SOCIETY'S BACKGROUND ( Click to view chinese version )
Pertubuhan Belia Dramatis Pulau Pinang, also known as ZaoXinChang Theatre Troupe (ZXC) was established in 1991, founded by a group of young, energetic and enthusiastic people who posses strong interest in the acting, drama and performing arts. On the 12 th of Sept 1994, ZXC formally registered as a non profit organization. In 2003, ZXC became a member of the Penang State Cultural Council ( MKN) .
With the goal of promoting performing arts and the love of the stage, ZXC members have continuously put in hard effort in local stage performance activities.
During the 15 years that ZXC has been active, more than 40 stage performances have been presented to the public in various locations. These performances includes stage plays in the Dewan Sri Pinang and Auditorium A in KOMTAR, and also street plays in various well known places in Penang. ZXC members have also actively participated in other productions.
Besides performance, ZXC organises too short-term training lessons such as stage-makeup skills, lighting design skills, acting skills, stage-setup skills, etc. under the supervision of proper tutors. In 2005, ZXC worked together with Arts-ED and successfully started a course for cultivating and developing young people to becoming future performing arts workers.
One of ZXC's biggest productions "Peace Land" in the year of 1995, was a joint effort with the Community AIDS Service Penang (CASP) to create more awareness within the society. In 1999, ZXC was invited to Sg. Petani, Kedah to host a Drama camp and in the same year participated in the North Malaysia Youth Drama Festival.
2001 marks the 10 th anniversary for ZXC and invited 2 distinguished directors to re-direct a few of ZXC past performances. Giving the audience a whole new taste and feel of the stage plays.
In 2002, ZXC join up with one of Penang's most influential Cultural activity - Penang YTL Arts festival. During this arts festival, ZXC produced an Inner City Festival for Children entitled "The Secrets of Mr. Love Lane". This play was a whole new attempt from ZXC to perform from the streets for children about the history of Georgetown.
In 2003, another landmark year as ZXC was appointed one of the key producers for KL's Five Arts Centre Traiditonal Concert "LARAS GONG ~ Rhythm In Bronze" Gamelan music, which is the highlight for the Penang YTL Arts Festival for the year.
In the same year, ZXC represented Penang in the Festival Theatre Malaysia 2003 which had stage performances in both KL (MTC Hall, Pusat Pelancongan Malaysia)and Penang (Dewan Sri Pinang). Earning praises from various local publications.
In 2004 is the year ZXC spread it's wings and flew aboard. Being invited to Manchester in the UK to perform "Hunger" in the "Contacting The World 2004" project which is an international project collaborated between Contact Theatre, Manchester and the British Council's Performing Arts Department. The events brings together youths from around the world to share and cultivate best practices.
The same year, ZXC was involved in various charity events. Beneficiaries of the events include Mt Miriam Hospital and Min Xin Primary School.
2005 marked another busy year in ZXC's calendar, helping with the production for young audiences of <<Rooster or Hen?>> in collaboration with Young Theatre Penang. The exciting mix of dance, music drama and visuals was jointly directed by performance children's theatre director Janet Pillai, renowned visual artist Liew Kung Yu, ethnomusicologist and composer Prof. Tan Sooi Beng and young choreographer Eng Hee Ling. This performance was presented across the Penang Island from Balik Pulau to Teluk Bahang, and all the way to KL's Children Theatre Festival 2005. The performers were mainly adults playing for children but included a music ensemble made up of children and young people who will performed on gamelan and wayang kulit instruments.
To round up the year, ZXC was again invited by the Penang Arts and Cultural society to join in production of Theater Keliling, which had been presented in Juru and Bukit Tambun.
2006, "Fifteen billion Memories", an original stage play by ZXC featured in Penang, Perlis and KL. This is in conjunction with ZXC's 15th year anniversary, and using this as an opportunity as a cultural exchange with the locals. We were invited to perform "THE LEGEND OF QU YUAN " for Chinese Traditional Dragon Boat Festival in May.
In July 2006, ZXC had been invited as guests again to attend "Contacting the World 2006" project in Manchester, UK. As part of this unique project, ZXC had extended the exchange of skills between theatre practitioners from all over the world. Its central aims are to increase intercultural understanding and develop the theatre skills of young theatre makers across the world.
ZXC is a goal driven organisation. It believes in the power of every people in shaping a better living social of higher awareness in all kinds of different issues. Therefore it works closely with local governmental and non-governmental societies, communities and associations to help bringing the public attention.
SOCIETY'S MISSION
> Support Performing Arts and to increase morale of members towards drama.
> To have performance and activities related to performing arts and drama.
> To have close relationships with drama supporters and also increase the standard of drama in the country.
> To help and contribute to Charitable Organization through various drama activities conducted.
> To teach and harbour loyalty and respect towards the country.
PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
> Support and expand performing arts and drama across the country.
> To increase morale of members of the society towards drama.
> To have close relationship with supporters of performing arts and drama.
> To increase awareness among society problems those are faces by youths and to harbour loyalty towards the country.