Nilma Dole
It is quite a pleasant meeting when you speak to a family involved so
much in English theatrical circles that they have their own drama
company.
Meeting the Adamaly siblings - Adam Mohammed and Nafessa Amiruddeen
have called their `drama baby’ the Performing Arts Company that started
way back in the day in 1994. Their first public show-stopper was the
fast-paced racy English pun intended comedy `Run for your wife’. The
drama was so successful that they were invited to have a rerun in 2002.
 Says Adam during his lore drama days, “I was very interested in drama
because both my sisters Yasmine and Nafeesa were very much into drama
from their Bishop’s College days and I vividly remember going for the
shows”. From the time I was seven years, I had an interest in drama
which got me onstage. However, only after about 14 years did I get the
lead role for a big production”.
Nafeesa says that unlike before, the present generation of dramatists
experiment with a multitude of genres that are quite interesting. “There
are interesting styles that reveal how open the dramatists of today are
towards new concepts and themes”, she said. Drama is more `happening’
today than before because there are many in the dramatic circles.
“We thank Commercial Bank and media organisations who have been
instrumental in supporting our productions” says the Adamaly siblings.
They have worked on other productions called `Don’t Dress Up for Dinner’
and `Funny Money’ which are all comedy dramas that are feel-good all the
way.
Today, Nafeesa teaches at her drama studio and works with Adam when
their company has a production. Adam, on the other hand, is the owner of
Synergy School of Marketing that was set up in 1999 and is married to
Nadira, who is also supportive of his dramatic aspirations.
They are so hip that they even attended the Carnaval in February this
year where they went hang-gliding! “However, they say that there is a
dearth of actors above 40 years but there is a lot of young talent out
there”, says Nadira. She goes on to say that getting a foothold in drama
isn’t easy and youngsters of today won’t even come to auditions if they
don’t have a prominent part. “For me, the joy of just walking across the
stage was a dream come true”, she said.
Advising wannabe drama folk, Adam says, “It is difficult to make a
career out of drama because there are various problems”. For example,
sponsorships, parking issues and the security situation in the country
make drama difficult to survive but it is good that drama is now a
popular event to grace by dressing up to the nines to see a production.
“We are already working on our first `dinner party drama’ production
which is a good concept. In the future, there will be dinner parties and
celebrations that will have drama productions staged instead of just
dancing and drinking at a party”, says Adam.
True to that effect, drama is something you can think about after it
is over and not just a hangover after a big party. So next time you want
to celebrate your birthday or have a blast, call the Adamaly siblings
and they’d be happy to help you have a night to remember!
Their latest offering - `Encounters’ a double combo of `The Waiting
Room’ and the Pulitzer nominated `Love Letters’, will go on boards at
the British School auditorium from the May 14 to May 17 starring Ranmali
Mirchandani, Tracy Holsinger and Adam. |
