#SHOWBIZ: 'The Saga of Taj Theatre' combines classical dance and comedy
This unique production seamlessly blends Bharatanatyam, comedy theatre, and film projection into a single, compelling experience.
The show will be staged at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) on July 26 and 27.
This original production tells the story of an old theatre on the brink of demolition – a symbolic setting where the past and future dramatically collide.
As the narrative unfolds, the performance beautifully incorporates a vibrant dance drama dedicated to Lord Brahma, a deity long associated with creation in Indian cultural tradition.
To ensure a deeper audience connection, all dances are fully subtitled in English, and the innovative use of multimedia projections provides an accessible and visually rich storytelling experience.
More than 20 performers will take to the stage in this grand production.
The choreography and music are the result of a collaboration between award-winning artists from Malaysia and India, drawing from ancient South Indian classical traditions.
Percussion arrangements are by Maestro Kalaimamani S. Gopakumar, with lyrics penned by Nirmala Raghavan.
MDT founder Sheela Raghavan-Tan is responsible for the dance research and choreography.
MDT operates as a non-profit dance school, offering free performing arts training to children from all backgrounds.
Proceeds from 'The Saga of Taj Theatre' will directly support the expansion of these outreach programmes and help create more platforms for young, aspiring performers.
Tickets for both the 5pm and 8pm shows are by donation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Actors Linda Chung and Raymond Lam make joint appearance in phone commercial
In a new commercial, Linda Chung and Raymond Lam played lawyers debating over the merits of the phone in a courtroom. Photo: Linda Chung/Instagram The on-screen chemistry between former TVB actors Linda Chung and Raymond Lam once made them fan favourites. Now, they are pairing up again, this time for a commercial. Chung, 41, and Lam, 45, played a legal-eagle couple, Sheung Tsoi Sum and Alfred Ching respectively, in TVB contemporary drama Heart Of Greed (2007), and there was talk they had became an item after filming. Chung and Lam returned as couple Yue So Sum and Steward Boy in another series, Moonlight Resonance (2008), a sequel in spirit to Heart Of Greed . The two actors recently appeared in a new mobile phone commercial, playing two lawyers debating over the merits of the phone in a courtroom. In a throwback, Lam's character addressed Chung's as 'Lawyer Sheung' in the commercial. On social media, Chung posted photos of them on set on Aug 5. The Canada-born actress wrote in English: 'I haven't acted as a character in a long time, and it felt really good to be back – especially working with my old colleague Raymond Lam. It felt familiar, and also different in a good way. Hope you enjoy our new project.' Her last TV role was as Dr Eman in TVB medical drama Kids' Lives Matter (2021), for which she was nominated Best Actress at the TVB Awards Presentation 2021. Chung and Lam generated buzz on May 26 when she made a special appearance at his Go With The Flow concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Lam said a classic line from Heart Of Greed , and added that they had not met for over 10 years. The two artistes also performed My Heart Understands , the closing theme song of Heart Of Greed , at the concert. Chung dated Hong Kong-born American actor Philip Ng in secret for about eight years before they broke up. She is now married to chiropractor Jeremy Leung, and they have three children aged two to eight. Lam dated Chinese model Pan Shuangshuang and then Hong Kong model-actress Karena Ng. He is now married to Chinese model Carina Zhang, and they have a daughter who turns five in September. The family was recently in Singapore for their summer vacation. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Celebrating Indian cinema and its links with Malaysia
