Multimedia 'dikir barat' show in KL maps future routes for old world arts

The characters (from left) Hang Jebat, Dollah Tok Deh and Hang Tuah on stage at the dikir darat show ‘Sentuhan Teknologi’: Kisah Hang Tuah, which will be performed at the Living Arts Cultural Festival at the Mini Auditorium, Malaysian Tourism Centre (MaTiC) in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 5. Photo: Asraf Rezali

Akademi Arjunasukma, a traditional Malay arts organisation, is set to add spectacle and historical drama to the Living Arts Cultural Festival in Kuala Lumpur with a multimedia dikir barat production titled Sentuhan Teknologi: Kisah Hang Tuah.

The free admission hour-long show will be staged at the Malaysian Tourism Centre (MaTiC), Jalan Ampang in KL on Nov 5.

Akademi Arjunasukma's Sentuhan Teknologi: Kisah Hang Tuah, supported by National Department of Culture and Arts (JKKN) and Persatuan Cinta Seni Budaya (PERSIDAYA), alongside Kino Cinema Media and Pusaka, combines contemporary technology and the traditional art form of dikir barat from Kelantan, which involves singing, spontaneous verse call and answer and chorus chanting.

The live performance will be helmed by Mohd Sulhie Yusuf, the artistic director and the founder of Akademi Arjunasukma, which is based in Klang, Selangor. Apart from regular rehearsals, the director and performers of the dikir barat show also participated in the new media sessions and joined the video projection team to learn about how new ideas can be implemented in a traditional show.

For the immersive experience, the upcoming show offers an array of cutting edge production and widescreen theatre effects, incorporating projection mapping, holographics, and motion capture.

"For us, the important thing is to ensure the authenticity of the dikir barat performance. The storytelling and the core of the performance and music remains unchanged. The technology and visuals incorporated will reshape the live show and add a contemporary 'atmosphere' and edge. We see how important these new ideas can be in taking the dikir barat to the next level, giving it wider appeal," says Mohd Sulhie in a video post on Akademi Arjunasukma's Facebook page.

"We hope such elements will help to attract a new audience to the show, to let them experience dikir barat on stage, and learn more about this art form, which can adapt to the times ... and still not lose its original spirit and form," he adds.

The story on stage

A typical dikir barat line-up usually consists of a tok jogho (leader), a tukang karut (improvised lyric composer), the awak-awak (chorus clappers), and musicians.

As a highlight on stage, Sentuhan Teknologi: Kisah Hang Tuah will also feature a special appearance by the legendary Dollah Tok Deh, the show's tukang karut, who is based in Kelantan.

Sentuhan Teknologi: Kisah Hang Tuah offers an interpretation of Kisah Hang Tuah, one of Malaysia’s most beloved folk tales.

Kisah Hang Tuah is brought to life through theatrical art, dikir barat songs and verses, including Karut Yengki, Karut Kelantan, Lagu Jogho, Karut Tani, Lagu Matan, Karut Kelantan and Wau Bulan.

The storyline begins with rumours of Hang Tuah's disloyalty to the Sultan of Melaka.

The Sultan is enraged and orders Datuk Bendahara to capture and kill Hang Tuah. That leaves Hang Jebat, Hang Tuah’s loyal friend, with the mission to seek out revenge.

The Sentuhan Teknologi: Kisah Hang Tuah show also features a new documentary that explores dikir barat’s roots and history, the old dikir barat masters from Kelantan and how it has adapted contemporary times.

There will also be a photography exhibition on the ever-evolving tradition of dikir barat.

Entry to the dikir barat show Sentuhan Teknologi: Kisah Hang Tuah is free, but registration is required. More info here.