And Then Came Spring | The Instant Café Theatre Company

Photos by Amin Kamrani

Download the program book

Growing up in Kabul 14-year Nazanin always dreamt of going to school. But her father Ghulam, a lay-about addicted to gambling and heroine, sent her to work in a carpet shop instead while her younger sister, the spirited 8-year-old Laily, scavenges the streets and hustles for a living. The girls dream of the day when everything would be different. Instead, their father sells Nazanin to Sarwar Khan to settle his debts and Nazanin finds herself married to a man twice her age. She soon finds herself pregnant but when her husband finds out the child is a girl he is infuriated, and his decision sets off a chain of events that changes everyone’s lives forever.

Directors

Saleh Sepas, Jo Kukathas

Writers

Saleh Sepas, Jo Kukathas

Producers

Tan Cher Kian, Jo Kukathas, Saleh Sepas, Amin Kamrani

Dramaturg

Jo Kukathas

Set Designers

Lian Kian Lek, David Wong, Jo Kukathas

Set Builder

David Wong

Lighting Designer

Ee Chee Wei

Lighting Operator

Muhammad Syarafi bin Saadon

Sound Engineer

Kelvin Lo Kai Wei

Stage Manager

Woon Siew Yin

Asst Stage Manager

Bobo Sing

Crew

Chiew Zi Xing

Props Master & Crew

Joanne Ooi

Subtitles

Zabihullah Hossaini, Reza Rosli, Hasan al-Akra, Farah Rani, CK Tan, Jo Kukathas, Leong Jie Yu

Subtitles Operator

Zabihullah Hossaini

Poster & Graphic

Ali Rabiei, Allie Hill

e-Programme Book

Low Pey Sien

Website

Reza Rosli

Front of House

CK Tan, Phui Yi, Mellissa Mustafa, Muhamad Iqmal B Md Roslim, Lian Kian Lek

Photography

Amin Kamrani

Cast

Farzana Yakta, Ali Reza Hussaini, Medina Hosseini, Masooma Sepas, Shamim Sepas, Abolfazl Jafari, Hassan Hussaini, Abbas Yousefi, Abdul Hamed, Roghayeh Yoosefi, Hamid, Dunia Haikal, Majd Hasan, Aunger Aung, Farah Rani, Yasna Hussaini

Produced by

Parastoo Theatre and The Instant Café Theatre Company under their Bronze Lion Project and FIRSTWoRKS.

Such. A. Moving. Show.

Had the pleasure of catching this on Saturday, and really had an experience. A tender, eye-opening look at the lives of refugees in Malaysia. Great stuff all around.

~ Terence Toh, playwright (Facebook)

Berkesempatan mendapat tiket performance teater. Thanks Mahi Ramakrishnan. Selamat buat team yang sudah sukses dalam persembahan. Meskipun awalnya saya tidak paham bahasa, tetapi saya bisa merasakan cerita yang mereka sampaikan. Menyuarakan suara para refugee melalui art, dengan alur yang mengaduk emosi. Ada saat saya merasa marah dan ada saat momen mengalirkan air mata.

Di akhir acara ada sesi tanya jawab, baik dengan pengarah ataupun pemain. Sangat menginspirasi, membayangkan ada theater sedemikian yang menceritakan tentang PRT.

~ Nasrikah Sarah, Persatuan Pekerja Rumah Tangga Indonesia Migran, Pertimig (Facebook)

From the streets of Kabul to Kuala Lumpur, the daily indignities of a war-torn country to the insecurities of life as a refugee. An emotionally generous cast living out their difficult lives on stage.

~ @SharaadKuttan (Twitter)

Rare night out at the theatre today (particularly in these times) but glad we made the effort as really enjoyed and was quite touched by the heartwarming and exuberant performance by a very special cast, made up of refugees living here in Malaysia from @parastoo.theatre in collaboration with @instantcafetheatre. Didn’t really know what to expect but as usual, @instantcafetheatre and Jo Kukathas never disappoint.

~ @lihsian (IG)

Last Sunday 24th July, thanks to MeiLi Siaw‘s recommendation, we found ourselves at the last night of And Then Came Spring. What an enjoyable and stellar performance by talented refugees, young actresses and actors.

We haven’t been to any physical theatres for a long, long time. I must applaud first of all, the courage and boldness of the writers and actors, in telling and retelling their stories on stage which was so personal on many levels. Safety, food and shelter are the things we often take for granted, but these are priceless treasures in the world of a refugee.

It created a world of discussions in the areas of human rights, human dignity, poverty, the enforcement of the rule of law, injustice, unemployment, inequality, gender discrimination; of appreciation for diversity of race, ethnicity, language and culture and so much more. These conversations must keep going…

Because we can all do better for one another.

~ Emily Foo (Facebook)

And Then Came Spring — truthful, poignant, personal and empowering. I hope that in time to come, our refugee and migrant communities will be able to live in the light, be integrated across various communities, and share the same privileges as Malaysians do.

~ Melissa Teoh (Facebook)

Hi Jo, I am sorry I didn’t get to catch up with you after the show. It was a beautiful production. It reminded me again of the power of theatre, storytelling and community. The piece and the performances were honest, raw and brave. Please congratulate these actors for me.

~ a friend of Instant Cafe Theatre (personal whatsapp)

Soooo And Then Came Spring happened……

I am proud and grateful to have been a part of the production And Then Came Spring a collaboration by Parastoo Theatre and Instant Cafe Theatre

Growing up in a society that rejects you and your community is devastating. And the journey to seek identity and break through the stigma and stereotypes people have about refugees is really hard.

Aside from lack of basic needs, the freedom of expression is also suppressed for refugees. For the longest time, I was stuck in this box of labels people put on me that I forgot I am a person of my own and with my own color and uniqueness. I was scared to show the world my capabilities and lost confidence in myself because of my status so I suppressed myself more and more.

By being a part of this production not only I took a chance on myself, but it was an opportunity I got to showcase to others of what we can become if we weren’t afraid anymore. It’s not easy to stand in front of hundreds of people and actually talk about the truth. I’m happy now that I could have this opportunity to create more awareness. The theatre gave me the confidence to openly speak up about these issues.

Not only that, I got to meet others who are also like me and the way they carry themselves and how they interacted and supported each other. It inspired me and gave me strength. I would not have had the confidence or strength to stand on the stage if it wasn’t for them.

Both Saleh and Jo believed in me, and if it wasn’t for their guidance and encouragement I would not have been able to do it. As well as my friends who acted with me at the production, their countless “You can do this, Aunger!!” really made this possible for me. I was so happy at the end of the day and until now I still couldn’t believe I did it.

Many of my close friends, and some Malaysian friends came and supported the show too which made it very memorable for me. I hope I can continue to do more amazing shows like this in the future.

~ Aunger Aung, actress