Love fairy tales and folklore? I sure do. How about whimsical romance or dramatic tragedy? Well, they may induce me into tears but yes, I like that sort of things too. Showcased it live in the form of theatre plays instead of a movie or TV drama serials? I love it even more. Yes. I’m a performing art lover. And so, when I was informed that JKKN (Jabatan Kesenian and Kebudayaan) is making an effort to elevate Malaysian performing arts to the next level by rei-ntroducing the beauty of olden days theatre plays to both Malaysian and international theatre enthusiasts through their Semarak Bangsawan and Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017 program, I knew I had to check it out.

Semarak Bangsawan and Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017 being launched at Restaurant Rebung Chef Ismail, Kuala Lumpur on 9th May 2017. JKKN has been collaborating with Kuala Lumpur City Council for 11 years in hope to keep the interest for olden days theatre plays alive, but this year, they decided to go all out and partnered with MaTic (Malaysia Tourism Information Centre), aiming to reach not only local performing arts lovers but international ones as well.

The launching was kicked off by a literally and figuratively colourful traditional dance performance originating from different ethnics in Malaysia.

Traditional Dance Being Performed at Semarak Bangsawan and Panggung Seni Traditional 2017 Launching

Uploaded by K Network Media on 2017-05-10.

Lively dance being performed during the pre-launching of Semarak Bangsawan and Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017. Semarak Bangsawan is a series of theatre plays that tells the legends and stories of ancient nobles in the palaces of the olden days while Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017 will be featuring all sorts of traditional plays and classical dance performances. There will be a total 9 of them, 5 being under the Semarak Bangsawan while the other for is under the Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017. Semarak Bangsawan’ series will be performed at the Kuala Lumpur City Council Auditorium (Auditorium DBKL) in Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia while the Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017 will be showcased at the Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman at MaTiC Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

A little sneak peek of what both Semarak Bangsawan and Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017 will be offering were also given during the pre-launching to tempt audiences to watch the actual performance. Take a look at the teasers below:

Teaser Semarak Bangsawan: Bangsawan Cincin Naga Api

Uploaded by K Network Media on 2017-05-10.

Teaser: Bangsawan Cincin Naga Api (Semarak Bangsawan)

Teaser: Chinese Opera by The Sound of Tai Hei

Uploaded by K Network Media on 2017-05-10.

Teaser: Chinese Opera by The Sound of Tai Hei (Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017)

Teaser: Tarian Inang Renek by Kumpulan 4 Dara

Uploaded by K Network Media on 2017-05-10.

Tarian Inang Renek by Kumpulan 4 Dara(Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017)

Teaser: Indian Classical Dance by Persatuan Seni Persembahan Malaysia/ASTANA

Uploaded by K Network Media on 2017-05-10.

Indian Classical Dance by Persatuan Seni Persembahan Malaysia/ASTANA (Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017)

Tempted to watch the highly intriguing theatre plays?

Here’s compiling the Semarak Bangsawan plays details for your viewing pleasure:

Bangsawan Cincin Naga Api – by Persatuan Seni Ceritera Negeri Selangor. Bangsawan Cincin Naga Api is basically an adaption from the The Lord of the Rings movie, but rewritten by Roydy Rokidy with Khusiary Mahyuddin.

Synopsis:
A group of people from different clans in Middle Earth try to destroy a ring that has an evil power from Sauron, a would-be world conqueror. Along their journey to the Doom Mountain they face many challenges and obstacles, especially Frodo who was mandated to destroy the ring. Unexpectedly, Raja Saruman, who is deemed to be their saver turned his back and fall to the evil powers of Sauron.

Date: 12, 13 and 14 of May 2017,
Starring: Dato’ Jalaluddin Hassan, Ain Sufia, Filzah Azmi from Awok , Azerai Azmi, Afi AF and etc.
Ticket price: RM10, RM25 and RM50 for Premier seats
Date: 10, 11 and 12 November 2017.
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Auditorium DBKL, Jalan Raja Laut.

Bangsawan Satria Menara Putih – by Perkumpulan Seni Singapura. Written by Samsudin Said and directed by Ihsan Ali.

Synopsis:
Bangsawan Satria Menara Putih, or literally translate to ‘Warrior of the White Tower’ relates the story of the kingless Kingdom of Lembayung Pura after the death of Maharaja Sapta Buana Perkasa who is childless. According to the prediction of the kingdom’s clergyman, the only way to determine the king’s substitute is whoever can pull the magic sword then he will be installed as the king. Many try to but in vain, except Andika Perkasa. While in reign Maharaja Andika Perkasa faces lots of challenges and obstacles to that when he leads the attack on a kingdom ruled by Queen Mira Nirwana, Tengku Putera Dandan Utama stages a coup and overtakes the reign of the Kingdom of Lembayung Pura.

