Front Row

A funeral becomes the starting point for a deeply personal reckoning in Dua Darah, a new theatre production by ZXC Theatre Troupe, that brings us into the mind of a man caught between cultures, faiths, and expectations. As he carries out the rites for his late aunt, memories begin to surface, revealing the complexities of being a Malay-Chinese Muslim in Malaysia today. Blending language, movement, and music, the production tells a story that feels both intimate and universal. We explore this moving and thought-provoking production with director Chee Sek Thim, and playwright Johan Othman.Image Credit: ZXC Theatre TroupeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ambition, power, and the unraveling of the human mind - Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring tragedies. But what happens when we step inside the psyche of Lady Macbeth alone? Masakini Theatre Company’s latest production, Lady M, reimagines The Scottish Play as a gripping solo performance. We speak to actor, producer and Artistic Director Sabera Shaik, and lighting designer Normah Nordin, about bringing this bold vision to life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justice, mercy, revenge, forgiveness. These are big themes, and they sit right at the heart of Shakespeare Demystified: The Merchant of Venice, now brought back by KL Shakespeare Players in a way that speaks to today’s audiences. Joining us to talk about how they make Shakespeare feel immediate and relatable to today’s audience are cast members Nurul Sofia, Zul Zamir, and Lim Soon Heng, who is also the Executive Director, KL Shakespeare Players.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From legends like Roman Tam, Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung to more contemporary favourites like Eason Chan and Sammi Cheng, Cantopop has produced some of the most memorable songs in Asian pop music. Over the past six years, the Golden Melody series at klpac has celebrated those iconic songs through live performances that combine music, storytelling and nostalgia. Now the series returns for its sixth and final edition, Golden Melody: Our Story and joining us to share more about it are the show’s directors, Ian Chow and Alesia Dhana.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From performing with traditional instruments to producing electronic music and cinematic soundscapes, Belle Sisoski has built a reputation for blending heritage and modern sound. The Sarawak-born multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer-songwriter plays over 30 traditional instruments, possesses a five-octave vocal range, and has amassed millions of followers across the world. Now, she will be taking her special brand of fusion music to a new level in a special collaboration with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in the upcoming concert called The MPO and Belle Sisoski: Ethnosphere. She joins us to talk about her musical journey, her influences, and what to look forward to at the upcoming multi-genre concert featuring her signature ethnic-cinematic-EDM sound.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two monumental works by Johannes Brahms take centre stage in an upcoming chamber music performance, Brahms: The Two Sonatas for Cello & Piano, featuring the composer’s complete sonatas for cello and piano. These pieces showcase the cello’s lyrical voice and the rich partnership between the two instruments. Joining us to share more about the music is cellist and co-headliner of the recital, Ivan Torres.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nighttime means different things to different people. For some, it’s calm and quiet. For others, it’s when emotions feel a little closer to the surface. Presented by the VerSeS Music Ensembles, Moonlit Melodies is a concert built around that idea - music shaped by stillness, shadow, and reflection. It features songs and piano works inspired by the poetry of the night. Joining us to share more are Scott Woo, Director and Tenor with The Poetics Collective, and collaborative pianist Dr Andre Ng.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens to ordinary people when freedoms begin to narrow and uncertainty becomes part of everyday life? That is the question at the heart of No Particular Order, a dystopian play by Singaporean playwright Joel Tan. Told through shifting timelines and fragments of everyday lives, the play explores how people navigate fear, responsibility, and survival in a society that feels uncomfortably close to our own. The Malaysian premiere, presented by Theatresauce, places audiences inside an immersive world where the boundaries between observer and participant begin to blur. Joining us are two of the performers bringing this story to life, cast members Anne James and Kamini Senthilathiban.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new theatre production is inviting us into a story about family, loss, and the complicated bonds between siblings. Mati-mati (J’aime Ma Mère) is the second part of a trilogy by Christopher Ling and Arsyad Azrai, following the sold-out Saccharine. To tell us more about the show and how it builds on their earlier work Saccharine, we’re joined by writer Arsyad Azrai and cast member Muhammad Ibrahim.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From playful marches to cinematic finales, wind symphony music has a way of telling vivid and unexpected stories. An upcoming concert titled The Ambitious Plan brings together a wide range of works, including a world premiere by a local composer, while also marking an important milestone for BELIA’n Wind Symphony. Joining us to share more are Ho Chee Kiang, Music Director and Conductor, and Aaron Foo, Vice President of BELIA’n Wind Symphony.