Front Row

Part history, part myth, and part mystery, Hang Tuah has stood at the centre of our imagination for generations. But in Fragments of Tuah, that familiar tale is broken apart and examined through music, performance, and archival research, revealing surprising gaps, silences, and contradictions. Presented by Five Arts Centre, we find out more about this new documentary theatre work from co-creators Mark Teh and Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri, and discuss how they pieced this project together.

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What do two colleagues scrambling to impress their boss and a cross-cultural encounter gone deliciously wrong have in common? They both live inside Wacky Double Bill: Borong & Encyclopedia, the latest work by award-winning playwright Adriana Nordin Manan. We speak to Adriana, and also the production’s producer and costume/ set designer Sidhart Joe Dev to unpack the wit, warmth, and weirdness of it all.

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What does it mean to be human in an increasingly absurd world, and how do stories help us make sense of it all? Writer and speaker Imran Ahmad is bringing his wit, charm, and storytelling chops to the stage in a one-man show called Life, the Universe and Publishing. He’s doing it pro bono, in support of PEN Malaysia, which works to protect writers and freedom of expression. Joining us are Imran and Mahi Ramakrishnan, President of PEN Malaysia, to tell us more about the show, the cause, and the power of the written word.

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Frank McGuinness’ Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me is not an easy play - it's emotional, funny, and at times harrowing. But it’s also a celebration of the human spirit, of survival through connection. In the lead-up to its return to the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, we speak to  lead actors Charles Donnelly and Kingsley Judd, to talk about stepping back into the roles, and what the story means to them more than a decade later.

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The George Town Festival. The Royal Selangor Jazz Festival. DPAC. Jao Tim. The WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble is lighting up August with performances all over the map, and at the heart of it all is a group that’s been redefining what Malaysian jazz sounds like for nearly two decades. We speak to the band's founder, pianist, and musical director Tay Cher Siang, and AJ Popshuvit, WVC’s bassist, to discuss their packed month ahead, the stories behind some of their major festival shows, and what keeps WVC’s sound fresh, exciting, and rooted in Malaysian identity.

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What does it mean to give form to stillness, or to turn silence into sculpture? Artist Alexdrina Chong aka Alexoid Luce, explores these questions in her new solo exhibition Sanguinella: Ink and Fire, now showing at FabCafe KL. The show weaves together poetry, illustration, and ceramics in a slow-burning meditation on solitude, resilience, and creativity. We’re also joined by Gwyneth Jong, co-founder of FabCafe KL, the space that made this collaboration possible, to hear more about this unique space and the story behind the art.

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From Taiping to sold-out stages across the country, singer and performer Janet Lee has spent the last two decades entertaining audiences with her voice, her flair, and her deep love for music. Now, she’s marking this milestone with a theatrical concert experience called Lucky Lee - The 20-Year Journey On Stage with Janet Lee. Joining us to reflect on this incredible journey are Janet herself, and her long-time musical collaborator and the show’s music director, Tay Cher Siang, from the WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble.

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What happens when a material scientist, trained in chemistry and nanotechnology, turns her attention to painting, sound, and philosophical inquiry? You get Cat Town: Energy, Matter, and the Art of Becoming, a new solo exhibition by Lyne Ismail, where energy, matter, and abstraction come together in unexpected ways. Lyne joins us to talk about her journey from the lab to the studio, and what visitors can expect from this immersive, thought-provoking show.

Image Credit: Lyne Ismail

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What happens when a Spanish classic about repression, grief, and family tension is reimagined in a 1970s Malaysian fishing village, but with an all-male cast? That’s the bold vision behind Anak-Anak Malik, a localised adaptation of Federico García Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba. Joining us to share more about this intriguing production are director Christopher Ling, and actor Mark Beau De Silva.

Image Credit: Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre

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Art galleries can be beautiful, inspiring places, but they’re not always easy to get to. That’s something Ilham Gallery is hoping to change with Skola Gambar Ilham, a travelling exhibition that’s bringing Malaysian contemporary art to communities that don’t usually have access. It’s all part of Ilham's 10th anniversary celebrations, and we speak to Ilham's Gallery Director Rahel Joseph, to find out more.

Image Credit: Kenta Chai

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