Front Row

Most of us think of technology as something handed down from faraway places: gadgets from Silicon Valley, apps from big global companies. But in Southeast Asia, people have always found creative ways to hack, improvise, and reimagine technology for themselves. That’s the spirit behind Menggodam , an exhibition co-curated by Roopesh Sitharan (an academic at MMU Cyberjaya) and Gunalan Nadarajan (an...

Jazz lovers, this one’s for you. For one night only on October 4th, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra is presenting A Night of Jazz with the MPO , a concert that not only celebrates classics from around the world, but also shines a spotlight on our very own homegrown jazz legends and local compositions. We find out more from saxophonist, bandleader, and educator Julian Chan, who’ll be right at...

Konnichiwa! If you’ve ever wanted to step right into the world of your favourite anime, here’s your chance. The klpac Symphonic Band is back with Salam Konnichiwa II , a concert filled with action, adventure, and plenty of heart. From Attack on Titan to Spy x Family, this promises to be a musical journey like no other. Joining us are flutist and Vice President of the band, Chew Sze Gee, along with...

Since 2002, the Young KL Singers (YKLS) have been delighting audiences with performances that are anything but your typical choir show. This September, they return with A Sky Full of Stars with Hands in My Pocket , a celebration of heartbreak, beauty, and joy through the music of Alanis Morissette and Coldplay. We speak to YKLS's Cheryl Ong, the show's director and a soprano, and Kathleen Roshene,...

What happens when you put a retro-glam big band and a full symphony orchestra on the same stage? You get a musical explosion called Tarakucha ! The Lambang Sari Series is back with more glitter, groove, and glamour, powered by Malaysia’s very own Terrer-Menerer Retro-Glam Big Band, and lifted by the National Symphony Orchestra. And of course, leading the charge are two dazzling voices - the suave...

Nature blooms, love lingers, and fairies dance in the shadows - that’s the promise of Springtales & Fairies, a concert weaving song and story into a magical night of German lieder. We speak to tenor Scott Woo, the founder of The Poetics Collective, and also to soprano Saori Suzuki, about the programme and what audiences can expect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four classical dance forms. Two great musical traditions. One stage. The Temple of Fine Arts ’ Ragas and Mudras at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS promises a night where melody meets movement in spectacular harmony. We speak to Prakash Kandasamy, Music Director from the Temple of Fine Arts to find out more about the performance that promises Hindustani and Carnatic music, and Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kat...

Weaving together laughter, music, and tradition, Dreamweaver The Musical tells the inspiring story of Sarawak’s master weavers, with the weavers themselves taking the stage. The show’s producer, Datuk Jacqueline Fong, also the co-founder of Tanoti Sdn Bhd joins us to share the heart behind this unique production. Image Credit: Datuk Jacqueline Fong / Tanoti Sdn Bhd See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Part history, part myth, and part mystery, Hang Tuah has stood at the centre of our imagination for generations. But in Fragments of Tuah , that familiar tale is broken apart and examined through music, performance, and archival research, revealing surprising gaps, silences, and contradictions. Presented by Five Arts Centre , we find out more about this new documentary theatre work from co-creator...

What do two colleagues scrambling to impress their boss and a cross-cultural encounter gone deliciously wrong have in common? They both live inside Wacky Double Bill: Borong & Encyclopedia , the latest work by award-winning playwright Adriana Nordin Manan. We speak to Adriana, and also the production’s producer and costume/ set designer Sidhart Joe Dev to unpack the wit, warmth, and weirdness...

What does it mean to be human in an increasingly absurd world, and how do stories help us make sense of it all? Writer and speaker Imran Ahmad is bringing his wit, charm, and storytelling chops to the stage in a one-man show called Life, the Universe and Publishing . He’s doing it pro bono, in support of PEN Malaysia , which works to protect writers and freedom of expression. Joining us are Imran...

Frank McGuinness’ Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me is not an easy play - it's emotional, funny, and at times harrowing. But it’s also a celebration of the human spirit, of survival through connection. In the lead-up to its return to the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, we speak to  lead actors Charles Donnelly and Kingsley Judd, to talk about stepping back into the roles, and what the story m...