Reddy says India wants to strengthen the cultural bridge between Malaysia and India, and create new opportunities. Festival highlights shared narratives and cinematic influences, places spotlight on visionaries and women filmmakers INDIAN cinema was the highlight during the 8th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) in Kuala Lumpur. The Indian government, represented by its information and broadcasting ministry and High Commission of India, collaborated with MIFFest to organise India Night, featuring the richness of Indian cinema and its connection to Malaysia. Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia BN Reddy said they were thrilled to be participating in MIFFest for the second consecutive year, to showcase the deep cultural and cinematic ties between the two countries. 'From early collaborations like Leila Majnun (1933) to modern-day films like Jagat, Adai Mazhai Kaalam and C4Cinta, India and Malaysia have a long history of mutual cinematic influences and shared narratives,' he said at the launch of India Night in Bangsar. He said the special focus at MIFFest 2025 was on movies by women filmmakers such as Village Rockstar 2, Boong, Second Chance and Victoria. Reddy also spoke about the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) held from May 1 to 4 in Mumbai, India. He said WAVES was a major initiative that covered the entire media and entertainment industry, which would serve as a structured global marketplace for industry collaboration and deals. 'India and Malaysia are in the final stages of signing an audio-visual co-production agreement that will enable joint film productions and greater industry cooperation. 'We welcome Malaysian filmmakers to collaborate with the Indian film industry. 'There are available incentives like financial subsidies, tax benefits and the film facilitation office to streamline filmmaking process in India,' he said. The MIFFest was held from July 19 to 27 at a shopping centre in the city, with the theme 'Infinity'. MIFFest president Joanne Goh said they were proud to present two specially curated programmes to honour India at the festival. 'Master at Work: Raj Kapoor, was a tribute to one of Indian cinema's most iconic visionaries, while 'Lenses of Indian Women Filmmakers' was a showcase of powerful voices shaping the future of Indian storytelling,' she said. Goh said the selections reflected the depth, diversity and innovation that continued to define Indian cinema on the global stage. 'We hope to further strengthen the cultural bridge between Malaysia and India, and create new opportunities for dialogue, creativity and collaborations,' she added.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Teochew performing arts family keeps the flame of tradition alive
For one night only, the Teochew Puppet and Opera House brings Klang Valley audiences a rare glimpse into traditional Teochew puppetry, opera and music. The Penang-based troupe will perform Maestro Of Paper Shadows at Stage 1 theatre, Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC) tomorrow (Aug 6) – a 135-minute tribute to the 62-year legacy of Toh Ai Hwa, founder of the Kim Giak Low Choon Teochew Puppet Troupe. The show pays tribute to Toh's artistic career, which spans over six decades. Now 74, she has trained her children and grandchildren into accomplished artists, building a five‑generation legacy recognised locally and abroad. Toh Ai Hwa, matriarch of the Goh family and Teochew performing arts master. Beyond telling Toh's life story, Maestro Of Paper Shadows touches on the history and practice of traditional Teochew performing arts, particularly iron-rod puppetry, opera and traditional instruments, such as the erxian (two-string fiddle), yangqin (hammered dulcimer) and yehu (coconut-shell fiddle). The show features around 70 cast and crew, including the Malaysia Century Chinese Orchestra and Resonance Choir. Performed in Teochew, it will have English and Chinese subtitles. 'We wanted the show to be accessible to everyone, especially those unfamiliar with Teochew culture,' says Toh's daughter, Goh Hooi Ling (better known as Ling Goh) in a recent interview. 'Even many in the younger Teochew generation don't know much about our opera, music and puppetry, so it's important for us to keep these traditions alive,' she adds. Ling established the Teochew Puppet and Opera House in 2014 and founded the Iron Gang Puppet Theatre in 2022. Ling now directs the Teochew Puppet and Opera House, a museum and small school she founded in 2014 to preserve and teach traditional Teochew arts. Last year, she published the book, Toh Ai Hwa: Mistress Of Teochew Rod Puppetry, chronicling her mother's life and artistry. A living legacy Prior to becoming the matriarch of the artistically talented Goh family, Toh was born into a family of Chinese opera practitioners, particularly Teochew opera. Her grandmother, Lee Gek Hong, was a renowned