SINGER-SONGWRITER Iz Sulaini certainly loves a challenge. “Yes, I seek out different challenges, I feel a need to explore the various facets of being a performer,” he says enthusiastically when met recently in Bangsar.
Fresh faced and upbeat despite the heavy downpour outside, the young artiste is no stranger to the entertainment scene.
The former One In A Million Season 2 contestant had started doing TV commercials at age 3 before progressing to voice-overs and singing in jingles.
Those who caught TV3’s Clever Girl would have heard the game show’s theme song which was written by him.
Iz, whose full name is Khairullah Ezuan Sulaini, has also had some milestone moments like singing a duet for A Whole New World with international artiste Lea Salonga during her Malaysian and Singaporean concerts in 2010.
More recently, he’s been obsessed with dabbling in theatre. “I’m a singer-songwriter first and although I started doing theatre and acting in 2016, I really fell in love with acting this year,” he says with a laugh.
But Iz is serious about being onstage. This year alone has so far seen him playing diverse roles in three musical productions, Adam! The Musical, Company and The Working Dead.
ENVIOUS ROLE
“Theatre fulfils me and it’s a place where I can hone my craft,” he says. His biggest challenge though is Theatrethreesixty’s upcoming 10th anniversary production of Nick Choo's Boh Cameronian award-winning musical, The Edge.
The exciting staging, which begins its run tomorrow, focusses on a small group of people close to the main character who is driven to take his own life.
Although Josh is seen to have an ideal life and a bright future, he decides to commit suicide. The musical will see six people — his mother (played by Tria Aziz), brother Jarod (Michael Chen), girlfriend Deanna (Michelle Tan), friends Michael (Iz) and Ryan (Kai Chalmers) , and co-worker April (Ping Khoo) — coming to terms with his sudden absence.
“Michael is a mechanic and Josh’s best friend who grew up with him. Always comparing himself with Josh, Michael grew jealous of him,” says Iz of his role.
“I feel Michael represents everyone because we’ve all felt jealousy at some point in our lives in wanting this or that from friends or siblings,” he adds.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
The Edge was first staged in 2008 as a workshop version before having a full-production run later in 2013, both at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.
It won three Boh Cameronian awards for Best Original Score, Best Musical Direction and Best Musical Performer. The well-received musical was also re-staged in Perth, Australia earlier this year.
Director Chris Ling, who was also present, says: “The work speaks for itself, it’s very adaptable. The musical deals with very personal issues and themes that a broad spectrum of people can relate to.”
The Theatrethreesixty co-founder adds that the various characters ruminate on what they did to drive Josh into making that fateful decision and what they could have done to prevent the unfortunate incident.
“As human beings we are always confronted by a myriad of choices but more than that it’s also the consequences of those choices, the cause and effect of it all,” says Ling, who also directed the 2008 workshop version.
The Boh Cameronian award-winning director says that the staging will be completely different. “The material has been reworked and enhanced, with more engagement and every single number and second onstage will count. The 22 original songs will also return for this but you can expect some changes along the way. It’s also going to be a very intimate show. It’s a small-scale musical performed on a tiny stage so the actors will be very close to the audience. There’s nothing to hide,” says Ling of the 12 shows that will run at the 40-seater Lot’ng Arts Space venue.
Performing in close quarters is a challenge that Iz relishes though. “It’s tough and there’s pressure. This is something I’ve never done before so it’s also very exciting. And I’ve wanted to work with Chris for awhile now. Our personalities gel well,” says Iz of Ling.
BUCKET LIST
“I know it sounds cliched but I don’t do theatre for money, it’s purely for the love of performing,” he says. The busy artiste adds that he is already involved in two other upcoming theatre productions next year in addition to starring in his first Malay feature film, the Syafiq Yusof-directed psychological thriller, Misteri Delaila, which also stars Zul Ariffin and Elizabeth Tan.
Aside from that, Iz, who holds a degree in advertising, says that he has a couple of projects down in Singapore to look forward to as well in 2019.
The singer will also be working on new songs in English, Malay and Mandarin. “It’s really tiring but I’m really enjoying myself, it’s satisfying,” he says.
On his newfound passion for theatre he adds: “I’m still a newcomer in a way but I’m very lucky to have got to work on different productions with different companies and directors. Chris Ling, tick. Tick, tick, tick. There’s many more on my list but slowly,” says Iz with a smile.
The Edge
When: Dec 8-9, Dec 12-16 & Dec 19-23 at 8.45pm (except Sun shows at 3pm)
Where: Lot’ng Arts Space, 32, 2, Jalan USJ 10/1E, Taipan Business Centre, Subang Jaya
Admission: RM58 (adults) & RM48 (students & seniors)
Visit www.theedgekl.peatix.com or www.facebook.com/upstairsatlotng