1989

Joe and Faridah set up The Actors Studio in April 1989.

1995

On 9 August, they established The Actors Studio @ Plaza Putra theatre space below Dataran Merdeka.

1998

The Actors Studio Academy found a permanent home in Plaza Putra with four new studios in 1998, after running arts courses since 1992.

2001

Its second theatre, The Actors Studio @ BSC, opened on 20 January.

2002

An old advertising friend offered Faridah and Joe a space at Lebuh Light in Penang and on August 9, The Actors Studio @ Greenhall opened its doors.

2003

On 10 June, floods destroyed the whole Plaza Putra complex. A month later, a fundraising event called Banjir in aid of The Actors Studio was held.

2004

With plans of a third space sealed, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre’s (klpac) media launch was held on 21 May.

In recognition of her lifelong contribution to the arts, Faridah was awarded the BOH Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award.

2005

In May 9, klpac opened its doors to the public.

2008

In October, they were told that the Bangsar theatre had to be closed down.

2009

After two weeks of Gala Farewell performances, The Actors Studio @ BSC closed its doors on 28 February.

On 10 October, The Actors Studio @ Lot 10 with its unique Hanamichi-thrust stage began operations.

Joe was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the performing arts.

The Actors Studio @ Greenhall up in Penang closed its doors.

2011

On 11.11.11, The Actors Studio opened the Performing Arts Centre of Penang (penangpac), the Northern region’s first arts centre.

2014

KuAsh Theatre, designed and started by The Actors Studio, opened its doors (the venue is now under a different management).

2016

The Actors Studio mounted a year-long Shakespeare 400 season to commemorate the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s passing.

2017

The Actors Studio launched TAS30, a 2-year celebration to commemorate its 30th anniversary, from 2018 to 2019.

2018

The Actors Studio signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Taylor’s University to kickstart a conservatory-style Bachelor of Performing Arts programme.

Faridah was awarded a Doctorate of the Arts by Taylor’s University.

2019

15 April 2019, TAS turns 30.

The Actors Studio @Plaza Putra (1995 – 2003)

The iconic underground complex was the first privately owned and operated theatre space in Malaysia.

Its stages saw many groundbreaking works unfold and were a starting point for many theatre veterans. Artistes, theatre practitioners and theatre lovers.

all converged there. The space and its people created such an energy and vibe that that it became focal point during the formative years of the performing arts industry.

153-seater proscenium theatre, 100-seater black box theatre, four studios and Book Shoppe cum Resource Centre.

The Actors Studio @BSC (2001 – 2009)

For the first time, theatre was part of a complete lifestyle offering. Its strategic location in a shopping mall proved to be a hit and a hugely popular destination where theatre goers could dine, shop as well as catch a live performance all in one night and under one roof.

260-seater theatre, thrust stage with three-sided seating.

The Actors Studio @Greenhall (2002 – 2009)

Penang has always played a key role in the performing arts in Malaysia. Greenhall meant that Faridah could return to her home state more often and it was a popular space for theatre pracititoners in Penang as well as touring productions from KL.

90-seater, end-on theatre.

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (2005 – current)

The first fully- integrated performing arts centre in Malaysia with award-winning architectural design on a historical landmark site. It is the home of the arts community and a lifeline that keeps the arts and cultural life in KL breathing.

500-seater proscenium theatre, 200-seater black box theatre, 9 studios, indicine, set construction workshop, resource centre & more.

The Actors Studio @Lot 10 (2009 - 2013)

Theatre had never been more accessible. With its strategic location right smack in the heart of the city, it was easily accessible by public transport. Without a doubt, the star of the theatre was its dramatic Hanamichi- thrust stage.

200-seater theatre.

Performing Arts Centre of Penang (2011 - current)

penangpac is the Northern region’s first arts centre and only the second one in Malaysia after klpac. It occupies a space of 22,000 sq ft and is located on the 4th floor of Straits Quay marina.

300-seater proscenium theatre, 150-seater black box theatre, 3 studios & more.

Year Award Presenter Category Production Award Title Recipient
2003 ADA Drama Award Theatre 《蠢货》 Best Drama The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2004 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards - - Lifetime Achievement Award Dato' Faridah Merican
2005 ADA Drama Award Theatre 《驯悍记》 Best Male Actor 李承耘
2005 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Music HSBC Classics Piano Festival Best Solo Performance, Instrumental Foo Mei Yi
2005 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Music HSBC Classics Piano Festival Best Original Composition Adeline Wong
2005 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Dance Women Born From Dragon Best Music & Sound Design Lee Swee Keong
2005 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Dance Women Born From Dragon Best Inter-Disciplinary Production The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2005 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre The Road to Mecca Best Actor in Leading Role Jo Kukathas
2005 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre Romi & Joo Lee dan Lain-Lain Best Design Isma Yusoof
2005 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre Play Time Best Costume Design Charles Jong
Year Award Presenter Category Production Award Title Recipient
2006 Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia - - Adaptive Reuse The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre
2006 Anugerah Seni Negara Theatre - Bakat Muda Gavin Yap
2006 ADA Drama Award Theatre 《兄弟》(Brothers) Best Drama The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
Noise Performance House
2006 ADA Drama Award Theatre 《兄弟》(Brothers) Best Director Jason Ong
2006 ADA Drama Award Theatre 《兄弟》(Brothers) Best Set Design 陈大明
2006 ADA Drama Award Theatre 《兄弟》(Brothers) Best Lighting Design Design 黄振业
黄筱将
2006 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Dance Dream'n Butterfly Best Featured Performer Jack Kek
2006 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Dance Dream'n Butterfly Best Choreographer Jack Kek
Woon Fook Sen
2006 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Dance Dream'n Butterfly Best Lighting Design Low Shee Hoe
2006 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Broken Bridges Best Group Performance, Voice The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2006 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Broken Bridges Best Solo Performance, Voice Janice Yap
2006 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Broken Bridges Best Musical Direction James Boyle
2006 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Broken Bridges Audience Choice Award, Musical The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2006 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre Endgame Best Design The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2007 FIABCI Malaysia Award - - Special Award for National Contribution The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre
2007 ADA Drama Award Theatre 《十》(Ten) Best Overall Performance The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
Noise Performance House
2007 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Tunku The Musical Best Solo Performance, Voice Maria Yasmin
2007 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre The Lost & The Ecliptic Best Lighting Design Loh Kok Man
2007 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Eh Joe in Electric Beckett Best Actor in a Leading Role Joe Hasham
2007 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards - - Most Promising Artist Brian Tan
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Dance My Calling, My Stage, My Act Best Lighting Design Lim Ang Swee
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Dance Passion Audience Choice Award, Dance The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Samy Ode Paatu in Let's Go Mamak Best Group Performance, Instrumental The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Drums Talk in Let's Go Mamak Best Original Composition Ken Hor
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Let's Go Mamak Best Musical Direction Julian Chan
Ken Hor
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Let's Go Mamak Audience Choice Award - Musical The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Ismail The Last Days Best Performance by an Ensemble The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Ismail The Last Days Best Original Book and/or Lyrics U-En Ng
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Ismail The Last Days Best Musical Direction Mervyn Peters
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Ismail The Last Days Best Performance in a Leading Role Malik Taufiq
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Ismail The Last Days Best Lighting Design Lim Ang Swee
Sandee Chew
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Ismail The Last Days Best Set Design Loh Kok Man
Caecar Chong
2008 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Ismail The Last Days Best Costume Design & Make Up Dominique Devorsine
Year Award Presenter Category Production Award Title Recipient
2009 Order of Australia - - Medal of the Order of Australia Joe Hasham
2009 Anugerah Seni Negara Theatre - Bakat Muda Christopher Ling
2010 Bintang Irama 1Malaysia - - - Lex Lakshman Balakrishnan
2010 ADA Drama Award Theatre Big Head and Potato Head Best Actor Roax Tan
2010 ADA Drama Award Theatre Big Head and Potato Head Best Actress Jinnie Lim
