People with disabilities take the spotlight in ‘Siapa Cacat’

The cast of ‘Siapa Cacat’ are a collective of deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent creators. (Meshalini Muniandy pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

For Gejaletchumi Murugaya, a deaf stage performer, trips to the doctor were always more difficult than they needed to be. Registration staff rarely paid attention when she told them she was Deaf.

“They’d shout my number, although I would have told them to tell me personally. Then they’d scold me for not coming when called. It was only after reminding them I was Deaf that they’d be sympathetic,” Gejaletchumi, 45, told FMT Lifestyle, speaking through Malaysian Sign Language Interpreter Aw Wei Chun.

This experience is just one of the many she faces in her daily life. Her stories, together with those of seven other Malaysians living with disabilities, take the spotlight in “Siapa Cacat?: A Disabled-Led Theatre Production”.

Featuring eight performers, namely Ameera Ramlee, Dino N Hassan, Fndrocka Notapurba, Gejaletchumi, Lavinia A, Nuna Wan, Nur Aisyah Shahimee, and Sharifah Nur Jahan, it is co-directed by Ho Lee Ching and Jazzie Lee Jin Jye of local arts group Teater Untuk Semua.

directors — (L-R) ‘Siapa Cacat?’ is directed by Jazzie Lee Jin Jye and Ho Lee Ching. (Meshalini Muniandy pic)

“We are trying to reframe how people look at disability. We hope that they will start seeing those with disabilities as whole persons, with lives and desires and hopes of their own. Not as ‘objects of inspirations’,” shared Ho, 34, who is disabled and neurodivergent with Tourette’s syndrome and co-occurring conditions.

“Siapa Cacat?” aims to reclaim the word “cacat” as a statement of empowerment and reimagines disability as culture, aesthetics, and creativity.

The production marks the collective’s first public performance following its 2024 training programme for individuals with disabilities.

The roughly 80-minute show, produced in collaboration with the Five Arts Centre, takes place at a local bus stop, where a group of people look forward to the arrival of a promised accessible vehicle, Bus 801.

As they wait, they swap stories and share experiences, many of which are drawn directly from the lives of the performers.

Gejaletchumi, for instance, uses movement to express her desire to be free from discrimination, while Fndrocka, a wheelchair user, speaks about his frustrations with the charity model of disability which sometimes exploits the stories of the disabled.

Dino, who is Deaf, uses mime and visual vernacular to relate a funny scenario about a stomach disorder, while Nur Aisyah, who has Down Syndrome, shares her experiences of falling in love.

rehearsal — Actors Dino N Hassan and Gejaletchumi Murugaya rehearse a scene from the show. (Terence Toh @ FMT Lifestyle)

Actress and co-producer Sharifah Nur Jahan, who became blind at the age of 18, said her piece would take the form of a conversation between her and her future child.

“I answer her questions as if I’m storytelling, telling her about my journey from being sighted to being blind. It’s like peeling back layers of myself on stage.

“My directors keep challenging me, and I’ve been doing things I never thought I could do,” shared Sharifah, 28, who is pregnant with her first child.

In keeping with the show’s theme of inclusivity, the production will cater to audience members with disabilities.

These include projected subtitles, Malaysian sign language (BIM) interpretation, and audio description.

There will also be a Resting Area for neurodivergent individuals, who could retreat there if any part of the show became too overwhelming for them.

“We hope the show demonstrates, not just for audience members but for other theatre practitioners as well, that it is not that difficult to integrate accessible features in their shows,” shared Lee, 25.

poster — ‘Siapa Cacat?: A Disabled-Led Theatre Production’ will be staged from Nov 22-23 at the Five Art Centre.

Ho said more was needed to promote accessibility and inclusivity on stage, adding that productions that incorporated the differently-abled were rare, usually coming along every five to 10 years, before vanishing with little follow-up.

“When we were opening applications for ‘Teater Untuk Semua’, we received so many replies. So many people said they wanted to be involved in theatre, but didn’t think they could,” Ho concluded.

“We hope this starts a change. Break the stigma that you can’t hire disabled people. There are so many of them who are very talented.”

Teater Untuk Semua” is currently conducting a crowd-funding programme until Nov 23 which not only benefits “Siapa Cacat?”, but also aims to sustain work in growing disabled visibility and artistry in Malaysia. Those interested in helping can visit this link.

Event: Siapa Cacat?: A Disabled-Led Theatre Production

Show times: Nov 22-23 (3pm and 8.30pm)

Venue: Five Arts Centre, 9th floor, GMBB, 2, Jalan Robertson, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

Tickets: RM48 (regular)/RM28 (concession)

Tickets can be purchased from Cloudjoi. Follow Teater Untuk Semua on Facebook and Instagram.