Malaysian educator and puppeteer Illya Sumanto, based in Thailand, co-founded The Wayang Women and leads the 'Hantu Kopek' show in KL. Photo: The Wayang Women
October is shaping up to be a lively month for theatre in the Klang Valley, with a line-up that ranges from an all-women wayang kulit production and the contemplative dance work Searching Blue, to the historical Chinese musical Nan Kong and an evocative Odissi dance showcase.
Dress up or dress down – there’s something for everyone, whether you’re after opera spectacle, dinner theatre or a side of George Orwell.
Here are some highlights to catch this month:
Scraps that matter
Opening the month at DPAC in Petaling Jaya from Oct 2–5, Sisa-Sisa 2: The Forgotten signals the much-anticipated return of award-winning playwright-director Mark Beau de Silva to the stage after years away.
More than a decade after the first edition (at KLPac), Sisa-Sisa 2 picks up the thread with a renewed urgency. Yet, true to de Silva’s works, the play remains deeply thoughtful and firmly grounded, weaving intimate human struggles into broader everyday questions.
Rich with social resonance, the production interlaces three original stories that shine a light on those left on the margins of society. Bringing these narratives to life is an ensemble featuring Douglas Wong, Kathyn Tan, Roax Tan, and Zhafir Muzani.
The three plays - Other People’s Children, Leng Leng Lost, and Joy After Silence - unfold in Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, English, and Bahasa Malaysia. This multilingual approach not only reflects the textures of Malaysian life but also reveals de Silva’s unwavering commitment to people-centred storytelling.
A scene from 'Radhe! Radhe! The Sweet Surrender', a captivating Odissi dance show set to play at the Shantanand Auditorium, Temple of Fine Arts in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 10-12. Photo: Sutra Foundation
The beauty of Odissi
It’s been an amazing year for Sutra Foundation, with a packed calendar of performances and collaborations – and next month brings yet another highlight.
Radhe! Radhe! The Sweet Surrender premieres at the Shantanand Auditorium, Temple of Fine Arts in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 10-12 in a new Sutra production.Drawing inspiration from the folk traditions of Odisha’s Ganjam district and the vivid Patachitra painting style, this Odissi dance work celebrates Radha, the beloved companion of Krishna.
Veteran performing arts masters Datuk Ramli Ibrahim and Gajendra Panda continue their long-standing dedication to keeping classical dance innovations rooted in folk vitality.
Audiences can expect a cultural evening of movement, music and imagery, bringing the spirit of Radha Prema Leela to life. The production marks another milestone in Sutra’s mission to connect timeless classical forms with living traditions. It is set to tour India in late October.
Meet the Wayang Women
While contemporary wayang kulit has often embraced pop culture, Hantu Kopek: Wayang Women In KL – showing at REXKL, Jalan Sultan on Oct 17 and 18 – brings together a multinational all-female troupe to reimagine the traditional shadow-puppet art, offering it a gender rebalance.
Put together by The Wayang Women, a collective formed last year, the show explores feminism through this traditional art form, with stories brought to life by educators, puppeteers, musicians, poets, designers and composers.
It premiered at Chiang Mai Design Week in Thailand last December, with the line-up coming together from their respective countries.
Once dominated by men, this contemporary update of the Hantu Kopek story in KL offers fresh perspectives on heritage puppetry.
Audiences can expect three hours of striking silhouettes, music and humour, featuring women artistes from Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia-Myanmar, Nigeria-Thailand and the Philippines.
It’s a rare chance to see a centuries-old form evolve through the voices of modern female storytellers.
Art, science and philosophy
You’ve probably spotted this show’s posters in some of KL’s hip indie cafes and galleries – it has that kind of vibe. Singapore’s T.H.E Dance Company brings Searching Blue to KLPac from Oct 17–19, transforming Studio 5, the outdoor stage and its surrounding spaces into an 80-minute site-specific performance inspired by American neuroscientist-author Jill Bolte Taylor’s reflections on human connection.
Led by Malaysian-born choreographer Kuik Swee Boon, the site-adaptive work begins in the studio before moving outdoors, inviting audiences to walk alongside the dancers.
"Searching Blue is an attempt at rediscovering and understanding the body’s oft-neglected capabilities of sensing and perceiving as we ponder, and reconstruct, the relationships individuals share with each other and the world," outlines the choreographer's notes.
With live music by Kent Lee, Searching Blue unfolds as an evocative meditation on how we sense, connect and relate – to one another and to the world around us.
This immersive format invites audiences to experience dance not just as spectators, but as participants in a shared journey.
The classics are back
A night out might feel a little edgy these days with all the unconventional theatre around. For an evening of pure entertainment, Broadway, Sing & Dance takes the stage at Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) in Petaling Jaya on Oct 19 and 20.
Tan Kelly is set to lead a cast of 14 singers, dancers and musicians in a celebration of six all-time favourite musicals: The Sound of Music, The Phantom Of The Opera, Les Miserables, Mary Poppins, Jekyll & Hyde and West Side Story.