actress in the 1920s, and her mother, Yeoh Cheng Im (Dua Muey), was a famous young male lead in the 1940s. Toh's third brother, Toh Ah Hock, was also a renowned old male lead. At just 12, Toh chose to diverge from the family tradition and began learning puppetry. One of the iron-rod Teochew puppets used by the Teochew Puppet and Opera House. She joined the Lao Rong Xiu Chun Puppet Troupe, specialising in drums and performing young and old male lead roles. Her rich, melodious singing earned her the nickname 'Malaysia's Chen Chu Hui' (after the famed Teochew opera singer). In 1989, she founded the Kim Giak Low Choon Teochew Puppet Troupe, which she still leads today. Toh was named a 'Penang Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor' in 2008 and received the 'George Town Knowledge Contribution and Heritage Award' in 2020. All in the family In many performing arts families, there will be at least one who follows in their parents' footsteps, but for Toh, all three of her children – Goh Lih Shan, 50; Ling Goh, 44; and Goh Lih Tat, 41 – are carrying the family's legacy in their own way. Lih Shan is the music director of the Teochew Puppet and Opera House and founded the Gaik Lai Teochew Puppet Troupe in 2014 with his wife, Goey Paik Wei. His children are also involved in the family business. Goh Sin Ee, 24, is a mainstay in the Gaik Lai Teochew Puppet Troupe, where she performs in female and young male roles, Goh Sin Jie, 23, inherited Toh's drum skills and is seen as the future guardian of the Goh family troupe, while the youngest, Goh Yi Han, 18, is proficient in the yangqin and suona (Chinese oboe) and hopes to carry on his father's legacy in Teochew music. The Goh family (back, from left): Lih Tat, Toh, Sin Ee, Yi Han, Goh Shan and Ling Goh; front: Sin Jie. After Ling decided to focus more on Teochew opera, Lih Tat took over as director of Kim Giak Low Choon Teochew Puppet Troupe. All three siblings are involved in some way or another with the Teochew Puppet and Opera House, including teaching classes and conducting workshops in skills such as body movement, Teochew opera singing, Teochew drum and percussion, Teochew folk music and opera make-up. In George Town, they currently have 40 students who regularly attend classes and train with them. 'We hope to one day open a centre for teaching Teochew arts,' says Ling. She adds that the path to mastering the performing arts is long. 'This form of traditional art isn't just about technique – it's about knowing the history and meaning behind it. 'Chinese opera stories often carry moral lessons, so understanding them is part of the craft. Even as a master, you never stop learning,' says Ling. Carrying the torch However, Ling laments over how interest in Chinese performing arts has faded over time. 'We often perform at Chinese temples (in Penang and nearby states) for special occasions, such as Chinese New Year or Hungry Ghost Festival. But it's quite sad to see that fewer and fewer people are going to see these art forms. "Younger generations often view them as 'old school'. But traditional doesn't have to be dry or boring. That's why we try to find ways to push the art form beyond its boundaries by innovating and modernising in order to connect to new audiences,' says Ling. In 'Maestro Of Paper Shadows', audiences get a taste of Teochew puppetry, opera and music. In its shows, the troupe has used state‑of‑the‑art special effects and collaborated with other art forms, including Mak Yong and contemporary dance. It also often travels to Kuala Lumpur to visit high schools and universities, aiming to spark an interest in Teochew performing arts among Malaysian youths and connect with new audiences. Ling, the producer of Maestro Of Paper Shadows, hopes that those who have never experienced Teochew puppetry and opera before will come for the PJPAC show. 'My mum often says that she wants to continue practicing the arts until the very end. I hope the show will give the audience some food for thought on the kind of passion and sacrifice it takes to dedicate your entire life to the arts, especially in something as niche as Teochew puppetry and opera. 'As a family, we want to keep that fire burning – not just for ourselves, but because it is our culture, our traditions, our heritage,' she concludes. Maestro Of Paper Shadows is showing at Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC), 1Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya on Aug 6, 8pm. More info:
