Curtains up: local theatre highlights in May
KUALA LUMPUR
Check back in tomorrow for FMT Lifestyle’s May listing of dance and musical theatre productions!
THEATRE
1. ‘Playback Theatre’
In this unique form of improvisational theatre, actors listen to real stories from the audience and transform them instantly into live performance.
Presented primarily in Mandarin, this is a collaboration between Onion Theatre and the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac
2. ‘Beyond the Sea’
Based on a novel written in 1950, this dynamic presentation transports audiences to relive the streets, people and atmosphere of Penang during an intriguing period of history.
Presented by Areca Books
3. ‘Stuck’
Floyd gets his kite stuck in a tree. When he throws his shoe to shift it, that gets stuck, too. So he throws his other shoe – and a whole host of wacky things ensues.
This production, based on Oliver Jeffers’s award-winning picture book, is ideal for children aged 3-8. Presented by Gardner & Wife Theatre
4. ‘Much Ado About Nothing’
KL Shakespeare Players
Tricks and misunderstandings abound as a tycoon’s daughter prepares to marry a champion polo player.
5. ‘Teater Normcore: Odisi Romansa’
Drawing on Malay poetic and mythic forms, “Teater Normcore
6. ‘Randai Macbeth’
Macbeth goes to desperate measures after receiving a prediction from witches that he will become king. This intercultural performance by Persatuan Alumni Aswara
7. ‘The Legend of Rani Dhobi’
Set in 1800 Penang, this historical drama focuses on Lt Governor Leith, who is wrestling with increased piracy along the Penang-Kedah coastline. Meanwhile, the passionate Rani Dhobi is trying to establish her laundry business.
Part of the Penang Heritage Arts Festival.
8. ‘Pengat Pisang & Dapur Yang Kau Susun’
An intimate art experience on grief, memory and mental health among senior citizens. Before the performance begins, audiences are invited to select and arrange objects that will shape the unfolding narrative.
Presented as part of the KL Festival
9. ‘Shakespeare Demystified: Merchant of Venice’
Antonio, a merchant in Venice, defaults on a large loan taken from Jewish moneylender Shylock, on behalf of his friend, Bassanio. Will Antonio survive the cruel judgement demanded by Shylock?
10. ‘Teater Moden: Serunai Malam’
Based on the classic story by Usman Awang, this play by Fakulti Theater
11. ‘The Untold Story of The Tortoise & The Hare’
The hare challenges the tortoise to a rematch of their famous race. First commissioned by Alliance Française Kuala Lumpur, this family show is performed by the KL Shakespeare Players.
12. ‘I’m OKay, U?’
Constantly told to sit aside during every school marathon for her “safety”, a woman with a physical disability decides to break the rules and finally run.
Performed in Tamil, English and Malay by Santhiagu Thiagu
13. ‘The Storyteller: Oi-Jia’
After becoming a mother, a woman fears repeating what she once condemned. This solo performance, presented as part of the KL Festival, unravels three generations of inherited female narratives – exploring memory, responsibility and the fragile process of becoming oneself.
14. ‘Wayang Women: Live in Dataran’
Blending humour, folklore and wayang kulit, this showcase by Wayang Women
The troupe brings together musicians from across Southeast Asia and the Netherlands. Presented as part of the KL Festival.
15. ‘[Family] by Mr John’
Contemporary clown Mr John, who has over 27 years of performance experience across Europe, China, Thailand, Korea and Japan, presents an interactive comedy about family.
Presented as part of the KL Festival.
16. ‘Cluedo’
When six suspicious guests arrive at a remote mansion, they quickly find themselves entangled in a web of blackmail, deception and murder. As bodies start to drop, everyone becomes a suspect in this high-energy comedy presented by Limelight Theatre
17. ‘Layan Diri’
Trapped in a self-service laundromat, a group of strangers are forced to confront each other after a mysterious bag sparks conflict, greed, and a struggle for possession in this quirky comedy by Revolution Stage
18. ‘Bisik’
“Bisik” explores the traumatic struggles within oneself: wars that may be real or unseen by the eye. This play is inspired by the Whispering Enemy War, a military conflict from 1821-1839 between Siam and the Kedah Sultanate.
19. ‘The Lessons of Silence’
A young girl’s ordinary day is suddenly interrupted by an urgent evacuation during a violent event. This Indonesian production explores themes of race, class, and the intimate dynamics between children and parents.
Presented as part of the KL Festival.
20. ‘Play Theatre Festival 2026: The Magical Disc’
This production by Uniplay Space
21. ‘Fragments of Tuah’
This award-winning documentary theatre work
Presented by Five Arts Centre
22. ‘Siapa Cacat?’
A bold disabled-led theatre production weaving stories of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent creators. Set at a bus stop, performers share humour, defiance and reflection through scenes and monologues.
Presented by Theater Untuk Semua
23. ‘I’m just a little unwell’
In the war against one’s own mind, victory is making it to tomorrow. “I’m just a little unwell” pulls back the curtain on bipolar disorder and depression. Built on lived experience, this play weaves a story of profound struggle and radical hope.
24. ‘A Journey Through Bardo’
This arts programme invites audiences to explore “Bardo”, the state between life and death – a topic often considered taboo in Chinese culture.
The experience combines striking art installations featuring symbolic effigies, with a powerful theatre performance. Presented by The Razors Experimental Theatre
25. ‘Origin of a Tale’
Artists tell fables while dancing and sculpting clay in this family-friendly performance. Kids, in particular, will be enthralled by the actors’ clay-tastic creations including a donkey, turtle, an elephant, and a man in a canoe.
Presented as part of the KL Festival.
Putting on a show? Email us at [email protected]