Beloved Sabah folk tale comes to KL theatre stage for Kaamatan celebration

The Star

31-05-2025

Queennera Francis Kitingon steps into the role of Princess Huminodun in 'Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu', which takes the stage at Auditorium Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in Kuala Lumpur this weekend. Photo: Bernama
Theatre production Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu, which highlights the tale of a legendary princess from Sabah, will be staged at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) auditorium in Kuala Lumpur this weekend in conjunction with the Kaamatan festival.
It tells the story of the sacrifice of Princess Huminodun, a virtuous maiden who willingly sacrifices her life to save her land and people from famine.
Based on an original script by Satra Nurizman and adapted by Amsalib Pisali, the play is directed by Nawfal Zamri, who faced the challenge of working in the Kadazandusun language - a task that demanded a deep grasp of its tone and pronunciation.
"I'm from Perak and not familiar with this language but I'm grateful to have help from friends in Sabah to review the actors' pronunciation because language and intonation are very important," said Nawfal at a recent media conference.
Marlenny says the folk tale offers insight into sacrifice and love through a Sabahan lens, highlighting a mother's pain in giving up her child for her people's survival. Photo: Bernama
"We also didn't want to lose the authentic feel. So, several important parts are retained in the original language, especially the emotional dialogues. However, the overall structure of the performance has been arranged to be easily understood by the audience," he added.
For this production, Nawfal also conducted field research in Sabah, visiting sites believed to be connected to the origins of the Huminodun legend.
Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu is presented by KGE Studio and the Sabah Community Aid Association, in collaboration with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, DBP and Pertubuhan Anak Karya Malaysia, and supported via grants from Yayasan Hasanah and ArtFast.
The play's cast includes Queenenra Francine as Princess Huminodun, and Virtoues Romana, Ijat Ashari, Faizan Deraman, Verd and Dr Marlenny Deen Erwan.
'My hope is for this play to serve as a gateway for more stories from Sabah and Sarawak to be staged and appreciated,' says Anas. Photo: Bernama
Marlenny, who portrays Suminundu, the mother of Princess Huminodun, shared that the production goes beyond entertainment — it serves as a bridge for cross-cultural understanding, offering audiences a deeper appreciation of Sabahan heritage and values.
"This Sabah folk tale gives the audience an opportunity to understand the values of sacrifice and love from a different cultural perspective. The story portrays a mother's emotion as she allows her child to be sacrificed for the well-being of the people,' she said.
Producer and founder of KGE Studio Anas Amdan said the original staging of Huminodun in 2022 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, won four awards at the Malaysia Theatre Awards, serving as a stepping stone to bring the play to Kuala Lumpur.
"My hope is for this play to serve as a gateway for more stories from Sabah and Sarawak to be staged and appreciated. We want to promote this work not merely for commercial gain but for its significant cultural value and audience response,' he said. - Bernama