BALIK PULAU, August 29 – The Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC) proudly presented the Graduation Showcase of the “Let’s Play: Youth Drama Basic Course – Aspiration for Youth” held at SJK (C) Yeok Hua, Balik Pulau. The course, organized by PYDC in collaboration with Triple I Production House, MyPenang Creative, and Pusat Khidmat Rakyat Balik Pulau, aimed to promote community arts and culture by making performing arts accessible to young talents. The “Let’s Play: Youth Drama Basic Course” has been an initiative to revive the local performance arts scene in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since May this year, the course has successfully engaged youth from both Penang Island and Seberang Prai, imparting basic skills in performing arts to the participants. Dr. Gwee Sai Ling, General Manager of PYDC, expressed her delight in the success of the course, saying, “The participants of the ‘Let’s Play: Youth Drama Course’ have received training in various aspects of performing arts, including voice projection, emotional expression, and body language. We are proud to witness their growth and the exposure they gained through this program, which will undoubtedly benefit their future endeavors in the performing arts.”
The Graduation Showcase served as a culmination of the participants’ journey, allowing them to showcase their talents and the skills they have honed over the course duration. The drama courses were conducted in three languages – Mandarin, English, and Malay, at three different locations: Pusat Belia Bagan Jermal, UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang, and Pusat Belia Balik Pulau. A total of 66 enthusiastic participants joined the program, with 23 in the Mandarin-language course at Pusat Belia Bagan Jermal, 16 in the English and Malay-language course at UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang, 15 in the Mandarin-language course at Pusat Belia Balik Pulau, and 12 in the English and Malay-language course at Pusat Belia Balik Pulau.
Throughout the program, coaches dedicated their weekends to teach the participants various modules, guiding them through rehearsals and fostering their passion for performing arts. The graduation showcases for classes in UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang and Pusat Belia Bagan Jermal were conducted earlier, and the closing performance for the two classes in Pusat Belia Balik Pulau is scheduled for 30th July 2023 at SJK (C) Yeok Hua, Balik Pulau. The showcase will feature three captivating shows, titled “Z @ AI,” “Street of Pest,” and “After Graduation, What’s Next?”
The ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, including Mr. Ahmad Zaki Shah Bih Shah Headan, Barisan Nasional’s Candidate for DUN N40 Telok Bahang; Mr. Edward Tan Chiew Choon, State Councillor of City Council of Penang Island cum Pegawai Seranta of Pusat Khidmat Rakyat Parlimen Balik Pulau, representing YB Dato’ Muhammad Bin Wan Chik, Member of Parliament for Balik Pulau; and Dr. Gwee Sai Ling, General Manager of Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC). The event celebrated the accomplishments of the young talents and the promising future of performing arts in Penang.
