For his new production, Asyraf Syahir Najib decided to venture into the world of these strange figments. Drawing inspiration from true events in his life, he has penned an introspective story about human connection with one of the longest titles ever: “Why Do We Dream What We Dream, When We Dream What We Dream?”.
The 31-year-old writer-director explained that he’d been trying to think about concepts that would be visually interesting when he landed on the topic of dreams.
“No one really knows what a dream is. Scientifically, there are theories, but no one can actually pinpoint how they form, or why they are so random.
“Also, in English, the word ‘dream’ also implies goals or aspirations, so I thought it was an interesting idea to pursue,” he told FMT recently.
His play is the story of John (Virtuoes Romana) and Diya (Komal Keshran), who are slowly falling out of a friendship/relationship with each other. Both reflect on what went wrong, expressing their inner turmoil to an unseen friend from the security of their bedrooms.
This semi-devised production is presented by performing arts company EJKLS, and will be staged at the new theatre space pangkin@EJLKS Seni this weekend.
Reading the synopsis, you might think you’re in for a romance, but this is only partly true. According to Asyraf, romance is not at the centre of this play – it merely serves as a vehicle for other themes, such as existentialism, self-sabotage, and the human yearning for connection.
“It’s really not going to be your conventional love story,” said Asyraf, who also teaches theatre at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.
So, what can audiences expect? Exploring the role of technology in modern-day communication, he revealed there would be several scenes with the characters texting.
“You know when you’re messaging someone late at night, and there’s this silence in your room, with the only sound being the faint clicking of your texting? We’ve infused some of these ASMR elements,” he said, referring to the sensory concept that involves low-volume audio stimuli.
Of course, what’s a story about dreams without dream sequences? According to Asyraf, the ones in this play involve physical movement, shaped with input from the performers.
True to the otherworldly nature of dreams, these will also feature expressionistic elements, so expect slightly trippy lights and visuals.
Nevertheless, Asyraf stressed that the visuals aren’t the main focus of the show – rather, the dialogue is. Indeed, he has put in much effort into ensuring there is a good balance of narrative and emotive elements that will allow audiences to enjoy the story and find things they can relate to.
“I think our main message is, no matter what fallout you may experience, it’s going to be all right,” he said. “It’s OK to leave a place that may no longer be good for you.”
As for why this mouthful of a title, one that’s longer than most sentences? “We thought it would make it more memorable,” Asyraf replied with a laugh.
‘Why Do We Dream What We Dream, When We Dream What We Dream?’
When:
June 24 & 25 (Saturday & Sunday) @ 8.30pm
Where:
pangkin@EJKLS Seni,
16-2, Jalan Wangsa Delima 6,
Pusat Bandar Wangsa Maju, KLSC,
Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur
Tickets, priced at RM35, can be purchased here. Also follow EJKLS Seni on Instagram.