Date: 21, 22 and 23 of July 2017
Ticket price: RM10, RM25 and RM50 for Premier seats
Date: 10, 11 and 12 November 2017.
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Auditorium DBKL, Jalan Raja Laut.

Bangsawan Dewa Kencana –by Pertubuhan Teater Hidayah and directed by Kamarul AR.

Synopsis:
This opera revolves around the fight and sweat of yesteryear leaders that built the nation along the axis of their ancestors’ hopes and vows. A sought after kris, the “heirloom kris”, is suitable as a symbol of power and the constitution.

Date: 15, 16 and 17 September 2017. Starring: Mubarak Majid, Zack Kool, Lan Zailan, Rosli Rahman Adam, Ruby Wahid, Marup Mustapa, Nazri Ahmad etc.
Ticket price: RM10, RM25 and RM50 for Premier seats
Date: 10, 11 and 12 November 2017.
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Auditorium DBKL, Jalan Raja Laut.

Bangsawan Zhao Si Anak Yatim – by Opera Sri Bandaraya. An adaptation of the Chinese drama The Orphan of Zhao. Directed by Lenny Erwan.

Synopsis:
This opera revolves around a son’s revenge of the betrayal done upon his father.The love that was showered since small is intertwined with agony and disloyalty.

Date: 13, 14 and 15 October 2017
Ticket price: RM10, RM25 and RM50 for Premier seats
Date: 10, 11 and 12 November 2017.
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Auditorium DBKL, Jalan Raja Laut.

Bangsawan Dendam Laksamana –by Persatuan Seni Silat Pusaka Sendeng Malaysia. Written by Siti Jasmina Ibrahim and directed by Pat Ibrahim.
Starring: Iqram Dinzly, Nadia Aqilah, Anuar Rusdini and Megat Shahrizal and etc.

Synopsis:
In our history Megat Sri Rama is a loyal and brave Malay warrior. He dares to sacrifice his body and soul for the king, government and his country. The death of Sultan Mahmud Shah the Second in the old Johor, Kota Tinggi, not only because of his brutality or cruelty but due to disunity among the sultan’s group and the prime minister’s group.

Ticket price: RM10, RM25 and RM50 for Premier seats
Date: 10, 11 and 12 November 2017.
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Auditorium DBKL, Jalan Raja Laut.

For those who are interested in cultural dances may want to consider the Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017 instead. Below is the listing for your reference:

Panggung Seni Traditional 2017

Chinese Opera in Cantonese

The Wedding Night, The Gathering and Fairy Tales in Heaven by The Sound of Tai Hei, directed by Jeff Chua Chin.
Date: 28 and 29 July 2017
Time: 8.30pm
Ticket price: RM20 for normal seats and RM50 for premier seats.
Venue: Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman at MaTiC, Jalan Ampang Kuala Lumpur
 

Indian Classical Dance Drama

Devdas by Persatuan Seni Persembahan Malaysia/ASTANA. Devdas depics a romantic dance and action filled drama. Directed by Ravi Shanker Rama Murthy.
Date 25 and 26 August 2017
Time: 8.30pm
Ticket price: RM20 for normal seats and RM50 for premier seats.
Venue: Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman at MaTiC, Jalan Ampang Kuala Lumpur
 

Teater Tradisional Jikey

Naga Berapi by Persatuan Penggerak Warisan Seni Budaya Negeri Kedah/AKRAB Kedah

Naga Berapi, directed by Saipol Bahari Mohd Iman
Date: 27 and 28 October 2017
Time: 8.30pm
Ticket price: RM20 for normal seats and RM50 for premier seats.
Venue: Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman at MaTiC, Jalan Ampang Kuala Lumpur
 

Collection of Regional Dances – by Persatuan Penggiat Zapin Negeri Johor/PE-ZAPIN, Fakulti Tari, Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan /ASWARA and UPSI .
Date:17 and 18 November 2017
Time: 8.30pm
Ticket price: RM20 for normal seats and RM50 for premier seats.
Venue: Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman at MaTiC, Jalan Ampang Kuala Lumpur

*All dates are subject to change

For more information on both Semarak Bangsawan and Panggung Seni Tradisional 2017, refer to the information below:

Cultural Arts Development Division, JKKN
Contact: 603 2614 8200 ext 8339 • Website: www.jkkn.gov.my