DPAC to open a second theatre by end of 2024

A jazz music showcase, led by the WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble with singer Evelyn Toh Ching Ling, at DPAC last year. Photo: DPAC

Lovers of the arts can look forward to even more exciting performances and shows soon as the Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) announced that it will be opening a second theatre in Petaling Jaya.

The new theatre, which will be located at Empire City, Damansara, is tentatively slated to be ready by the end of next year.

“This new DPAC represents a new chapter in our journey,” said Datin Jane Lew, DPAC founder.

“We hope that it continues to serve as a platform for all artists to shine, to inspire, and to captivate the audiences with their talent,” she added.

The second theatre will have a much larger capacity from the current theatre – it is expected to seat up to 500 guests and will also have an orchestra pit.

'As DPAC celebrates its 10th anniversary, we aim to further enhance the synergy between the public and cultural domains, creating a more people-centric cultural space in Damansara,' says Lew. Photo: Goh Bong Hiang

Established in 2013, DPAC has evolved from hosting dance festivals and workshops to organising international arts festivals, music festivals, festive performances and other cultural activities.

Celebrating DPAC's 10th anniversary

It has since become a respected platform for the arts while remaining committed to its core belief that “art brings people together.”

There is also variety in the venue's programming, with odissi dancer January Low set to perform at DPAC with her solo dance show a listening body on July 20-22.

Later this month, DPAC welcomes the return of theatre company Amberjade with its colonial-era show Opium by Any Other Name, which is the second entry in the Opium series by Tarrant Kwok.

Next month, the arts venue will host refugee arts outfit Parastoo Theater's latest play, Red Soil Of Kabul, written and directed by Saleh Sepas. It offers multi-layered story from Kabul after the fall of government in Afghanistan.

Ten established practitioners from the performing arts industry were also appointed as ambassadors in honour of DPAC's 10th anniversary: Photo: Goh Bong Hiang

"As DPAC celebrates its 10th anniversary, we aim to further enhance the synergy between the public and cultural domains, creating a more people-centric cultural space in Damansara,” said Lew.

In line with this, DPAC also announced new initiatives to enhance its facilities and support of the arts, including upgrading the ticketing platform, introducing a customer loyalty programme and an artists’ feedback programme, supporting the collaboration between KL Shakespeare Players and the Japanese KIKH Bridge Project, co-organising the Duo Performing Arts Festival 2023 with Good News Artspace, and organising the Damansara Children's Festival, which will be held in December.

Ten established practitioners from the performing arts industry were also appointed as ambassadors in honour of its 10th anniversary: Tan Eng Heng, Tay Cher Siang, Evelyn Toh Ching Ling, Ho Shih Phin, Thong Yoong How, Khairi Anwar, Yap Hong Ngee, KL Shakespeare Players, Professor Dr Joseph Gonzales and Jo Kukathas.