‘Sakti Merong Mahawangsa’ Gathers Over 100 Aswara Alumni Talents

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) – The National Academy of Arts, Culture, and Heritage (Aswara), in collaboration with the Aswara Alumni Association, will present a special musical theatre ‘Sakti Merong Mahawangsa’ at The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) from Nov 22 to 24.

President of the Aswara Alumni Association, Tengku Iefizulasyrifie Putra Tengku Alaudin, said the musical is the highlight of the Pearl Jubilee celebration, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Aswara’s founding as Malaysia’s premier institution for the arts.

He said Sakti Merong Mahawangsa, inspired by the legendary ‘Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa’, is a modern interpretation of the life journey of Merong Mahawangsa in establishing Kedah Zamin Turan, now known as the state of Kedah.

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“The performance, which unites over 100 Aswara alumni from various faculties, was created to fulfil the vision of Aswara's Rector, Dr Tan Awang Besar, who sought to bring the epic Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa to the musical stage,” he said.

“This theatre production is a reflection of Aswara's enduring spirit, which has been dedicated to preserving and promoting the nation’s artistic and cultural heritage since its establishment in 1994,” he added during a recent press conference.

The director of the musical theatre, Mohd Sharul Mizad Asari, expressed his concerns about taking on the responsibility due to the very short timeframe to bring the performance to life.

 “It has been an extremely challenging process because, within just three months, we had to complete everything—from gathering alumni to creating the script,” he said.

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“However, working under pressure often sparks more creative ideas, especially with the support of all parties involved to ensure everything runs smoothly,” he added.

Sharul also emphasised that to ensure fairness, all selected actors underwent auditions, with singing, acting, and dancing abilities being the key criteria.

Experienced theatre actor A. Aris Kadir, who plays the lead role, shared his gratitude for the opportunity to return to the stage after a 15-year hiatus, during which he had focused on behind-the-scenes work as a choreographer.

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“When I had the chance to return to the stage, the adrenaline felt completely different—there were mixed emotions, excitement, fear... so many feelings. I never expected to be chosen for the lead role, as my initial goal was just to reconnect with the stage,” said A. Aris.

 “This situation put me under pressure, as I struggled to memorise the script, but it was manageable, thanks to the support from everyone involved,” he added.

Meanwhile, Fiza Thomas, whose real name is Nur Hafizah Longkip @ Thomas, shared her excitement about returning to the stage in a musical after her last appearance in ‘Ola Bola The Musical’ in 2018.

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 “Being selected for this musical felt like a dream come true. I’ve always been passionate about musicals. I was born into this world. When I joined Aswara and studied traditional theatre and Mak Yong dance, it was already a form of musical theatre. It’s where I learned to sing, dance, act, and fully express emotions in a performance.

"Previously, I worked as a TV actress, which is a very different experience. On stage, I feel something unique. It requires more emotion and immersion, and that’s what I truly love," she said.

Other talented actors in the cast include Ezdianie Hayatie, Hairi Safwan, Fadhli Masoot, Saiful Wazien, Amirul Hakim, Aznie, Mei Fen, Najua P. Ramlee, Ewan Fauzi, Syrul Ezwan, Reza Mohamed, and Hafizam.

Those interested can purchase tickets online via https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/teater-muzikal-sakti-merong-mahawangsa starting from Nov 6.

-- BERNAMA