TEATER MUZIKAL KESUMA SANTUBONG

SIFAR is a Kuching-based creative collective dedicated to reimagining Sarawakian heritage through contemporary performance. The 2008 National Malaysia Theatre Festival marked a pivotal milestone in SIFAR's history within the Malaysian theatre scene. SIFAR brought immense pride to Sarawak on the national stage by being crowned Festival Champion that year. In 2014, SIFAR repeated this feat, once again securing the Champion title for Sarawak. These dual national victories established Sarawak as a formidable force in Malaysian theatre. Adding to these achievements, SIFAR also swept major awards, including Best Director (2008, 2014), Best Male Actor (2008, 2014), Best Supporting Male Actor (2008), Best Supporting Female Actor (2014), and the Best Emerging Male Actor award (2008). Since its inception in 2006, SIFAR has produced over 20 theatre productions and organized numerous arts and cultural activities.

Muzikal Kesuma Santubong is SIFAR’s most ambitious project to date. Moving beyond traditional storytelling, this production uses original songs to explore the emotional depth of the Santubong myth. The Kesuma represents the blooming spirit of the mountain as a symbol of beauty and resilience. The score blends ethnic Sarawakian instruments with modern musical arrangements. The narrative focuses on the internal growth of the protagonists, moving away from a simple rivalry to a story of self-discovery and the environmental soul of the mountain. With a diverse cast of singers and dancers, the musical aims to set a new standard for independent musical theatre in Kuching. We are debuting an original score composed by young local musicians and featuring a fresh face ensemble. It represents the growth of local theatre from spoken word into a full-scale melodic experience.