Bestselling author Nadia Khan directs her first theatre production

KEDAI DVD Paralel is a stage play that is bringing the world of cinema into the world of theatre. Written and directed by Nadia Khan, the 90-minute theatre production centres on Mat, an entertainment journalist and a movie critic who is jaded about his career and the world he lives in.
One day, Mat stumbles into a DVD store in a parallel world. He discovers the store sells movies that share the same titles as those found in his world, but with completely different content, creating some hilarious moments.
For example, Mat finds that the award-winning drama Bunohan is actually a comedy in the parallel world, while the slapstick comedy Hantu Bonceng, has been transformed into a serious, meaningful movie.
This will be Nadia's first attempt at directing a stage play. Prior to this, she directed four short films and has written four bestselling novels.
Explaining the inspiration behind her play, she says: "I'm a big fan of the films. I watched all kinds of films. There have been several instances when the movie I am watching is not to my liking and my thoughts will drift to another plane where I will recreate a totally different story for the movie that I am watching.
"I'm just exploring what it would be like if the stories that we know turn out completely different."
Nadia indicates that the play explores the themes of human nature and how we always perceive the grass to be greener on their other side.
"We are always dissatisfied with what is going in our world and we are always dreaming about in living in a place where things are supposed to be perfect," said Nadia.
"The play offers you the option of running away from your world and creating a whole new world. So would you (run), or would you stay put in your in world? You have a choice to fix the things that are broken and make your world a better place.
"Abandoning ship is always easier than fixing a sinking ship."
One wonders, if Nadia feels any jitters regarding her stage debut?
"I have been waiting for nervousness to set in," she admits.
"So far, it has not, and that is making me nervous. I do not want to have a panic attack at the last minute," she adds, laughing.
When asked to describe the experience, she says: "When I am directing short films, one of my shortcomings is that I am not good with visuals. I focus more on directing the actors and getting them to give the emotions I needed for my characters."
She feels that in theatre, one does not depend too much on the visuals and the performance of the actors is vital. As a result, theatre seems to be more her cup of tea.
"I have fallen in love with theatre since I was young, and directing a stage play is something I had wanted to do for the longest time," she says.
Nadia says she is prepared to hear comments and criticism about the play.
"I am willing to listen when people criticise me constructively," she says.
"If I fail, then it is part of my learning curve. I really believe it is better to start something and experience failures than to not to start anything at all."
Kedai DVD Paralel only features two actors, Fathi Shafie who is plays Mat, the jaded entertainment journalist and Safia Hanifa who is playing Maya, the owner who runs the DVD store in the parallel world.
Fathi only has praises for his director.
"Even though this is her first play, Nadia knows what she is doing," says Fathi who has acted in more than 20 theatre performances and who has participated in the 17th World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood, California United States in 2013.
The moment he read her script, he was immediately attracted to the content and to his character.
"My character and I share many similarities," he says.
"He is passionate about his job as a journalist and movie critic, and I am passionate about my job as an actor. (We both) strive for perfection."
Kedai DVD Paralel will be staged at Blackbox, Damansara Performing Arts Centre from May 29 to 31.