The George Town Festival. The Royal Selangor Jazz Festival. DPAC. Jao Tim. The WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble is lighting up August with performances all over the map, and at the heart of it all is a group that’s been redefining what Malaysian jazz sounds like for nearly two decades. We speak to the band's founder, pianist, and musical director Tay Cher Siang, and AJ Popshuvit, WVC’s bassist, to disc...

What does it mean to give form to stillness, or to turn silence into sculpture? Artist Alexdrina Chong aka Alexoid Luce , explores these questions in her new solo exhibition Sanguinella: Ink and Fire , now showing at FabCafe KL . The show weaves together poetry, illustration, and ceramics in a slow-burning meditation on solitude, resilience, and creativity. We’re also joined by Gwyneth Jong, co-fo...

From Taiping to sold-out stages across the country, singer and performer Janet Lee has spent the last two decades entertaining audiences with her voice, her flair, and her deep love for music. Now, she’s marking this milestone with a theatrical concert experience called Lucky Lee - The 20-Year Journey On Stage with Janet Lee . Joining us to reflect on this incredible journey are Janet herself, and...

What happens when a material scientist, trained in chemistry and nanotechnology, turns her attention to painting, sound, and philosophical inquiry? You get Cat Town: Energy, Matter, and the Art of Becoming , a new solo exhibition by Lyne Ismail , where energy, matter, and abstraction come together in unexpected ways. Lyne joins us to talk about her journey from the lab to the studio, and what visi...

What happens when a Spanish classic about repression, grief, and family tension is reimagined in a 1970s Malaysian fishing village, but with an all-male cast? That’s the bold vision behind Anak-Anak Malik , a localised adaptation of Federico García Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba. Joining us to share more about this intriguing production are director Christopher Ling, and actor Mark Beau De Sil...

Art galleries can be beautiful, inspiring places, but they’re not always easy to get to. That’s something Ilham Gallery is hoping to change with Skola Gambar Ilham , a travelling exhibition that’s bringing Malaysian contemporary art to communities that don’t usually have access. It’s all part of Ilham's 10th anniversary celebrations, and we speak to Ilham's Gallery Director Rahel Joseph, to find o...

Pop Up Theatre is back with their latest dark comedy, Dead Tourists , a one-act play filled with oddball characters, strange events, and a bit of undead mischief, all set in a New York mortuary. We find out what’s in store from actor Kapil Kanagasabai, who’s part of the play’s eclectic cast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s not every day that a homegrown music festival hits the 10-year mark, and does so by going international! Bachfest Malaysia is celebrating a decade of connecting people through the timeless music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and this year’s lineup is bigger, bolder, and more global than ever. We speak to the man behind it all, Dr David Chin, the founder and artistic director of Bachfest Malaysia,...

From the haunting beauty of E.T. to the rousing chants of Gladiator, there’s something undeniably powerful about music written for the screen. A Salute to Cinema , featuring the Tutan Festival Orchestra and the KL City Opera, promises to transport audiences through some of the most iconic soundscapes in film history. Conductor Kevin Field from the Bentley Music Academy, and Rahul Ramachandran, the...

What does it mean to really listen to someone’s truth, especially when it’s hard to hear? Today we’re speaking with the team behind Burden of Proof , a powerful theatre production that confronts sexual violence through storytelling, movement, music, and art. Inspired by real-life accounts and created over three years, it’s a show that not only raises awareness, but makes space for empathy, healing...

What happens when two beloved community choirs – one from KL and one from Penang – come together for a shared love of music? You get Choral Bridges , a joyful and powerful collaboration between The Philharmonic Society of Selangor and the Penang Philharmonic Chorus . We speak with Brenda James, Chairperson of The Phil, about the inspiration behind the show, the heart behind the harmonies, and why...

Jit Murad’s Visits is back - sharper, darker, and more thought-provoking than ever. More than two decades after its original staging, this play still cuts deep into topics like mental health, class, motherhood, and the complicated ways families try to care for one another. Now, under the direction of Ida Nerina, Visits has been reimagined for 2025, with all the wit, surrealism, and emotional punch...

What happens when you mix world-class musicians, centuries-old venues, and the rich cultural tapestry of Melaka? You get Melaka Classics: Melakan ReSonance 2025 , a classical music festival that goes beyond the concert hall. This year’s edition features everything from chamber music to vinyl pop-ups to letterpress workshops. To dive into the programme and what makes this festival so special, we sp...