The Japanese Occupation of Malaya was a period marked by tragedy, sacrifice and the struggle for survival.
Drawing inspiration from true events during this sombre chapter in the nation's history, Melaka-based theatre company Krate Creative Space is staging its latest original production, Tears Under The Rising Sun, at Panggung Seri, JKKN Melaka on Nov 14 and 15.
Presented in collaboration with Persatuan Peranakan Cina Melaka and supported by the Ministry of Arts and Culture, the musical is set in Melaka during World War II, under Japanese rule.
Left to fend for herself with only her loyal caretaker by her side, young Nyonya Suzzanne Soon finds her sheltered world unsettled by the arrival of a mysterious stranger seeking refuge.
Performed mainly in English, with some Peranakan expressions and Japanese dialogue, the production runs for approximately two hours, including a 15-minute intermission. Original music is composed by Yohan Nadav, with sound design by Benjamin Yong. The cast includes Kimberly Chan, Skye Falcon and Janey Shairan.
Through original songs and traditional instrumentation, including taiko drums, rebana and traditional woodwinds, the production draws on Peranakan heritage and Melaka's wartime history to bring an underrepresented chapter of Malaysian history to the stage. It also pays tribute to the resilience of local communities during the Japanese Occupation and seeks to preserve Peranakan cultural memory for a new generation.
Remembering a shared past
Krate Creative Space founder Wee Shyre May, who wrote the script and lyrics and also directs the production, says that while the story and its characters are fictional, the work is grounded in extensive historical research.
“I asked our cast and crew to interview their own grandparents or older relatives, and those conversations were very helpful. We also did a lot of reading and online research, and visited museums, where a guide walked us through the history,” she shares.
Asked what drew her to this story, Wee says it is a subject she has long wanted to explore.
“This is our 10th year of making shows, and we’ve created many immersive productions and musicals that were lighthearted and during the post- and pre-war era, but I’ve always wanted to write something profound, serious, raw and true.
“I’ve also always been curious about the Japanese Occupation, and about how Malaysia was formed and what it took for us to get here. I wanted to highlight the humanity that can be found even in the darkest of times,” she adds.
Wee hopes audiences will leave the theatre with a deeper appreciation of the Malaysia they know today.
"The reality is that during the Occupation, the Japanese treated the races very differently, and that left deep divisions and wounds. Remembering that history matters, because it reminds us how we had to unite to get to where we are today. It took everyone to build Malaysia,” she says.
Wee also hopes the production will encourage audiences to acknowledge and remember the experiences of those who lived through the period.
“I hope the show opens up conversations at home, with our parents, grandparents and friends about the stories we carry. If we keep talking, listening and understanding each other, then maybe history doesn’t have to repeat itself,” she concludes.
Krate Creative Space’s Tears Under The Rising Sun will be staged at Panggung Seri, JKKN Melaka (formerly Taman Budaya Negeri Melaka) on Nov 14 and 15. More info: cloudjoi.com.
