By Anis Izaty binti Ahmad Zamri (Final-Year Student of the English Global Communication Programme, FELC)
Albert Camus once wrote, “Life is the sum of all our choices.” On the evening of 7th January 2026, that idea stepped off the page and onto the stage at Teater Multimedia (TMM), Faculty of Education, Language and Communication, UNIMAS. For one night, the theatre became more than a performance space. It became a place where stories were lived, not just told.
With the theme Choices That Change Everything, the stage brought together the works of Cohort 4 students from the English for Global Communication programme. Although the performances marked the final assessment for Creative Writing and Self-Publishing under the guidance of Dr Erlinda Mikal, the night felt far removed from grades and rubrics. Instead, it became a collective reflection on human decisions and their consequences.
The performances moved fluidly from one story to another, each offering a different perspective on decision-making. Some narratives were rooted in everyday realities, while others drew from imagination and legend. Yet all were bound by the same question: what happens after a choice is made?
The night opened with The Coast of Cruelty, a story that confronts the choice to bully. A single act of cruelty, made without much thought, slowly grows into something heavier than expected. This was followed by One Choice Is All That Matters by Loot Overload, which tells the story of Maya, a woman chasing the image of a wealthy lifestyle by renting an apartment far beyond her means. When her freelance work begins to decline, Maya struggles and eventually falls into poverty. However, the story does not end in defeat. With the support of a friend and the courage to make a different choice, Maya slowly rebuilds her life. The performance closes with hope, showing how one decision can redirect a person’s path.
Friendship and its fragile nature took centre stage in two performances. The Long Way Home by Soul Sisters explores a difficult choice within a close-knit group of friends when one girl receives a scholarship and must decide between pursuing her future or staying behind for the sake of her friendships. In contrast, Fractured Bonds by The Musketeers presents a darker portrayal of friendship, where one reckless decision leads to death, leaving the survivor trapped in guilt that refuses to fade.
Not all the stories were grounded in reality. Several performances stepped into the realm of legend and imagination. Shadows of Throne reimagines the tale of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, focusing on a Sultan whose hunger for power drives him to rule through fear. His decision to falsely accuse his most loyal warrior sparks rebellion and forces two brothers to choose between blind loyalty and justice. Their conflict reveals how one decision can alter relationships and determine the fate of an entire kingdom.
Similarly, The Princess of Choices is set in the kingdom of Malacca and follows Princess Sari as she faces a decision that will shape her family, her people, and her future. Through encounters with an ambitious sister, a rival princess, and a mystical guardian, Sari learns that courage often lies in choosing what is right rather than what is easy.
The night closed with Museum of Choices, a performance that blended folklore with reflection. The story follows a thief who attempts to steal a valuable keris, the Mahsuri Keris, from a folktale museum. Inside, mannequins based on Malaysian folktales come to life, including Mak Siti from Pak Kaduk, Merah from Bawang Putih Bawang Merah, and Melur from Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup. Each character shares how a single decision changed their life forever. Confronted by these stories, the thief begins to question her own actions and the path she is choosing.
The event concluded with awards recognising outstanding performances. The Best Actor award was given to Abdul Muhaimin for his portrayal of Hang Tuah, the Best Actress award went to Husna Juliani as Inara, and Museum of Choices received the award for Best Group Performance. Behind the recognition and applause stood the judges, Dr Yvonne Michelle Campbell, Mr Ahmad Junaidi and Ms Melisa Malini, whose careful attention to each performance helped honour the stories that were told with creativity and imagination.
As the final lights dimmed, one truth remained clear. Each performance, whether rooted in reality or myth, returned to the same quiet message. Choices may be made in moments, but their echoes last far longer. That night, the stage did not simply present stories. It held up a mirror, inviting the audience to reflect on the choices they make and the lives they shape because of them.
Photo Credited to: Sherah Wati binti Awang Hamid