wong, Faizal Sohaimi, Bina K, Bing Hou, and Lawrence Chin – promise to take the audience on a journey through the intricacies of human relationships.

Exploring the Many Shades of Love

Fa Abdul, known for her innovative approach to storytelling, curated twenty monologues in 2023 through successful collaborations with The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre and The Actors Studio. Now, handpicking six poignant monologues for the first time in Penang, Fa aims to captivate the audience with stories inspired by real-life experiences, written by emerging talents in the Malaysian performing arts industry.

The colorful narratives will be brought to life by a stellar cast, each representing diverse backgrounds and professions. The audience can expect to be entertained by Tommes, the ‘German Comedian in Malaysia,’ Swarna Naidu, the Miss Universe Malaysia runner-up turned actor, Lauren Tan, the lawyer with a passion for advocacy, Ian Lee, the engineer with a penchant for acting, Ivan Gabriel, the multi-talented Penang-based artist, and Izatul Akmal, the award-winning actress and acting coach.

The monologues cover a range of themes, from Faizal Sohaimi’s “Little Grains of Sand” exploring life’s changes, to Swarna Naidu’s “My Dad Was Never a Doctor,” challenging generational norms. Lauren Tan takes on the role of AC Wong in “Red Lipstick,” portraying a character’s journey from Islamophobia to genuine curiosity about a different faith. Ian Lee explores the theme of love and family in “Life Changes,” while Ivan Gabriel tackles trust issues in “Tattoos on My Left.” Lastly, Izatul Akmal portrays Bina in “A Single Pringle,” a strong and independent woman navigating the complexities of romantic relationships.

The Simple Confessional Monologue Style

Fa Abdul’s decision to maintain a simple, confessional monologue style promises to highlight the storytellers and their narratives, making them the stars of the show. The 80-minute performance aims to create an intimate connection between the audience and the storytellers, transforming the actors into cherished friends.

To support the Penang theatre industry, Big Nose Productions offers tickets at an affordable price of RM28 for “Her Story | His Story.” Tickets can be purchased online at www.cloudjoi.com/org/big-nose-productions. The show is not suitable for children due to mature language, themes, and content.

As the curtain falls on this celebration of love and longing, Fa Abdul and Big Nose Productions already have their sights set on the next theatrical masterpiece. “Leela Jhansi,” a full-length drama, is scheduled to grace the stage in May, promising another compelling and thought-provoking experience for Penang’s theater enthusiasts.