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when young theatre makers are given the freedom to experiment without playing it safe? The Young Blood Experiment under EJKLS Seni does exactly that, spotlighting bold new voices and ideas on stage. We speak to Yanu, director and writer of In Conversation with God, and Yuthes Umadevi Navarathinam, director and writer of  Yel! or A Compendious Lecture on the Reign of Sultan Paduka Seri Mahadewa Rahmatullah Al-Bara’ III (1784-1834), about their work, their questions, and what it means to create theatre right now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to grow up under pressure, and what happens when systems meant to help us quietly cross a line? Those are some of the questions explored in two new plays coming out of The Young Blood Experiment by EJKLS Seni. We speak to Adelia Khalid, director and writer of Mary/am, and Hanna Lee, director and writer of Lapar, two emerging theatre makers whose works invite us to look closely at faith, morality, and the cost of conformity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is often described through slogans, policies, or headlines, but rarely through the messy, contradictory voices of everyday people. Kami Penipu Tapi Kami Tak Menipu flips that around, taking candid street interviews and transforming them into a 60-second snippets that form a full length contemporary dance performance, one that blends movement, text, multimedia, and live music. This is not a neat or polished portrait of the country, it’s cracked, chaotic, noisy, and defiantly alive. Joining us to unpack how this production came together, and what it’s trying to hold up to us as a mirror, are choreographers and collaborators Mohd Nur Faillul Adam and Mohd Nuriqram Azhar, who are also performing in the production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) has kicked off 2026 with its 28th concert season, one that blends classical storytelling with cross-genre collaborations and crowd favourites. With programmes ranging from Verdi and Mozart to anime, film, and Broadway, the season reflects an orchestra constantly rethinking how it connects with audiences. We catch up with Gerard Salonga, the MPO’s Resident Conductor, to talk about the music, the musicians, and what makes this season such an exciting one to experience live.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BUKA 2026 is a space for opening up. Through solo works in theatre and dance, it brings forward stories of identity, belonging, and emotional truth, and asks what it really means to be seen without defences. Joining us to talk about the production are producer Hoe Hui Ting, and performer Yon Lynn, who is the solo actor for the piece called “Kenapa Tak Tukar Nama?” - which explores love, faith, identity, and the pressures that come with navigating bureaucracy as a Muslim convert. We also hear more about the other two pieces, the dance performance Me Nari, and the theatre piece Denganmu Ibu (DEBU).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are some conversations that only come with time, shared history, and a lot of lived experience. God’s Waiting Room feels like one of those conversations. Opening klpac’s 2026 season, this new play looks at old age, companionship, and the strange in-between space of waiting, through characters who are funny, irritable, vulnerable, and deeply human. It is written and directed by Joe Hasham OAM, with Dato' Dr. Faridah Merican returning to the stage in a role that feels especially close to home. We spend some time with both of them to talk about the play, their journey, and what it means to keep telling stories at this stage of life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anime music, a full symphony orchestra, and over 120 musicians on one stage - that’s the promise of Encounter: Anime 2.0. Presented by AOrchestra, this community-driven concert brings iconic anime themes to life through brand-new orchestral arrangements, featuring music from Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece, Studio Ghibli, and more. We find out more from producer Alvin Ong, the Founder of AOrchestra, and violinist Justin Lai, one of the show's conductors, and a member of AOrchestra.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we talk about the death penalty, it is often discussed in numbers, laws, and policy debates. But behind every sentence is a human life, and a ripple effect that reaches families, lawyers, prison officers, and entire communities. At a time when Malaysia has repealed the mandatory death penalty but continues to retain capital punishment in law, questions about justice, humanity, and accountability remain deeply unresolved. Tali Tukang Gantung is a new theatre project presented by the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR), the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) and Amnesty International Malaysia, that draws directly from real interviews with people connected to Malaysia’s death penalty system, bringing their lived experiences to the stage. Joining us to talk about this powerful work are performer Deena Dakshini, who carries these stories in a solo performance, and Janice Ananthan, the show's producer and a Project Officer at the Anti Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At its heart, Lorong Cermin is a story about people trying to move forward while carrying the weight of the past. Set in a town recovering from a devastating flood, the musical explores strained family ties, unspoken feelings, and the quiet hope that comes with rebuilding. We discuss how the cast brings these emotions to the stage, the challenges of performing in an original musical, and what this story might stir in audiences, with cast members Elysa Lee and Ong Xiao Wen.Image Credit: klpacSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when identity slips, and the body moves between showing and hiding? Body For Nobody sits in that quiet, in-between space, using movement, sound, and ritual to invite us to slow down and pay attention. Joining me to talk about this new full-length dance work is its creator, choreographer and dancer Ethel Deidre, developed through the REFLEKT Residency by Goethe-Institut Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.