DR. MARLENNY BT DEENERWAN

Marlenny Deenerwan holds a PhD in Theatre Performance from Monash University, Australia (2016), a Master of Arts (2011) and a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Drama (2007) from Universiti Malaya and a Diploma in Creative Writing from the National Arts Academy, now known as ASWARA (2002).

Before entering the academic world, she was a teacher at SM Shan Tao Kota Kinabalu Sabah and worked as a sub-editor at Daily Express Sabah. As an academic, she conducts research in the field of Malaysian traditional and ritual theatre: Bobolian rituals in Sabah, the traditional theatre of Wayang Kulit, Makyong and Bangsawan, research on the Minang community in Kuala Lumpur and the Kaul event of the Melanau community in Mukah. Her most recent research focused on the development of interactive theatre as an alternative to teaching and learning in primary schools. This project started in 2017 in a rural school in SK Pekan Ranau, Sabah under the UMRG grant, and further developed into a DraFDidik module. This is a teaching and learning method using drama/theatre for passive children, which was tested in five primary schools in the Klang Valley in 2023, funded by a UMCares grant.

Marlenny has been a creative writer since 1999 and has published over 20 scripts for modern stage dramas and adaptations (Nur, Dari M ke M, Rumah Lama Kampung Baru, Melati & Melur, YB Jee, Lina & Lijah, No Smoking Please, Lima Bersaudara, Anak Raja Anak Papa, Zhao Si Anak Yatim, Hikayat Si Miskin Menjadi Raja, Elyas Emas, Perempuan-Perempuan Kampong Bharu, Transit Borneo-Malaya etc.), dozens of television dramas since 2003 (Haryati II, Dilema Wanita, Kasihnya Di Bawah Bayu, Igauan Semalam etc.). He also writes documentaries, television commercials, newspaper articles/critiques, short stories, poems and song lyrics. She has also been prolific in producing Bangsawan scripts since 2007 to date.

She has been working as an actress, director and theatre producer since 1998. Her directing credits include Rumah Lama Kampung Baru, Melati & Melur, No Smoking Please, Rachel Corrie, The Glass Menageries, The Zoo Story, Bangsawan Anak Raja Anak Papa (The Prince and The Pauper), Zhao Si Anak Yatim, Asiah Samiah, Hikayat Si Miskin Menjadi Raja, Bangku, Saya Dari Hujung Kota, Transit Borneo-Malaya and Wanita dan Senjatanya. She co-founded the theatre group Mekar Budaya in 2002 and the group Bangsawan Opera Sri Bandaraya under the organisation of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall since 2008. She won the Best Actress award at the Malaysian Theater Festival 2003, Best Director of the Kuala Lumpur Theater Festival 2009, and was the recipient of the Young Theater Artist Award from the Selangor State Government in 2010. She was appointed as the Head of Jury of the Malaysian Theater Festival 2016 by the National Department for Culture and Arts, and served as the Head of Jury for Universiti Malaya's Theatre Carnival (Kaviter UM) since 2017-2020.

Marlenny has published a book titled "Bobolian Seni Teater Etnik Dusun" and is currently writing a book titled "Kesenian Bangsawan Malaysia". During her stint with the NGOs, Marlenny was the former President of ASWARA Alumni Association 2015-2018 and is currently the Chairperson of Persatuan Rumpun Seni Mekar Budaya Kuala Lumpur (since 2020), she is also a member of Ikatan Penulis Sabah since 1992. Recently, Marlenny won Silver Award in International Education Innovation Expo 2023 through the project DraFDidik.