About Us
Edible Theatre – performances inspired by food. We collaborate with restaurants, chefs and artists to serve stories with flavours and textures.
Established in 2019, Wayang Kitchen is the brainchild of Razif Hashim, Hester Welch and Nigel Kraal – three daring creatives who are all about entertainment, art and food.
Always in the mood to celebrate and appreciate cuisines, the trio explored creating playful experiences where audiences are invited to be inspired, connect and eat (or cook!)
2017
Hester created ‘The Food Play’ in Kuala Lumpur, a performance and workshop that was developed during her residency at Poplar Union, London. Razif came on board as an actor and fat ass, educating the white woman in Malaysian culture (like the shaman in Eat Pray Love).
2018
‘The Food Play’ went to Sarawak for ‘What About Kuching’ Festival and was re-developed to celebrate Sarawakian cuisine. Featuring the late great Anthony Bourdaine’s (rest in peace, we love you) favorite dish, LAKSA!
2019
Razif and Hester joined forces to launch Wayang Kitchen (WK) and began collaborating with other Malaysian foodies, artists and chefs.
In November, they conceptualized a fine dining show at Copper Restaurant entitled ‘Murder at the Masquerade’, an interactive culinary adventure that featured a murder mystery-themed menu. We debellied a sturgeon and ate caviar fresh from the tummy! True story.
In December, Wayang Kitchen traveled to Langkawi to produce ‘Happy Birthday Wak Long’, a contemporary cultural show for tourists with fatCUPID restaurant by La Pari-Pari boutique hotel.
2020
IT’S THE BLOODY WORLD LOCKDOWN and while Hester was stranded in KL during this period, Wayang Kitchen went digital. After conceptualizing STAY HOME EATERTAINMENT, a food delivery service paired with an interactive show, Wayang Kitchen launched the first of its kind virtual dining experiences with some of Kuala Lumpur’s most sought after restaurants.
In March, Wayang Kitchen devised ‘Meat the Girlfriend’ an interactive sketch to compliment Concubine KL’s best selling dishes, Korean Chicken Wings and a Beef Galbi Don. Even though Hester is a vegetarian.
In April, Wayang Kitchen devised ‘In the Nico Time’ for Pisco Bar KL to entertain their patrons with food, alcoholic beverages and performance while at home. Even though Razif is a Musilm.
By July, Malaysia entered a Recovery Movement Control Order and Wayang Kitchen produced their first live socially distant show, ‘The Pen-demic Is Mightier Than The Sword’ at KL City Walk.
In August, Wayang Kitchen opened a cafe and event space in collaboration with Co-Labs where two shows were produced for the community; ‘Alcolabs’ and ‘Lunch and Learn: How I Overcame My Fear Of Public Speaking’.
By October, Wayang Kitchen creates a second wave of digital events in collaboration with Flavors of Mexico Asia (FOMA), offering virtual cooking classes with performances. Their first event featured a digital journey to one of Mexico’s most auspicious time of the year ‘Dia De Los Muertos’.
In November, Wayang Kitchen worked with FOMA to host ‘Food Tripping Mexico: The Origins of Maize’, an interactive online cooking show that showcased authentic Mexican food recipes.
In December, Wayang Kitchen x FOMA devised a kids themed interactive cooking show, ‘Food Tripping Mexico: Christmas at home’ which showcased Mexican traditions during the festivities.
2021
British Council awarded Wayang Kitchen with two grants from the Digital Collaboration Fund, which supports UK and overseas cultural partnerships to develop digitally innovative ways of collaborating.
With these grants, we produced two digital events across Malaysia and the UK:
– ‘RICE!’, in collaboration with OMNIBUS THEATRE LONDON – February 2021
– ‘Food Tripping Penang: The UK Connection’, in collaboration with THE ROJAK PROJECT – April 2021
Fuelled by Creative Minds
Our multidisciplinary team cross borders and kitchens by innovating online and offline performance.