Uda & Dara Musical Revives Usman Awang’s Classic Work

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Uda & Dara, the tragic love tale hindered by class differences, penned by the late National Laureate Datuk Dr Usman Awang, returns to the theatre stage through Muzikal Uda dan Dara, set to run at The Playhouse Theatre, The Campus Ampang here from Nov 20 to 23.

Organised by Istana Budaya in collaboration with Pertubuhan Rumpun Seni Mekar Budaya (Mekar Budaya), the staging is part of the ‘Memartabatkan Bahasa dan Karya Agung’ initiative under the MADANI Budget 2025, aimed at uplifting the nation’s arts, culture, language and literary heritage.

Istana Budaya Deputy Director-General (Operations) Johan Cruyff @ Mohd Johari Md Nordin said the production serves as a platform to strengthen the linguistic richness and beauty of the Malay language as the national language.

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“This classic work has been reinterpreted as a contemporary musical, while retaining its poetic language and original social message. It is enhanced with a blend of traditional Malay music and dance infused with modern elements, making it fresh and relevant to today’s audiences,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

He added that the musical is co-directed with Istana Budaya’s Performance Director Nik Muhammad Faiszulikhwan and Mekar Budaya chairman Dr Marlenny Deenerwan, a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Creative Arts, with Aqil Rozai as assistant director.

The cast is led by Johan As’ari as Uda, Zera Hariz as Dara, Jay Iswazir (Alang Bakhil), Farah Ahmad (Mak Dara), Amerul Affendi (Utih), Azaman Hassan (Pak Long), and Sara Sulaiman (Mak Long), supported by the Artistana Istana Budaya ensemble.

The musical tells the story of forbidden love between Uda, a village youth, and Dara, a noblewoman. Their romance is destroyed by class differences and the oppression of the wealthy and greedy Alang Bakhil, leading to a tragic struggle that ends with Uda’s death, leaving Dara in grief and regret.

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Meanwhile, Nik Muhammad said the main challenge is interpreting the third National Laureate’s work in a way that resonates with today’s audience without compromising its literary value.

“Every line must be delivered with precise emotion and meaning. For instance, the character Utih speaks in poetic and layered language — it is vital that we ensure audiences can appreciate the message and beauty of the text,” he said.

Sharing the challenge, Amerul — who plays Utih — said the difficulty lies in embodying the poetic language and philosophy of the script.

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“I’ve performed this script before as Alang Bakhil. This time, the role of Utih is much heavier. I must memorise every word — I can’t change a single one, because the meaning shifts. The dialogue is deeply poetic and philosophical,” he said.

Actress Farah, who returns to the stage after two years, said it is an opportunity to sharpen her discipline and acting stamina for a large-scale production like Muzikal Uda dan Dara.

“Stage acting is not like filming. On stage, there is no ‘cut’. Every line must be memorised and delivered from start to finish. And working with energetic young actors pushes me to match that energy so it reaches the audience,” she said.

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She added that her involvement in Usman Awang’s works since 1997 has deepened her appreciation for poetic language — something that has influenced her daily speech.

Tickets are priced at RM40, RM75, RM100 and RM150, and are available via CloudJoi. A 15 per cent discount applies to RM150 tickets for eligible senior citizens, civil servants, students and persons with disabilities.

More information is available on the Istana Budaya website and social media platforms, or by contacting the Public Relations Unit via info@istanabudaya.gov.my.

-- BERNAMA