Front Row

Being Carried is a new theatre production that puts disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent artists at the heart of the creative process, exploring themes of care, connection and survival through lived experience. Created as a collaboration between Malaysia and the UK, the production also asks audiences to rethink how disability is represented, both on stage and in society. Joining us are two of the art...

Cross-cultural collaborations often produce some of the most exciting work in theatre, especially when they bring together traditions that, at first glance, seem worlds apart. Shakespeare Meets Noh: Desdemona does exactly that, combining Shakespeare's Othello with the centuries-old performance traditions of Japanese Noh theatre to create an entirely new theatrical experience. Following a successfu...

The klpac Orchestra is celebrating its 20th anniversary with its biggest production yet, bringing together more than 100 musicians for TITANS & Temptations. We speak to Music Director and Resident Conductor Lee Kok Leong, and First Violinist Zeth Yuen about the orchestra's journey, the challenge of bringing more than 100 musicians together on one stage, and why TITANS & Temptations promise...

What do Shakespeare and Mak Yong have in common? More than you might think! Mak Yong Shakespeare: The Comedy of Errors brings together one of the world's best-known comedies with Kelantan's centuries-old dance theatre tradition, creating a fresh take on a timeless tale of mistaken identities, family reunions and comic confusion. We speak to director Norzizi Zulkifli about the inspiration behind th...

This year, WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking twenty years of original music, collaborations, recordings and performances that have helped shape Malaysia's jazz landscape. Founded and led by pianist and composer Tay Cher Siang, the group has built a reputation for blending jazz with distinctly Malaysian influences, literary themes and fearless experimentation. The...

Great stories need great music. Often, it's the score that nudges us when to feel hope, fear, triumph, or heartbreak, turning unforgettable moments on screen into experiences that stay with us for years. Tutan Entertainment's upcoming concert, Across Galaxies & Kingdoms, shines a spotlight on the music behind some of science fiction and fantasy's most iconic worlds, from The Lord of the Rings...

What happens when an entire country's financial future depends on who one wealthy widow decides to marry? That's the delightfully improbable premise at the heart of The Merry Widow, Franz Lehár's much-loved operetta filled with romance, intrigue, and plenty of laughs. KL City Opera is bringing the classic work to the stage this July, reimagined in English and set against the elegance and glamour o...

When most people think of George Frideric Handel, it's often the Messiah and the soaring "Hallelujah" Chorus that come to mind. But Handel's musical legacy extends far beyond his most famous work. A special concert titled Shades of Handel, presented by VerSeS Music Ensembles and performed by the KL Madrigal Singers & Players, aims to reveal the many colours of the Baroque master's music, throu...

When we talk about the Hungry Ghost Festival, it's easy to focus on the spirits. But perhaps the people who are truly hungry are the living, hungry for understanding, hungry for connection, hungry to be loved. That's the idea behind Hungry, a new play making its premiere at klpac this month, written by award-winning Singaporean playwright Desmond Sim. Set against the backdrop of the Hungry Ghost F...

The ASEAN Youth Orchestra Festival 2026 Kuala Lumpur gathers young musicians from across Southeast Asia for a week of training, exchange and performance, culminating in a free community concert and a Gala Concert. To tell us more about the festival and its aims, we’re joined by Ahmad Muriz Che Rose, Conductor and Head of Music Talent Development at the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.See omnystud...

If you think choir concerts are just about standing and singing, think again. Redefining Artistry is an upcoming immersive production that combines choral music with astrophotography, digital visuals and scent design for a completely multi-sensory experience at RexKL. To tell us more, we’re joined by Lee Shiak Yao from the Klang Chamber Choir.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Choral music may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about K-pop and J-pop, genres known for their slick choreography, fashion, and larger-than-life performances. But the Young KL Singers are bringing all of those worlds together in Tokyo x Seoul: Icons & Idols, a concert experience that blends choir, dance, design, multimedia, and some of the most beloved songs from Japan...

A major new multidisciplinary performance is making its premiere this June, bringing together contemporary music, Butoh and dance theatre, visual storytelling, and the rich musical traditions of the Orang Ulu community of Sarawak. The Long Journey follows a woman’s spiritual and emotional journey of healing and self-discovery, inspired by the transformative sound of the sape. To understand more ab...

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 u...

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 challenge...

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...

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...

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 Y...

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...

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...

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...

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 bo...

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 festiva...

A triple bill by Singapore Ballet is offering audiences a mix of classical and contemporary ballet, with works that range from technically demanding to more emotional and reflective. The programme for Ballet Illuminations 2026 includes Paquita, Evening Voices, and Shadow’s Edge, each bringing a very different style and mood to the stage. We catch up with Singapore Ballet’s Artistic Director Janek...

If you have ever wondered what Baroque sacred music actually sounds like, or why it still resonates today, the upcoming concert Schütz & Bach might just be the thing for you. Featuring the KL Madrigal Singers & Players, the concert brings together the works of Heinrich Schütz and Johann Sebastian Bach, tracing a journey from quiet devotion to something much more uplifting and assured. We f...