Welcome to TASA
The Actors Studio Academy, founded by Joe and I, has since nurtured thousands of artistes, many who are regarded as the crème de la crème of the industry today.
Our very first class in 1992 comprised luminaries such as Tiara Jacquelina Eu, Patrick Teoh, Leslie Dawson, Ramli Hassan, Jeffery Nicholson and Fawziah Nawi.
Today, students from as young as three years old have a clear pathway to grow with us, learn from industry professionals and enjoy klpac’s full-fledged professional facilities.
Besides our year-round Speech and Drama programmes, we also customise specialist training programmes for arts groups, schools, drama teachers as well as corporates under our corporate training arm.
After two years of disrupted learning, let’s inspire our creative minds to BE EXTRAORDINARY again through much-needed physical interaction, creative play time and a safe space to express themselves.
Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican & Joe Hasham OAM
Co-Founders, The Actors Studio Academy
Head of Academy
Kimmy Kiew, Head of Academy
“I’m glad to be back at klpac, working alongside many familiar faces and old friends — and of course, Joe and Faridah — at The Actors Studio Academy @ klpac.
I’ve enjoyed working onstage and offstage in many capacities over the years. Since becoming a mother, nurturing young creative minds has become my passion, which is why I’ve focused on arts education over the past decade.
I look forward to getting to know you and your children in the coming weeks.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
See you at klpac!”
A theatre graduate of the Malaysian Institute of Arts, Kimmy has over 20 years of experience in the arts, having worked as a front-of-house supervisor, publicist, producer, educator, actor, and director.
She was formerly the Publicist and Associate Producer at Gardner & Wife Theatre Company before joining klpac as Director-in-Residence from 2010 to 2012. Her international experience includes participation in the ASEAN-Japan Exchange (2003) in Tokyo, CPI (2007) in Seoul, and the Tamsui Arts Carnival (2010) in Taiwan.
Her 2003 production of The Bear won Best Production at the 2nd ADA Awards, and she was named Best Actress at the BMW Shorties Awards in 2008.
Since becoming a mother, Kimmy has turned her focus to arts education. She has served as a speech and drama facilitator with The Actors Studio Academy @ klpac, Never-ending Story Education, Earth Tone Dance Academy, and various education centres.
In 2018, she directed Journey of a Baby Butterfly, Malaysia’s first baby theatre production, presented by Hong Jie Jie Workstation.
Pre-school Facilitators
Teacher Vicky Ang
Teacher Vicky believes that learning should be joyfully, heart-thumpingly fun! She is convinced that children who create art grow up happier, more confident, and deeply connected to themselves and the world around them.
Specialising in working with young children, Vicky enjoys sprinkling her own dose of magic into creative English drama classes, school holiday workshops, class presentations, year-end concerts, and live shows.
Her heart beats for education, and her mission is to make the world a better place by walking alongside the next generation—inviting them to rip apart the “box” mentality, push past their own limits, and create art that inspires those who witness them to want to be more for our world.
Vicky and her carefully curated team strive to build a kind, expressive, and supportive community of learners – where every child is empowered to be a shining star among a galaxy of shining stars.
Teacher Lennard Oung
Teacher Lennard’s love for all things performance began when he was in high school, where he participated in many drama competitions and shows all around his home state of Penang. After graduating with a Diploma in Drama & Visuals from New Era University College, he has since performed in various shows such as “Goodbye Mr. Detective” and “Ah Ma”, the latter of which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 17th ADA Drama Awards. He is also a member of ACT-ion Theatre, a Mandarin-language community theatre troupe based in the Klang Valley which has produced children shows such as “Earth·Water·Fire·Wind and “The Lower Depths”.
When he is not performing, Lennard shares his fondness for the stage with his students as a part-time lecturer at New Era University College and as a Drama Coach of Chung Ling High School, the place where it all began. Now, he looks forward to sharing his passion for the arts with The Actors Studio Academy @ klpac’s students.
Teacher Suba Magas
Teacher Suba is a vibrant woman who thrives in the teaching industry. With a deep passion for educating young minds, she finds immense joy in teaching kids.
