Unlike many, more popular, coming of age stories, TAHAN looks at the journey of a young man through his two years of National Service in the police force. Three years have passed since I completed my NS, but I keep re-assessing how the two years have affected me, and will continue to affect me in my decisions. This play was conceived from the echoes of silent discontent I have witnessed in the face of our society.
Being partly autobiographical, TAHAN is dedicated to all the law-enforcers whom I've had the pleasure of working with and have inevitably inspired this play. Thank you for being in the frontlines; being the target of general discontent; putting your life at risk; all in the name of keeping our streets safe. This is a homage to all you accidental 'angels'.
No one production will ever encompass all of my experience or the complexities of being a police officer, so I humbly hope that TAHAN would be a start to a deeper conversation.
– Irfan Kasban
Cast:
Andy Yew
Faizal Abdullah
Farah Ong
Farez Najid
Isabella Chiam
Rizman Putra
Tan Shou Chen
Director/Playwright/Set Designer: Irfan Kasban
Sound Artist: Bani Haykal
Lighting Designer: Zizi Azah
Lighting Assistant: Stella Cheung
Production Manager: Shaza Ishak
Stage Managers: Raudha Latiff, Uzair Daud
Wardrobe Mistress: Tiana Razali
Surtitlist: Shahidah Idris
Stagehands:
Farina Fauzi
Hamaiza Kasban
Melinda Zainal
Hidayah Jamaris
Nabilah Moen
Elena Rostam
Photographer: Caleb Kay
(Source: Teater Ekamatra Programme)