This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 26, 2016.

THE 13th Boh Cameronian Arts Awards, the popular annual awards for the performing arts affectionately called the Cammies, was held on Sunday, honouring last year’s most outstanding contributions in the areas of dance, theatre, music and musical theatre.

This event’s theme of “Yesterday for Tomorrow” paid tribute to the traditional performing arts of Malaysia, in particular Bangsawan, Mak Yong and Wayang Kulit. These unique local art forms were chosen for their indelible influence on our local identities and the major roles they play in shaping Malaysian theatre today.

Cabaret, a musical set in 1931 Berlin, was the star of the night, taking home several awards including Best Choreographer for Suhaili Micheline, Best Direction for Nell Ng, Best Performance by an Ensemble and Best Performance in a Supporting Role for Zalina Lee. The story follows Sally Bowles, a cabaret performer who embarks on a torrid love affair with a young British novelist while she tries to keep her world from crumbling as the march of impending war presses in.

Another major winner was Sand The Musical, which was awarded Best Musical Direction for Santosh Logandran, Best Performance in a Leading Role for Abimanyu Misilamani and Best Original Score. The Audience Choice Awards for Music went to MUD: Our Story of Kuala Lumpur, which is jointly presented by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and Enfiniti Vision Media.

In the music category, Tay Cher Siang won the award for Best Solo Performance – Instrumental for The Art of the Wind-up Alarm Clock in Waiting for that Day: A Live Concert. Best Solo Performance – Vocal was won by Junji Delfino for The Lady Sings the Shows, with musical direction by Michael Veerapen and presented by Jazz Works.

In the theatre category, Best Actor in a Leading Role went to Joe Hasham for Reservations in Sisa-Sisa while Best Actor in a Supporting Role was won by Paz Lim for The Dawns Here Are Quiet. Best Original Script, on the other hand, went to experienced playwright Mark Beau De Silva for Three Doors and Blind Spot in Sisa-Sisa.

“Each year, the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards celebrates the people who define the performing arts industry. At this 13th awards ceremony, it is no different. The awards continues to be about tributes, accolades, acknowledgement and achievement. When we set out 13 years ago, we wanted the awards to be a focal point for the industry to strive for excellence. We believe we have achieved our aspiration to some extent. The performing arts has greater following and receives more support from the public today,” said Caroline Russell, chief executive officer of Boh Plantations Sdn Bhd.

She added, “Over the years, the awards has been as inclusive as possible, be it in recognising talent — both rising stars and doyens of the industry — to yearly thematic celebrations and highlighting traditional art forms as we have this year with the Mak Yong, Bangsawan and Wayang Kulit. We have also reached out to the man on the street and made the arts more accessible. Young talent has been recognised through the Junior Cammies.”

The awards night’s theme was aimed at keeping traditional art forms relevant and modern in Malaysia, and Kakiseni is planning to launch programmes to renew interest in them by bringing these art forms to the masses, especially to schools. They will also be looking at ways that modern and traditional performing artists can work with each other to create new performances that incorporate elements of both forms.

In tribute to these three traditional performing arts, Boh has released a limited edition set of three Boh Cameronian Gold Blend tea canisters. More than just decorative aesthetics, each design is a product of meaningful collaboration between the designer, Balkis Burhanudin of Fearless Ideas & Designs, and practitioners and experts of traditional Malaysian performing arts.

Members of the public can redeem one limited-edition Boh Cameronian Gold Blend tea canister at all MPH bookstores. All it requires is a minimum purchase of RM150, and the bill must be a copy of …And Oh, These Are My Superpowers, a book about how five superhero Malaysian performing artists, whose tireless dedication to their craft have made them living legends amongst practitioners and theatre-going public. This promotion is valid for as long as stocks are available.

For the full list of award winners, log onto www.kakiseni.com.