logo
Theatre is stealing the spotlight this month in the Klang Valley

Theatre is stealing the spotlight this month in the Klang Valley

The Star07-06-2025
This month, the Klang Valley's theatre scene is buzzing – with a major Taiwanese production, a classic revival of Jit Murad's work, and an intimate dance-theatre piece unfolding in a small community hall on the outskirts of Selangor. Here are a few shows to look out for.
In 'TaTaTa', Audrey Chua (left) and Anne James bring to life two generations, shaped by director Lai Wen Xin's personal story of her relationship with her grandmother. Photo: Low Pey Sien Venue: Dewan Serbaguna Seri Kembangan, Selangor
Here's a show, presented by the Kongsi Petak collective, that takes you straight to the heart of a small town community.
Part performance, part memory capsule, TaTaTa transforms the rustic Dewan Serbaguna Seri Kembangan into a stage where memories and generations meet.
Marking Lai Wen Xin's directorial debut and performed by Anne James and Audrey Chua, this interdisciplinary piece weaves together theatre, dance, and multimedia to explore the emotional distance between the elderly and the young. The result is a tender, thought-provoking work that invites audiences to reflect on what it truly means to grow older. SALAM STAGE: A LIVE STORYTELLING EVENT Venue: PJ Live Arts, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya
This free admission event, presented by Initiate and Freedom Film Fest, hands the mic – and the theatre stage – to stories that matter. "Salam Stage" is a live storytelling event (in English and Bahasa Malaysia) that foregrounds raw, personal accounts of courage, resilience, and hope, shared by Malaysians confronting the realities of rising extremism and a narrowing civic space.
These aren't just performances – they're lived experiences, told in the spirit of resistance and healing.
It's a timely call to gather, to listen deeply, and to imagine new, collective paths toward a more just and inclusive society.
You'll want to book your seats fast – spaces are limited.
In 'Dracula: A Comedy Of Terrors', Joe Wyatt directs and also sinks his teeth into the role of Dracula himself. Photo: Limelight Theatre 'DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS' Venue: DPAC, Petaling Jaya
If you're after a good laugh and a fun night out, this might be your ticket. Dracula: A Comedy Of Terrors flips Bram Stoker's iconic vampire tale into a whirlwind of slapstick, puns, and unapologetic theatrical mayhem.
The show is presented by Limelight Theatre, one of Kuala Lumpur's newest theatre companies, with a focus on farce and comedic storytelling.
Expect lightning-fast role swaps, mistaken identities, and a gothic setting that gleefully unravels into chaos. With a razor-sharp script, the show channels the spirit of The 39 Steps and Young Frankenstein — a riotous treat for audiences of all ages.
All eyes are on the international premiere of Apostate at KLPac – its first show outside Taiwan. The 2023 production won the Grand Prize at the 22nd Taishin Arts Award and the Jury Prize at the 35th Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan.
A collaboration between Approaching Theatre and Gang-a Tsui Theater, Apostate weaves a Song Dynasty envoy's story with a modern prisoner's dilemma, exploring loyalty to family and State.
Performed in Mandarin, with some Quanzhou dialect and English surtitles, the 12-actor show blends traditional Nanguan opera – Unesco-listed since 2009 – with contemporary soundscapes and multimedia design.
It also marks the homecoming of Taiwan-based Malaysian director Koh Choon Eiow, an Asian Cultural Council grantee.
The JitFest2025 celebration continues this month with 'Visits', directed by Ida Nerina and starring (from left) Sofia Jane, Nabila Huda and Nadia Aqilah. Photo: DramaLab Venue: Nero Event Space, PJPAC, Petaling Jaya
Directed by Ida Nerina and starring Sofia Jane, Nadia Aqilah, and Nabila Huda, this new production breathes fresh life into one of the late theatre legend Jit Murad's most poignant works.
Visits, which premiered in 2002, is a sharply observed, darkly funny play that brings together three women at a high-end mental health retreat.
A patient, her sister-in-law, and an enigmatic nurse cross paths in a surreal space where memory, identity, and power slowly unravel.
This upcoming Visits show at PJPAC is part of JitFest 2025, organised by DramaLab. A timely revival that strikes a perfect balance between humour and heartbreak, delivering its message with stunning clarity.
'WILL YOU BE MY WITNESS?' Venue: Black Box, DPAC, Petaling Jaya
Arts collective lowercase laboratories returns with Will You Be My Witness?, a theatrical dance performance, produced and directed by Low Yee Choy, that explores our deep human desire to be seen.
Beginning with everyday rituals like brushing teeth and scrolling through phones, the piece soon spirals into a world of hypervisibility, digital overload, and emotional fragmentation.
Inspired by the question, 'If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?', the performance uses striking visuals and physical storytelling to explore themes of identity, conformity, and the quiet craving for validation. Venue: Auditorium MBSA, Shah Alam
Here's a chance to catch emerging talent in Bahasa Malaysia theatre.
Rubiah, a musical, presents the staging of a drama work, written by Samoza, and directed and adapted by Dr Aminah Rhapor. A collaborative effort with JKKN Selangor, Persona Mantera, and MBSA.
The play tells the story of Rubiah, a pure-hearted young woman raised with love and religious guidance. She is torn between her childhood friend Alang and a proposal from Daeng, a wealthy nobleman of high status. Amid slander and worldly temptations, Rubiah searches for a love blessed by God.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