With its mix of iconic songs and energetic dance numbers, Broadway, Sing & Dance is perfect for families, long-time fans and first-time musical-goers alike – a night of theatre that promises joy, spectacle and plenty of sing-along moments.
Omar appears in 'Life Es Tu Short – Immersive Dining Theatre', produced by Wayang Kitchen. Photo: The Star/Azman Ghani
Make it a Mexican afterlife
Looking for a Halloween date with a twist? Life Es Tu Short – Immersive Dining Theatre, produced by Wayang Kitchen, serves up just that. Running at Street Food of Mexico (Beszz Cafe, Plaza Damas) in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 29–31, it pairs a five-course Mexican feast with a theatrical adventure.
Featuring Omar Ali, Chef Ivan Chavarria and Razif Hashim, the show follows a man who dies and awakens in Mictlan, the Mexican afterlife – and you get to join in as “film extras” on his comical (and surprisingly touching) quest for meaning.
Expect a mini-parade, playful performances, and the mouthwatering aromas of birria tacos, mole chicken and churros. This lively mix of theatre, dining and cultural storytelling is a feast for all the senses – and a Halloween date you won’t forget.
KL City Opera members preparing to stage Mozart’s wickedly funny 'Don Giovanni' at KLPac from Oct 23–26. Photo: The Star/Glenn Guan
The 'Don' in corporate KL
KL City Opera brings Mozart’s wickedly funny Don Giovanni to Pentas 1, KLPac, from Oct 23–26, transporting the infamous seducer from 18th-century Europe to the sleek, high-stakes world of modern corporate Kuala Lumpur.
Directed by Heather Tan and conducted by Bernard Tan, the production stays true to Lorenzo da Ponte’s original libretto, performed in Italian with English and Chinese surtitles.
Theatregoers can expect sumptuous music, daring staging and a contemporary spin on this timeless opera tale.
With its mix of charm, mischief and moral reckoning, this Don Giovanni, produced by Danny Chen and Ho Soon Yoon, proves that power, excess and consequences never go out of style.
The cast features Cao Yixiao as Don Giovanni, Chi Hoe Mak as Leporello, Victoria Seungri Kim as Donna Anna, and Alan Lau / Heo Yueh Ren as Don Ottavio. Saori Suzuki / Lim Yee Fen take on Donna Elvira, with Angie Cheah / Bui Yik Ling as Zerlina, Joseph Ng / James Long as Masetto, and Dennis Lau as Il Commendatore.
Dynasty drama
The concert version of the Chinese musical Nan Kong takes the stage at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS (DFP) in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 28, bringing to life the story of Kong Zhu, a 13th-century descendant of Confucius torn between imperial reward and Confucian duty.
Part of an international tour from China, the production blends history, legend and striking design, showcasing traditional Chinese culture through a lens of contemporary values. It features performers from the Zhejiang Performing Arts Group and Zhejiang Song & Dance Theatre Company.
Music fans can look ahead to a grand, heritage-driven tale brought to life with modern stagecraft – a powerful reminder of the timeless tension between personal choice and cultural legacy.
In turbulent times, Loh’s staging of 'Animal Farm' aims to cut deep, exposing the fault lines of leadership, power, and freedom in today’s world. Photo: Filepic
Fable for our times
We could all use a dose of George Orwell on stage in these uncertain times. Animal Farm runs at Pentas 2, KLPac, from Oct 30 to Nov 2, presented by Pentas Project and W Productions, following their acclaimed staging of The Bee.
Adapted from Orwell’s classic political fable, the Mandarin play (with English surtitles) traces the animals’ dream of equality on a liberated farm – only to see a new tyranny emerge under the pigs.
This taut, timely production, directed by Loh Kok Man, examines leadership, power and freedom in today’s world. With sharp commentary and clear storytelling, it’s as compelling for first-time theatre-goers as for seasoned audiences.
The upcoming Animal Farm at KLPac stars Anthony Lee, Seng Soo Ming, Zizi Hau, Yuanci Ng, Jun Yap Won and Jerry Pang.
A wave of D'Motion
The D’Motion International Dance Festival returns to Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) in Petaling Jaya from Oct 23-26, its first edition since 2015. The festival brings together local and international artists for performances, masterclasses and global exchange.
A new segment, MYBody, spotlights six leading Malaysian choreographers - Joseph Gonzales, Suhaili Micheline, Rathimalar Govindarajoo, Amy Len, Fauzi Amirudin and Ong Tze Shen - each presenting solo works shaped by personal journeys and contemporary themes.
An international gala also features award-winning companies including Hung Dance (Taiwan), Hong Kong Dance Exchange, Daegu City Dance Company (South Korea) and PCK Dance (Britain), showcasing the body as a universal language that bridges cultures.
Presented by DPAC with Hong Kong Dance Exchange, Dance Now Asia and MyDance Alliance, the festival marks a renewed chapter for contemporary dance in Malaysia.