During her precious spare time, she indulges in captivating activities like dancing and acting, allowing her creativity to soar. Additionally, Suba’s adventurous spirit knows no bounds as she embarks on thrilling escapades, such as diving and hiking. It’s truly inspiring to witness her zest for life and dedication to both teaching and exploring the world.
Assistant Teacher, Lee Yi Chen
Teacher Yi Chen is currently in her final year of the Diploma in Performing Arts at New Era University College. With a strong passion for theatre, creative arts, and children’s theatre education, she enjoys exploring the ways drama can inspire creativity and confidence in young learners.
Her passion for drama began in childhood, leading her to join The Actors Studio Speech & Drama Programme. Throughout her theatre journey, she has been involved in productions including The Intruder, Forever Lysistrata, and My Mom Is a Superhero, gaining experience in both performance and backstage production. She further expanded her theatre knowledge and practical experience through an internship at Sun Son Theatre in Taiwan.
In 2026, Yi Chen was selected as a director for her college’s final graduation production, leading her classmates in The Stickers, an original children’s theatre work developed by the college team. The production enjoyed a successful run, further strengthening her experience in directing, collaboration, and creating theatre for young audiences.
With her passion for theatre and creative learning, Yi Chen hopes to inspire children through drama, storytelling, and creative expression, while encouraging them to explore their imagination and build confidence through the performing arts.
Speech & Drama Programme Facilitators
Teacher Jeremy Ang
Teacher Jeremy has been actively involved in theatre productions since his high school years. After completing his internship with a theatre company in Taiwan, he returned to Malaysia to complete his final year at the Drama and Film Department of New Era University College, specialising in stage production and children’s theatre education.
Since 2024, Jeremy has been working as a children’s theatre educator at The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), where he continues to teach and create theatre works for young performers.
Throughout his theatre journey, Jeremy has received several awards and recognitions, including the First-Class Male Actor Award at the High School Drama Awards (2013), the Second-Class Male Actor Award (2014), the Second-Class Music Composition Award (2018), the Second-Class Director Award (2018), and Best Actor at the 21st Mini Film Fest [MAS] See Films (2025).
Teacher Axyr Hanz William
Teacher Axyr is a theatre practitioner with a passion for all forms of storytelling, both creative and corporate. He is an alumni of klpac’s iconic Theatre For Young People (T4YP) programme which he joined in 2017 and has since starred in and directed multiple works for SHORT+SWEET Malaysia in 2017 and 2018. His other notable works include starring in TheatreThreeSixty’s production of “The Fall Of The House Of Usher” and “A Man For All Seasons”.
Teacher Lim Sheng Hui
Teacher Sheng is a multidisciplinary theatre practitioner and drama educator with a strong foundation in physical theatre, directing, and ensemble-based performance. She has taught learners from Primary to Secondary levels, using improvisation, physical storytelling, and collaborative devising to nurture creativity and confidence.
Sheng is the founder of Terrafunk Theatre Collective, which creates original works exploring environmental justice through eco-dramaturgy, and an active member of KL Shakespeare Players, a touring theatre-in-education company and most recently the Malay version of Swordfish. Concubine directed by Loh Kok Mun. Sheng graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with Honours from Vassar College in New York, and has trained with international artists such as Jo Kukathas (MY & SG), David Glass (UK), Nichole Kehrberger (Europe), and Anne Bogart (USA), which informs her unique and dynamic approach to teaching and performance.
Musical Theatre Voice Instructor, Joe Loy
Teacher Joe is a dynamic figure in the music industry, balancing roles as a producer, educator, and performer with remarkable versatility. Initially gaining recognition as a contestant on Malaysia’s Akademi Fantasia, Joe transitioned to focus on music production and education. His career spans diverse roles such as sound engineer, session musician, and contributor to musical theatre.
He was part of the team behind “Follow the Light,” which won Best Musical Theatre at the 18th Boh Cameronian Arts Awards in 2023, and “Fortune Kooky,” which received multiple nominations.
