2 days ago
Theatre is stealing the spotlight this month in the Klang Valley
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.