2010 ADA Drama Award Theatre Big Head and Potato Head Best Original Script Mark Beau de Silva
2010 ADA Drama Award Theatre Big Head and Potato Head Best Play The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2011 ADA Drama Award - - Remarkable Recognition Award Dato' Faridah Merican
2011 ADA Drama Award Musical Aku Cinta XXX Best Original Music & Sound Lee Yueh Yi
2011 ADA Drama Award Musical Aku Cinta XXX Online Audience Choice Award The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
ACX Productions
2011 ADA Drama Award Theatre Nightlife Creatures Best Actor Season Chee
2011 ADA Drama Award Theatre I Am Not My Pimples Best Supporting Actress Bella Rahim
2011 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Music Lush Life Best Solo Performance, Vocal The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2011 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical The Last Five Years Best Musical Direction Stephen Tok
2011 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical The Last Five Years Best Direction Christopher Ling
2011 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical The Last Five Years Best Lighting Design Mohd Fairuz bin Mohd Ariff
2011 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre Cartoon Best Lighting Design Tung Jit Yang
2011 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre Aku Cinta XXX Best Costume Design Swing Chong
Year Award Presenter Category Production Award Title Recipient
2012 ADA Drama Award Theatre Dear Elena Sergeevna Best Actor Azov Sim
2012 ADA Drama Award Theatre Dear Elena Sergeevna Best Actress Amelia Tan
2012 ADA Drama Award Theatre Dear Elena Sergeevna Best Director Dr. Deric Gan
2012 ADA Drama Award Theatre Dear Elena Sergeevna Best Lighting Design Amelia Tan
2012 ADA Drama Award Theatre Paper Crane Best Set Design Yusman Mokhtar
Omar Ali
2012 ADA Drama Award Musical Duo Duo, The Little Monster Best Costume Design 郭炜鑫
陈泓羽
2012 BOH Cameronian Awards Theatre Usikan Rebab Best Director Norzizi Zulkifli
2012 BOH Cameronian Awards Theatre Usikan Rebab Best Set Design Hamzah Tahir
2013 BOH Cameronian Awards Theatre Macbett Best Costume Design -
2013 BOH Cameronian Awards Musical Marrying Me Audience Choice Award The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat
2014 BOH Cameronian Awards Dance A Streetcar Named Desire Best Set Design Paul Loosley
Year Award Presenter Category Production Award Title Recipient
2015 ADA Drama Award Theatre My Husband's Wedding Best Actress -
2015 ADA Drama Award Theatre My Husband's Wedding Best Director Dr. Deric Gan
2015 ADA Drama Award Theatre My Husband's Wedding Best Lighting Design -
2015 ADA Drama Award Theatre My Husband's Wedding Best Set Design -
Year Award Presenter Category Production Award Title Recipient
2016 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Music Symphonic Swing Best Group Performance - Vocal Junji Delfino
Ida Mariana
Peter Ong
2016 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Music Symphonic Swing Best Production Value -
2016 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Musical Uda dan Dara Best Original Book Usman Awang
2016 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre 3 Doors
Blind Spot
part of Sisa-Sisa
Best Original Script Mark Beau de Silva
2016 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre Reservations
part of Sisa-Sisa
Best Actor in a Leading Role Joe Hasham OAM
2016 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre The Dawns Here Are Quiet Best Director Dr. Deric Gan
2016 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre The Dawns Here Are Quiet Best Actor in a Supporting Role Paz Lim
2016 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre The Dawns Here Are Quiet Best Costume Design, Styling, & Makeup Dominique Devorsine
2016 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre indicinelive! The Revival Show 2015 Best Music & Sound Design Clarence Chua
2016 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre The Dawns Here Are Quiet Best Set Design Zen Tan
2016 ADA Drama Award Theatre The Dawns Here Are Quiet Best Actor in a Leading Role Ruby Yap
2016 ADA Drama Award Theatre The Dawns Here Are Quiet Best Director Dr. Deric Gan
2016 ADA Drama Award Theatre The Dawns Here Are Quiet Best Lighting Design Amelia Tan
2016 ADA Drama Award Theatre The Dawns Here Are Quiet Best Set Design Zen Tan
2016 ADA Drama Award Theatre The Dawns Here Are Quiet Best Drama Dr. Deric Gan
Year Award Presenter Category Production Award Title Recipient
2017 Xavier Mah Consultancy - - #beaXsuperwomen Dato' Faridah Merican
2017 ADA Drama Award Theatre Richard III Best Original Music Composition Lee Yueh Yi
Evan Siau
2017 ADA Drama Award Theatre Richard III Best Stage Design Dr. Deric Gan
2017 ADA Drama Award Theatre Richard III Best Supporting Actress Rosa Chong
2017 ADA Drama Award Theatre Richard III Best Supporting Actor Anthony Lee
2017 ADA Drama Award Theatre Richard III Best Drama Richard III
2017 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Music Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto in A Celebration Of Chinese Music Best Instrumental Solo Performance Fung Chern Hwei
2017 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre Richard III Best of 2016 Richard III
2017 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre Shakespeare Goes Bollywood Best of 2016 Shakespeare Goes Bollywood
2017 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Theatre Richard III Best Director Dr. Deric Gan