The grand and immortal love story of Qais and Laila, which has been famous for hundreds of years, will be presented in a new light through the musical theatre performance Qais & Laila, where the classic storyline is reinterpreted with an ending that touches on spiritual values.
The theatre director, Lokman Ghani, said that the work not only highlights the famous Persian love story of two individuals but also emphasises the journey of a servant returning to their Creator.
"If we follow the original script and story from Arabia, both Qais and Laila die." However, we reworked the storyline so that Qais had time to repent and redirect his love from a creature to Allah. That is the main message we want to convey through this performance," he said.
He said that this approach is hoped to provide a new dimension to the legendary story, in addition to conveying the message that love for God is the greatest love.
The Melaka State Theatre Organisation (Pertubuhan Teater Melaka - PERTEM) presents the grand love story on stage through the musical theatre performance "Qais & Laila," an artistic work that combines elements of drama, music, poetry, comedy, and humanitarian values into a performance experience that touches emotions and is rich in soulful appreciation.
This performance is organised by PERTEM with the support of the Melaka State Department of National Culture and Arts (JKKN Melaka) and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), and is carried out through strategic collaboration with Tourism Melaka and MCorp Corporate Services Sdn. Bhd. Bhd. (MCS).
Also joining as strategic partners are Boolan Trending, Panggung Bangsawan Melaka, and the World Youth Foundation. Adapted from the grand love story that is quite synonymous with the treasures of literature and Islamic civilisation, "Qais & Laila" takes the audience on a journey through the lives of two individuals beset by longing, sacrifice, trials, and the quest for the true meaning of love.
However, more than just a love story, this performance also highlights the journey of the soul, emotional resilience, and the purification of the heart, making this work close to humanitarian and spiritual values.
Through a fresher and more contemporary approach, this musical theatre is crafted to provide a performance experience that is not only entertaining but also touching and leaves a deep impression on the audience.
The strength of the classic narrative, combined with an emotionally touching musical arrangement, stunning stage visuals, lively comedic elements, and a soul-stirring message, makes "Qais & Laila" a work that has the potential to attract a diverse audience.
This performance is also believed to be one of the significant contributions to the local theatre ecosystem, as well as to the development of the creative economy and state tourism.
With the support of various parties, "Qais & Laila" is hoped to not only become a quality piece of art but also to expand the community's appreciation for local performing arts and open up more opportunities for strategic collaboration in the future.
The musical theatre performance "Qais & Laila" is scheduled to take place on July 24 and July 25, 2026 (Saturday) at the Panggung Bangsawan Melaka as an exclusive two-night-only performance.
This concept was chosen to provide exclusive value to the presented work, while also making the viewing experience more special and eagerly anticipated by the audience.
This performance will feature a cast led by Syahir Shafien and Isyariana as the main actors. Assisted by Datuk Jalaludin Hassan, Rashid Din, an actor from Singapore, Raja Ema, and Ashraf Muslim. The public who wish to watch this performance can obtain tickets through the official Ticket2U platform.
The organisers also hope that media friends can join in promoting the musical theatre performance "Qais & Laila" so that such arts and cultural initiatives can reach a wider audience and have a positive impact on the development of the creative industry and tourism in Melaka.