(Video) Pan Mei Chen Couldn't Perform In Malaysia For Years Because She Was Betrayed By Protégé
(Video) Pan Mei Chen Couldn't Perform In Malaysia For Years Because She Was Betrayed By Protégé

Hype Malaysia

time4 hours ago

  • Hype Malaysia

(Video) Pan Mei Chen Couldn't Perform In Malaysia For Years Because She Was Betrayed By Protégé

Over the weekend, Taiwanese singer Pan Mei Chen (潘美辰) performed at Arena of Stars, marking her long-awaited return to Malaysia. During the show, she candidly revealed why it took her nearly a decade to return for a performance. The Mandopop star performed at Arena of Stars on 2nd August 2025 (Saturday) as part of her 'Returning Home' World Tour. Since the show marks her first concert in Malaysia after eight years, the audience was mostly fans who had been waiting a long time to watch Pan Mei Chen perform live. While international stars have many reasons for not performing in a country, the singer said her reason for not returning to Malaysia was very personal. The singer revealed that she had signed a Malaysian singer to her agency many years ago and had planned to bring him to Taipei to debut. However, the singer secretly entered a singing competition without Pan Mei Chen's consent. Shockingly, the singer claimed not to know the Mandopop icon and even blocked her contact after winning the contest. Understandably, the experience of being betrayed by her beloved mentee traumatised Pan Mei Chen. The singer-songwriter said she couldn't set foot in Malaysia for many years because she felt betrayed by her former protégé. The singer never revealed what changed her mind. However, it's possible that her fans in Malaysia helped encourage Pan Mei Chen to return. During the concert, the star made sure to interact with her fans as much as possible, even walking amongst the audience to get closer to fans. Throughout the night, Pan Mei Chen performed all her classic hits, including her most popular track, 'I Want A Home'. As the concert came to an end, the star thanked all the fans who attended, as well as some special guests. She also expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards her fans in Malaysia, saying, 'You must remember that I, Pan Mei Chen, have never forgotten Malaysia. This is from the bottom of my heart.' Pan Mei Chen also promised to return to Malaysia more often, saying she won't take another eight years to perform here again. While we wait for the next concert, here are some videos from her show at Arena of Stars: Source: China Press

Jess Lee secures spot in singing competition finals
Jess Lee secures spot in singing competition finals

The Star

time13 hours ago

  • The Star

Jess Lee secures spot in singing competition finals

Compiled by DIVYA THERESA RAVI, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN SINGER Jess Lee Kar Wei has made it to the grand finale of Chinese reality singing competition Singer by default when no other contestant stood up to challenge her in last week's episode, Sin Chew Daily reported. The 37-year-old Malaysian performed Thousand-Year Love by the Taiwanese rock band Shin, which was described by the show's host as being of 'cosmic-level difficulty'. Once again, Lee's bold song choice paid off as no one else was brave enough to challenge her position as one of the four defending singers last week, thus paving her way to the finals by default. As ecstatic Lee said returning to Singer 2025 after being away for a decade was the highlight of her life and she was in peak form. 'Whether it's the stage or the act of singing itself, I have a deep obsession with it,' she said. It was reported that last week's episode was the last elimination round before the grand finale on Aug 8 where there are four defending singers including Lee, A-Lin, Terry Lin and Alexia Evellyn. The rest are challengers. > A lion dance coach is believed to have been barred from schools in Johor after being accused of sexual harassment. Sin Chew Daily received reports from a concerned parent claiming that the coach had sexually harassed and shown pornography to female members in lion dance troupes across a few schools. He added that many parents were fearful and disappointed that no action had been taken against the coach despite police reports being lodged. When contacted, the two principals at the schools involved said the coach was no longer teaching there. One of them said they will follow all directives from the Johor State Education Department. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a, it denotes a separate news item.

