Try something new, go watch a theater performance!

The performing arts comes in many different forms but it has one thing in common : it is art. Whether it is acting inside a film, a musical performance or concerts or even ballet performances, they are all a form of art where people can embrace themselves in apart from being entertained.

Theatre is a great form of performing arts. The Americans with their Broadway and the British with their West-End productions. Theater originates from Greece - it started out by a Dionysian priest called Thespis. He started out by doing satyr and Greek tragedy plays. The term ‘Thespian’ that is currently used to describe and actor is derived from the name Thespis himself.

In Malaysia, it can be seen that theatre is slowly making its’ way up in the entertainment industry but it is slow. If you are in the mood for grandeur and performances that feasts the eyes and the ears, you can watch performances in Istana Budaya and KL Performing Arts Center (KL PAC).

These performances rely on the spectacle element of a theatre performance. The set, the lighting, the music among others are usually over the top and the actors are mostly well-known celebrities. Here, you can also experience an almost Broadway-like performance in a form of Musicals and Semi-Musicals. Musicals are where the script is fully in a form of songs or is delivered musically while semi-musicals include regular dialogues apart from songs.

The same goes for independent and underground theatre performances. These type of theatres are usually for those with a much opened mind as they touch on sensitive issues that few can handle. Despite that, it is extremely refreshing and can broaden up your mind with different perspectives that are interesting. You can find these type of performances at places such as Black Box at DBKL, The Actor’s Studio Lot 10, PJ Live Art’s Center and also performances by students from UM, UiTM and others.

The price for the tickets depends on the type of performances and where it is held. Those in Istana Budaya usually starts at RM30 for student price and can go to as far as RM 400. Independent performances such as at the Actor’s Studio tops at around RM40 while those by students costs around RM5 to RM20.

Places and stages such as Istana Budaya might be fully booked throughout the year by production companies and the shows are mostly quite good, but the reception by the public is still scarce and it is rare for a single show to become a full house. It might cost more than going to the cinemas, but it will give you a whole new experience that can be wonderful and put you in awed with what that had just commenced on the stage.