A rich tapestry
The fourth Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival has exciting new shows by local and international acts, writes Dennis Chua
TRADITIONAL music from Borneo’s Sape, a heartwarming story of a mother and son going around China, a retelling of The Ramayana, a tailor’s magical adventure and an exploration of motherhood in contemporary Ireland.
These are some of the major highlights at the Diverse City: Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival 2018 for the whole of September.
The festival, which incorporates music, dance and literature, returns for the fourth time tomorrow with an array of exciting local and international events.
Over 40 shows are set to be held in 10 venues around Kuala Lumpur, comprising 10 local, three foreign and two collaborative acts.
One of the most anticipated is the dance performance I Am Ravana , presented by Australian-based arts and culture organisation Saraswati Mahavidhyalaya in collaboration with The Temple of Fine Arts Inner Space Dance. This will be staged at the Shantanand Auditorium, The Temple of Fine Arts in Brickfields from Sept 6 to 8.
The timeless saga of love, lust, honour and redemption this time focuses on the mind and motives of the villainous King Ravana, and is thus a tale of human frailty that brings to life the turmoil present in the hearts and minds of humankind.
The award-winning dance film Giselle comes on Sept 29 and 30 at the MBO Cineplex, The Starling Mall in Damansara Utama, and features the splendid choreography of Akram Khan and lead principal of the English National Ballet, Tamara Rojo, who stars in the titular role.
Art lovers should not forget to catch Travel With Mum, a masked theatre play hailing from Hong Kong to be staged at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPaC) in Petaling Jaya from Sept 20 to 23. Making a return to Malaysia after being staged at DPaC in 2016, it is a beautiful true story about how a 74-year-old man built a tricycle and brought his 99-year-old mother on a journey across China.
The man was determined to fulfil his mother’s wish to see the beauty of the world while she still could.
Also returning to the festival is Australian theatre star Wolfe Bowart with his familyfriendly production Cloud Soup.
Bowart, who performed in La La Luna and Letter’s End in last year’s festival, brings to life the story of a tailor, who with his pile of laundry, and puffs of steam, seeks out an adventure. It sublimely unites physical comedy, illusion, shadow puppetry and interactive film to remind us why we are fascinated with
Cloud Soup plays at Menara Ken in Taman Tun Dr Ismail on Sept 15.
For a touch of traditional storytelling from the East Coast, do not miss Mak Yong Anak Raja Tangkai Hati, which is at the Malaysia Tourism Centre on Jalan Ampang from Sept 28 to 29.
Mak Yong Anak Raja Tangkai Hati is the journey of a prince who seeks knowledge and experience. The show is presented by the Makyong Kijang Emas Troupe from Kelantan, which features 18 members and is mentored by Ruhani Mohd Zin, a legendary Mak Yong artiste.
Music is aplenty, and the festival’s Spectrum live series gives fans the best of contemporary and classical music, at DPaC from Sept 6 to 9.
Traditional jazz awaits on Sept 6 with the newly-formed Julian Chan Jazz Orchestra And Quintet, led by saxophonist Julian Chan a.k.a Mr Saxman. The guest vocalist is none other than multi-talented Junji Delfino who is in the castof Crazy Rich Asians.
Getaran Alam on Sept 8 features flutist Muhardiman Ismail (Mohar) of Mohram fame, who plays the traditional bamboo flute or seruling, and serenades the beauty of nature, with his soothing tunes.
The Chinese zither known as guzheng is played by Sara Heng in a show called Xun on Sept 9. She is a promising artiste whose mastery of the traditional string instrument has wowed audiences in Theatre Lounge Cafe and the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre among others.
Children of Malaysia Engage in Literature or COMEL, a literary event, will be held at the heritage building 11, Jalan Tangsi on Sept 23. It will feature a panel of children’s authors, storytellers and illustrators — US director Barry Cook (of Walt Disney’s Mulan fame), filmmaker Saw Teong Hin, comedian Harith Iskander, illustrator Wen Dee Tan, and writers Sabrinah Morad and Anse Tamar Grey.
Together, they will share their sources of inspiration and motivation under the theme Unleashing Personal Stories.
Festival director Datin Seri Sunita Rajakumar said: “The festival features mostly new shows which will cater to the power of all our senses. It’s got more than 200 performers, and we expect more than 30,000 visitors to join in the excitement.”
She also said the festival will reach out to residents of the Sri Tioman Flats in Gombak, where popular Malaysian films as Jagat, Hoore Hoore, Adiwiraku, Sepet, Bunohan and Interchange will be screened tomorrow, Sept 2, 8, 9 and 15 respectively.