The Esplanade of his dreams

The Esplanade of his dreams

A former porter and also a pizza deliveryman, Firdaus never imagined that one day, he’d be watching kampung huts flying in and out of a musical from a coveted seat not sold at the ticket office.

The staging technician at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay recalls one of his most exciting work experiences, behind the scenes of Laskar Pelangi Musical in September 2011 held as part of Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of the Arts. “There was a real van, water was used as rain effects and a small kampung hut was ‘flown’ in and out during different scenes of the show.”

Ardent Love for Conquering New Challenges

Firdaus began with a freelance stint with Esplanade in early 2010. A departure from his past careers in hospitality and F&B, the new job was hard and challenging both physically and mentally.

5 months into his assignment, Firdaus knew that his new role suited his interests and he attributes this career switch to his ardent love for conquering new challenges, which blossomed into a deep-seated start to a new career.

“I found a new sense of responsibility being involved in the bump in, setting up, rehearsals, performances and to the strike of shows, also known in the industry as the deconstruction of the set at the end of the show. Each show is very different and that’s when the challenge comes, accommodating to all the needs of the different shows.”

 

A Boost of Confidence at Work

Taking the advice from his seniors at work, he pursued his growing interest with a 12-month WSQ Higher Certificate in Technical Theatre that equipped him with industry knowledge and provided a strong foundation in theatre work.

Through the course, Firdaus gained technical know-how on staging, lighting, sound and production work. He also developed an understanding of life skills such as punctuality, responsibility, honesty, a sense of ownership, and perseverance in the face of obstacles.

Given the fact that it had been 6 years since he attended school, juggling work and school was hard at first. Time was constrained, as there were days where he needed to be on stage for a set-up or a strike.

“It’s totally different from a typical school curriculum where one had allocated time to revise on the topics learnt, so I needed to adapt fast and absorb as much knowledge as I could. Thankfully, there were mentors and supervisors who were always around to help when I was unsure.”

Today, Firdaus feels that the WSQ programme has given him a boost of confidence at work and provided him with a clearer picture of the industry and his career pathways. He also believes the programme has eased his transition to a full-time position at Esplanade.

To Learn More about Different Aspects

Looking back, he is glad that his willingness to learn new things and adapt to changes have paid off in his career. Keen on learning more about the different aspects and responsibilities to his work, Firdaus has his heart set on the WSQ programme in Workplace Safety and Health next.

 

 

For more information on Creative Industries WSQ, click here.

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