Theatre is important. It is a universal cultural phenomenon that exists in almost every society in the world, and Big Nose Productions has made sure that the people of Penang, get their fair share of this magical art form. Big Nose Productions has successfully amused so many people for many years, and its success is not a coincidence. Most recently, the sold-out play “Tales from the Bedroom” (special edition) was performed in Penang Performing Arts Centre (penangpac). This hilarious play made the audience laugh, learn and more importantly think. This May, Big Nose Productions returns to penangpac with a new addition to its ‘Tales from…’ series – Tales from Amma’s Kitchen.
A good laugh makes everything better, and the audience can expect fabulous humour from this 
hilarious two hour comedic fiesta. Tales from Amma’s Kitchen features a lovely Indian mother, her not so Indian children, a Chinese daughter-in-law wannabe, and an Indonesian maid who is more Malaysian than most Malaysians. The play is a collection of ten humorous, heart-warming and thought- provoking tales. Among the tales is the award-winning Amma’s Mutton Curry, winner of Best Overall Production, Best Director, Best Script, Best Female Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Audience Choice Award in Short+Sweet (Penang) Theatre Festival in 2016.
While cooking a pot of curry in the kitchen, Amma shares her perceptions of life and offers her pearls of wisdom to the audience using her humorous yet graceful manners. Make no mistake, this is no ordinary show and the things Amma shares with the audience are just as spicy as her curries! Written, directed and produced by the very intelligent Fa Abdul, the play features talented performers such as Narinder Kaur, Tilottama Pillai, Mithran Balakrishnan, Felicia Samuel, Charles Roberts, Wei Ling Tan, Mia Sabrina Mahadir and Raja Shah Irshad.
What makes Tales from Amma’s Kitchen unique, aside from its successful and award-winning production team, is that it functions as a cultural space allowing Malaysian society to examine itself in the mirror. After all, for a long time, people have looked at theatre as a medium in which we can study the issues that confront society (or even the world) and attempt to deal with and perhaps solve those issues. Big Nose Productions speciality is to do this in Malaysia using Malaysians’ unique self-deprecatory brand of humour to do so.
Do not miss your chance to meet Amma in person this May. Tales from Amma’s Kitchen goes on stage for three days and four performances, May 11th at 8.30pm, May 12th at 3pm and 8.30pm and May 13th at 3pm in penangpac, at Straits Quay.
Each ticket costs RM40 for this play and if you purchase your tickets in a group of 10 people, you will receive a ticket for free. For tickets, call the box office at penangpac: 04- 8991722/ 2722 or buy online at https://www.ticketpro.com.my/cz/theatre/drama/2280905-penangpac-Tales-from-Ammas-Kitchen.html.
By Mojdeh Zarbakhsh