#SHOWBIZ: Dance takes flight with 'Birdy' at George Town Festival
#SHOWBIZ: Dance takes flight with 'Birdy' at George Town Festival

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • New Straits Times

#SHOWBIZ: Dance takes flight with 'Birdy' at George Town Festival

A film called "Birdy" by Alan Parker ignited a passion in Taiwanese choreographer Lai Hung-Chung during his university days. "The story of two young men returning from the Vietnam War — one of whom retreats into a psychological world where he believes he is a bird — left a lasting impression on me," Lai wrote in an email regarding the George Town Festival show, also titled "Birdy", set to run from Aug 9-10 at Dewan Sri Pulau Pinang. "Its haunting imagery and its profound longing for freedom, escape and transcendence lingered deep in my heart," he added. INNER STRUGGLES Lai explained his enduring fascination: "I've always been fascinated by inner struggles, especially when 'freedom' is no longer about physical limitations but a psychological state. How do human relationships carry the weight of that contradiction, of imagining flight while being pulled down by reality? That tension between the spirit and the body became the seed for 'Birdy'." The 'Taipei Times' has described Lai as one of the finest young choreographers working in Taiwan today. Currently serving as artistic director of Hung Dance, which he founded in 2017, the thirty-something Lai began reimagining these ideas through the lens of his own cultural context. "I found inspiration in the long pheasant feathers used in traditional Taiwanese opera, which originally symbolise status and authority," he said. "In 'Birdy', I transformed them into symbols of the spirit: extensions of the mind, of yearning and liberation. This work became a bridge between a deeply personal artistic memory and the cultural identity I carry as a Taiwanese creator." A HAPPY ACCIDENT Lai initially trained as a performer, recalling his entry into dance as a "happy accident". "I joined my school's dance club thinking it was for street dance, but it turned out to be everything from contemporary to classical. That unexpected detour led me to a teacher who saw potential in me and encouraged me to apply for a professional dance programme." Lai realised early on that his true passion lay in creating, not just performing. "By middle school, I was already choreographing for school events. By high school, I had started teaching, freelancing and choreographing professionally. These experiences shaped how I understand movement — not only through technique but through ideas, stories, and relationships. "What excites me most is that moment in the theatre when everything comes together: a magical moment that quickens your heartbeat. Those moments often become the source of my creative drive." AN EVOLVING PROCESS "Birdy" has garnered significant praise since its debut in 2022, having been performed at festivals worldwide. The show seamlessly incorporates elements of tai-chi into contemporary dance forms. Lai said "Birdy" will not only be performed in George Town but also in Spain and North America over the next two months. He noted that the show has evolved: "While the core of the work remains the same, audiences can expect an even sharper, more refined performance. The dancers have grown tremendously, and we've made subtle structural adjustments to enhance the flow and clarity of the piece. We're excited to share this evolved version with Malaysian audiences." Lai believes "Birdy" speaks to a profound human desire — "the longing to be seen and the urge to escape definitions". ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION He describes the physicality as "powerful yet poetic", with a soundscape that blends traditional Taiwanese opera instruments with contemporary electronic textures, offering a layered emotional experience. "Audiences across cultures have told us they felt moved, even without understanding the language or cultural references. I think that's the magic of dance. It invites empathy without explanation. 'Birdy' doesn't give answers; it creates space for each person to dream their own version of flight." "Birdy" is part of the GTF 2025 line-up under Isle to Isle 2025, an exchange platform connecting Penang and Taiwan. Isle to Isle also features the "Three Generations, One Jazzy Heartbeat" concert and a forum titled "And All That Jazz — Stories of Malaysia and Taiwan". Other notable GTF events include "Between Light and Grey: A Double Bill of Puppetry", a poetic exploration of memory, identity, and human connection (Aug 9-10), and "A Travelling Artist's Diary", an exhibition showcasing never-before-seen works by Rebecca Duckett-Wilkinson.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store