As the founder of Brightlights Music in Kuala Lumpur, Joe has fostered creativity on a global scale, leveraging grants to develop impactful educational content for children in collaboration with institutions like Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia and NetEase. His initiatives, such as “Groove to English,” have enriched events like the Georgetown Festival, reflecting his commitment to innovative, interactive learning experiences. Joe’s dedication extends further as an adjunct lecturer at UCSI University and through workshops across the Klang Valley.
In his latest venture, Joe is celebrated for his involvement in the hit children’s animated series, “Anna & Hanna,” collaborating with Universal Music Malaysia to create this lighthearted series filled with fun sing-alongs for the entire family. It is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Dance Choreographer, Sharyl Perera
Teacher Sharyl is a professional dancer and dance teacher based in Kuala Lumpur. Sharyl started her ballet journey at the age of 6 and continued her dance education at Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan (ASWARA), where she completed her diploma and degree in dance.
Since 2023, Teacher Sharyl has been teaching ballet, contemporary, creative dance, Bollywood dance and cheerleading to kids at various international schools. She has also been involved in many fun workshops, projects, and events over the years. Some of her exciting performances include the Southeast Asian Games 2017, Hari Unesco Malaysia 2018, Malam Konsert Hora Horey Live Didi & Friends 2019, Bollywood Workshop for Lite.fm 2022, and Yuvan Live in Singapore: HIGH ON U1 2023, among many others.
Come meet Teacher Sharyl at klpac, who will always greet everyone with a cheerful and sweet smile!
Dance Choreographer, Ang Zhen Wei (Teacher Z)
Meet Teacher Z, also known as Ang Zhen Wei! She loves when children call her Teacher Z. Ang started her dance journey in her 20s and hasn’t stopped dancing since. She graduated with a diploma from ASWARA’s Dance Faculty and later earned her Master of Dance from University Malaya.
Teacher Z has danced her way through many performances both inside and outside ASWARA, including shows like GELOMBANG BARU, JAMU, and klpac’s Short and Sweet and Dance Box. Even during the MCO period, she kept the dance spirit alive by participating in online productions like Be a pART and Dance Showcase 2.0 with WuXu Dance Troupe.
She didn’t stop there! Teacher Z also joined online competitions with ChoreoArts’ Studio and shined in the International Dance Competition “Golden Dance” – Online Edition, earning a Gold Diploma. She also won second place in the Virtual Intervarsity Traditional Dance Competition.
Assistant Teacher, Olivia Yap Jia Jia
Teacher Olivia is a Malaysian actress, vocalist, and educator who has been pursuing both the performing arts and legal studies since the age of 17. Passionate about both fields, she continues to develop her artistic practice alongside her legal education.
An alumna of The Actors Studio Academy Speech & Drama course, Olivia went on to further her acting training through Acting 101 with Joe Hasham, gaining deeper exposure to professional acting techniques and performance practice. She has appeared in independent and university short films, and is also classically trained in vocals under KLCO. In 2026, after just five months of training, she became a Voices In Bloom KL Regional Finalist in both the Musical Theatre and Western Folk categories—reflecting her enthusiasm for challenging herself physically, emotionally, and artistically.
Beyond performing, Olivia brings extensive experience in arts education. She has been a part-time assistant teacher at The Play Shop for six years and has most recently assisted at The Actors Studio Academy, while pursuing her legal education at Brickfields Asia College (BAC).
Assistant Teacher, Ashmeeta
Teacher Ashmeeta’s passion for theatre, acting, and dance began in primary school and has remained a significant part of her life ever since. Over the years, she has participated in numerous school dramas, stage productions, and musicals, while actively contributing to both the Drama Club and Choir Club.
She pursued Drama for her IGCSE and later studied Acting for Stage in college. Currently, Ashmeeta is a second-year Bachelor of Performing Arts student at Taylor’s University. Alongside her academic journey, she continues to perform in theatre productions, expand her experience in film acting, and has also worked as Front of House (FOH) for various theatre performances, further enriching her understanding of the performing arts industry.