Joe Hasham

Actor, Artistic Director, Theatre Director

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Joe was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, did his schooling in Sydney, Australia, moved to Malaysia in 1984 and is now a proud permanent resident of his adopted country. Joe is Artistic Director of The Actors Studio, which he set up with his wife Faridah in 1989, and also Artistic Director of The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac). In 2011, he co-founded the Performing Arts Centre of Penang (penangpac) which operated until 2022. Joe is a graduate of NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) at the University of NSW, Sydney, Australia. Before he made the decision to come to Malaysia, he was one of the most sought after actors in Australia.

Joe is a multi award winning film director, actor, writer and recording artist. Joe was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), within the Australian Honours System “For Service to the performing arts through The Actors Studio (Malaysia) and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre; and, as an actor, writer, producer and director”. Joe is currently the Adjunct Professor & Programme Artistic Director of TUTAS, Malaysia’s first performing arts conservatory degree programme by The Actors Studio and Taylor’s University.