Front Row

Rahmat Bahgia is a visual arts exhibition and series of events by the A.P Art Gallery, that explores, celebrates and reflects upon all the things that make us truly Malaysian. Through a range of events in September - set during and around Malaysia Day celebrations - Rahmat Bahgia wants us to experience everyday life as a Malaysian, and at the exhibition itself, we will be treated to quintessential Malaysian objects, ranging from biscuits to hair oil, and so much more. We speak to gallery owner, Nazura Rahime, and Rahmat Bahgia’s curator, Anderson Ee, to find out how they hope Rahmat Bahgia can be a bridge between different people, cultures and communities, in our country.

Image Credit: A.P Art Gallery

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get On Your Feet is a charity musical featuring renowned choreographer Farah Sulaiman, to raise funds for Cancer Research Malaysia. Showcasing popular songs from 18 different musicals, we're promised music from the likes of Wicked, Mamma Mia, Chicago, South Pacific, and so much more. Paired with Farah Sulaiman's unique performing style, Get On Your Feet promises to be an entertaining song and dance extravaganza for all ages. We find out more from the musical's director, Sabrina Hassan, and Renee Aziz Ahmad, who is performing for this edition, and who is also a cancer survivor. Renee shares her story of living with cancer, and how her outlook on life has changed since her diagnosis.

Image Credit: Get On Your Feet the Musical

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Traitor, or hero? Set in a post-apocalyptic Malaysia where constant war and strife abound, the upcoming production Jebat follows the life and tragic death of Hang Jebat. While there are many stories on Hang Tuah, this is likely the first English language stage production in recent history focusing on Hang Jebat. Described as The Actors Studio’s biggest production for 2023, the show boasts almost 40 performers on stage performing to specially composed live music, with a mix of silat and mixed martial arts battle scenes, amazing sets and costumes, multimedia design, and more. We speak to Joe Hasham OAM, the play's Director, Artistic Director & Dramaturg, and actor Zul Zamir, who plays the role of the titular character. 

Image Credit: Dev Lee/ klpac

Sisyphus No. 9 draws inspiration from two tales: the eternal struggle of Sisyphus, condemned to endlessly push a boulder uphill, and Beethoven's triumphant composition and conducting of his 9th Symphony, despite near-total deafness in Vienna, Austria. The play is said to explore the absurdity/meaning of life through repetitions and visceral movements, accompanied by live ambient music. We find out more about this performance art production - which is the closing performance from Theatresauce’s 2023 season - from the show's director, Tung Jit Yang, and performer Liew Chee Heai.

Image Credit: Theatresauce

Traitor, or hero? Set in a post-apocalyptic Malaysia where constant war and strife abound, the upcoming production Jebat follows the life and tragic death of Hang Jebat. While there are many stories on Hang Tuah, this is likely the first English language stage production in recent history focusing on Hang Jebat. Described as The Actors Studio’s biggest production for 2023, the show boasts almost 40 performers on stage performing to specially composed live music, with a mix of silat and mixed martial arts battle scenes, amazing sets and costumes, multimedia design, and more. We speak to Joe Hasham OAM, the play's Director, Artistic Director & Dramaturg, and actor Zul Zamir, who plays the role of the titular character. 

Image Credit: Dev Lee/ klpac

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sisyphus No. 9 draws inspiration from two tales: the eternal struggle of Sisyphus, condemned to endlessly push a boulder uphill, and Beethoven's triumphant composition and conducting of his 9th Symphony, despite near-total deafness in Vienna, Austria. The play is said to explore the absurdity/meaning of life through repetitions and visceral movements, accompanied by live ambient music. We find out more about this performance art production - which is the closing performance from Theatresauce’s 2023 season - from the show's director, Tung Jit Yang, and performer Liew Chee Heai.

Image Credit: Theatresauce

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 20 years since the Dataran Merdeka floods wiped out The Actors Studio’s Plaza Putra underground complex. The Life Sdn Bhd series was born a year after those devastating floods in 2003, with the purpose of sharing true experiences and tales of living the Malaysian life, openly and without judgement. Now in 2023, the series is going back full circle to the theme “What It Means To Be Malaysian?” - the first ever theme explored - under the direction of Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican. We speak to Faridah, who is also the Executive Producer of the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), about the mix storytellers who will be offering differing viewpoints and personal stories on this heartfelt issue, in this new edition of the series.

Image Credit: klpac

80 Minutes, 10 Musicians, 14 Songs. Irama Tanah Air (ITA) will take you on a whirlwind world tour through music, journeying from Asia to Scandinavia, South America to the Middle East, and more. Titled Around the World in 80 Minutes, the performance promises us 14 local and global pieces - some classics, some brand new -  by six different musical arrangers. We speak to Bernard Goh, the Founder & Artistic Director of both Hands Percussion and Irama Tanah Air, to discover what's in store at this musical concert.

It's been 20 years since the Dataran Merdeka floods wiped out The Actors Studio’s Plaza Putra underground complex. The Life Sdn Bhd series was born a year after those devastating floods in 2003, with the purpose of sharing true experiences and tales of living the Malaysian life, openly and without judgement. Now in 2023, the series is going back full circle to the theme “What It Means To Be Malaysian?” - the first ever theme explored - under the direction of Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican. We speak to Faridah, who is also the Executive Producer of the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), about the mix storytellers who will be offering differing viewpoints and personal stories on this heartfelt issue, in this new edition of the series.

Image Credit: klpac

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

80 Minutes, 10 Musicians, 14 Songs. Irama Tanah Air (ITA) will take you on a whirlwind world tour through music, journeying from Asia to Scandinavia, South America to the Middle East, and more. Titled Around the World in 80 Minutes, the performance promises us 14 local and global pieces - some classics, some brand new -  by six different musical arrangers. We speak to Bernard Goh, the Founder & Artistic Director of both Hands Percussion and Irama Tanah Air, to discover what's in store at this musical concert.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.