Front Row

For artist Yau Bee Ling, painting has never simply been about creating images, it has been a way of living, processing, questioning, and making sense of the world. For thirty-five years, she has painted through different chapters of life, exploring themes of family, femininity, motherhood, emotional tension, and personal transformation through richly textured canvases that feel both intimate and universal. Her latest solo exhibition, Structural Voids, presented at Wei-Ling Gallery, explores emotional disconnection, fragmentation, and the quiet struggles of holding onto human connection in an increasingly fractured world. Alongside the exhibition is the launch of The Weaving of Life: Art through Trials and Triumphs, the first monograph dedicated to her work. She joins us to reflect on the stories behind the paintings, the evolution of her practice, and the experiences that continue to shape her art.

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It’s been more than three decades since Disney’s The Lion King first captured audiences around the world, and its music remains just as powerful today. Now, in what will be Malaysia’s first ever Disney The Lion King Live in Concert, audiences can experience the beloved film with a full live orchestra performing every note in sync with the movie. To tell us more about the preparation, the challenges, and the excitement behind this major production, we're joined by Eric Lee, Resident Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra Malaysia.

Image Credit: Milestone Entertainment Facebook

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There is something deeply Malaysian about the wet market. The sound of bargaining, the smell of the sea, the sight of ice melting beneath fresh seafood. It is busy, noisy, messy, and full of life. But for visual artist Ryzalman Misran, it is also a place of beauty, memory, sacrifice, and human connection. His new solo exhibition, Berapa Sekilo? transforms these familiar scenes into striking photo realistic watercolour paintings that invite us to slow down and look again. We speak to Ryzalman about the stories, memories, and emotions behind the exhibition.

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Death is something many cultures struggle to talk about openly, yet it’s also one of the few experiences every human being shares. A new multidisciplinary arts production Bardo invites audiences to reflect on that mysterious space between life and death through theatre, music, and visual art. Bringing together symbolic installations, live performance, and an original soundtrack performed live, the work explores transformation, memory, and the unknown in a deeply immersive way. Joining us to share more about this production are producer and director Chin Wai Kong, and artist and music director Samm Koh.

Image Credit: The Razors Experimental Theatre Facebook

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Art can be many things. A form of expression, a source of comfort, even a way of connecting with the world when words are hard to find. That idea sits at the heart of Seni Mekar: Art in Bloom, a new exhibition by FriendenArt featuring the works of 18 young artists, many of whom are living with disabilities and rare conditions. FriendenArt itself was inspired by the artistic journey of co-founder Yap Sook Yee’s son, Branden, who lives with Spinal Muscular Atrophy or SMA. What began as a way to support and showcase his creativity has since grown into a wider platform celebrating the talents of other artists with disabilities and rare conditions. We catch up with Sook Yee, to find out more.

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What does it mean to be human, especially in a world where humans no longer exist? That is the question at the heart of Teater Normcore: Odisi Romansa, a new science fiction theatre production that blends live performance with digital technology, striking visual elements and even puppetry. Set in a distant future, the story follows two androids trying to make sense of memory, love, and longing. It is poetic, a little mysterious, and very much rooted in emotion. Presented by Moka Mocha Ink and written and directed by Ridhwan Saidi, we find out what's in store from two of the performers bringing this story to life, Lee Qi and Aliya Marissa.

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There’s something timeless about a good murder mystery. Add in a cast of eccentric suspects, plenty of physical comedy, and the unpredictability of live theatre, and you’ve got the ingredients for what sounds like a wildly entertaining night out. Limelight Theatre’s latest production is Cluedo, a stage adaptation of the beloved board game that transforms the familiar mystery into a laugh out loud theatrical experience full of twists, misunderstandings, and theatrical chaos. We find out what's in store in this murderously funny show from Limelight Theatre's Creative Directors Joe Wyatt and Nikki Brown.

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A story of love, misunderstandings, and razor-sharp wit, Much Ado About Nothing remains one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. This year, KL Shakespeare Players brings it to life in a brand new way, setting the action in 1930s Penang as part of the group's 15th anniversary celebration. We find out how this classic is being reimagined with director Johnny Gillett, and cast member Lim Sheng Hui.

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A chance encounter, a shared curiosity, and a journey across cultures have come together in Islands, a striking dance duet by Taiwanese choreographer Wang Yeu-kwn and Indonesian performer Danang Pamungkas. Featuring a mask, a massive shifting airbag, and a dialogue between two bodies shaped by different traditions, the work explores identity, balance, and what it means to connect beyond our own borders. With its Southeast Asian premiere happening right here in Kuala Lumpur, we speak to both artists about the story behind Islands, their collaboration, and what audiences can expect.

Photo Credit: The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre

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KL Festival 2026 lights up the city this May, bringing a mix of performances, installations, walks, and site-specific works across the city. From large-scale public events at Dataran to intimate shows in heritage spaces and creative hubs, the programme is designed to get audiences experiencing KL in new ways, under the theme “Memory and Tomorrow.” This year also marks a new chapter for the festival, with June Tan stepping in as Artistic Director for the first time, shaping the overall vision and direction of the programme. June joins us to share how she’s thinking about the festival as it unfolds across downtown Kuala Lumpur, and to walk us through what we can expect from the more than 80 multidisciplinary events and activations happening in the city over 26 days. The festival is organised by Think City, working with strategic partner Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL).

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