Viewing Malaysia through political satire and comedy

Animated and effervescent, Jo Kukathas is one of the driving forces behind Instant Cafe Theatre Company. – Pic by Hazmizar Hassan, November 24, 2015.Actress, director and writer Jo Kukathas may be known as the co-founder of the successful and popular Instant Cafe Theatre Company and a household name in theatre circles, but the theatre veteran did not always see it that way. 

“Theatre was in my blood but I never thought it was going to be something I would do professionally,” Kukathas told us over drinks in a recent interview.

In fact, her first job in theatre was working backstage before someone dropped out and she landed her first role in “Caught in the Middle”, written and directed by Thor Kah Hoong, in 1988.

This was where she also met fellow actor and playwright Jit Murad.

Soon after, a production of “Romeo & Juliet” brought Kukathas and Murad together again, along with Andrew Leci and Zahim Albakri.

Deciding that they wanted to continue working together, they founded the Instant Cafe Theatre Company and the rest, you can say, is history.

Political satire and humour

Instant Cafe Theatre was formed in 1989, coming a year and a half on the heels of Operation Lalang.

People had been arrested, newspapers shut down and an atmosphere of fear had taken over the country, said Kukathas.

“Everything was about rumour and hearsay, but that was how you found out about what was going on because the newspapers were so restricted and there was no Internet to find out more,” she said of the local coffee shop culture, threading a firm link to a Malaysian political reality.

“There was anger, and people were upset that we we could not have the freedom to express things we wanted to express.”

The group chose to express these feelings through comedy, taking their cue from the likes of British comedy group Monty Python.

“For us it was important to laugh. Humour is a very important way to also have power,” said Kukathas.

“At that point nobody was really doing political satire.”

Initial reactions to their plans were mixed, see-sawing between some thinking it was a good idea, to some saying it won't work because Malaysians don't have a sense of humour or that their comedy was too dangerous.

”Our ethos has always been: you do what you need to do, you do what you think is right and when people want to shut you down, they'll shut you down but you never shut yourself down,” said Kukathas.

It is a principle they've kept true to in their 26 years, even walking away from major corporate sponsorships because they refused to be censored. 

Despite the political nature of their comedy, Instant Cafe Theatre often performed at government functions.

To get an idea of what Instant Cafe Theatre stands for, reflect on “D'State of D'Nation” with them at PJ Civic Centre on December 1, 2015. – November 24, 2015.“I remember we did this one show in Langkawi and (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) was the guest of honour. He was sitting at the main table and he was laughing and at the same time hiding his face in his hands then laughing again,” Kukathas recalls.

It was a challenge they faced. While people loved what they were doing, they could never quite publicly admit it.

This was why the company never got major sponsorships, she said, suggesting that their content struck a chord.

Beyond comedy

While comedy revues started them on this journey, the team wanted to develop other kinds of writing and stage shows.

Instant Cafe Theatre started the FIRSTWoRKS programme under which well-received plays like Alfian Sa'at's “Parah” and Sharon Shah's “Air Con” were born.

While the company has branched out into other forms of writing and theatre, they continue to address hard-hitting issues of the day that plague Malaysian society such as race, religion, sexuality, bullying, the treatment of foreign workers and relationships with the police.

Kukathas herself wrote a personal play on the loss of her mother and body snatching, exploring the tragedy that your loved ones can be taken away from you in death for not being the same race or religion.

“I'm interested in the fact that most of us just want to get on with life. We don't want to be plagued by politics.

“In fact, politics really takes over our lives in Malaysia and there are a lot more things we want to explore about ourselves as human beings,” she said.

Looking back 26 years

This year will see a return of the Instant Café Theatre to their roots and what they had become known for in their early years.

To celebrate their 26th anniversary, they will be putting up a comedy gala show bringing together some of their best shows and characters.

Asked what would be the most memorable satirical revue the team has done in their 26 years, Kukathas immediately named the Second First Annual Bolehwood Awards which was staged in 2002.

Parodying the Academy Awards, golden dugongs were presented to winners of various “films” that touched on topical issues.

There were video excerpts on polygamy, loan sharks and even a lost P. Ramlee film as a statement on the Arabisation of Malaysian culture.

“Audiences came and they watched and they laughed and then they cried a bit,” she said.

“But I think that's what it is – good comedy makes you think.”

And laugh till you cry you will, with the coming “D'State of D'nation” comedy show, the Instant Café Theatre’s first comedy revue in six years which will take PJ Civic Centre by storm on December 1, 2015.

Find out more here. – November 24, 2015.