Sarawak’s first homegrown musical theatre, Dreamweaver the Musical, has made its mark in Kuala Lumpur with a sold-out opening at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre. Featuring an all-Sarawakian cast, real songket weavers on stage, and original music by Jon Smith, the production weaves heritage, artistry and storytelling into a spellbinding performance that celebrates culture while captivating new audiences.
Songket Weavers Bring Sarawak’s Heritage to the Stage
Sarawak’s first-ever homegrown musical theatre production has crossed over from Kuching to Peninsular Malaysia, bringing with it an all-Sarawakian cast of young and talented actors.
The highly anticipated Opening Night on August 29 at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC) drew a full house. Among the audience were Sarawak’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Datuk Sebastian Ting, and many Sarawakians living and working in Kuala Lumpur.
At the entrance of Stage One, Datuk Jacqueline Fong from Tanoti Production proudly wore Dreamweaver the Musical merchandise, a T-shirt featuring a patch of woven songket. Each piece available for sale was crafted with a touch of songket, blending heritage with modern design in harmony with the musical’s theme.
The show at PJPAC marked the second staging of Dreamweaver the Musical. The production first debuted in Kuching in December 2024/January 2025, running for 20 successful shows and earning a spot among the Top 3 Musicals in Malaysia 2024 by CloudJoi.
Having attended two performances in Kuching, I was delighted to watch my third show in Kuala Lumpur, made even more special by the presence of Taylor Louise, the 11-year-old global award-winning singer whose charm and voice captivated the audience especially some of her social media followers.
Though slightly tentative at the beginning of her debut theatrical role, Taylor soon blossomed on stage, winning over the audience. Many wished she had sung more numbers. When asked whether she preferred singing or acting, the little charmer, with her sparkly eyes, simply answered, “Both.” A Broadway star in the making, perhaps?
The musical features an original script and songs by Jon Smith of Balkon Media. He is an award-winning screenwriter, and author. Serving as producer and script writer of Dreamweaver, Smith has embraced Malaysia’s warmth and culture, weaving local Sarawakian expressions into the dialogue with surprising authenticity.
Adding to its uniqueness, Tanoti Productions brought its own weavers onto the stage. Not merely as artisans behind the craft but as performers themselves. Their presence infused authenticity and soul, offering audiences a rare encounter with real-life custodians of Sarawak’s cultural heritage.
Ambrose Eng was the director of the production, and was also appearing in the cast.
Alice Chang, a renowned ceramist, and fine arts painter from Lai Lai Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, was struck by the fact that the actors and singers were non-professionals, yet delivered with such grace and passion.
Invited to the show by the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism after meeting CEO Puan Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor at the Osaka Expo, Alice shared, “I am very impressed by the performance coming from non-actors, and I am drawn to the colours of the songket, beautifully woven into the textiles by Tanoti Crafts’ weavers. I have never seen anything like it.”
The costumes and props which are designed by Tanoti’s in-house team, were entirely handwoven by its artisans, each thread carrying Sarawak’s textile traditions into the spotlight.
Among the audience was KL lawyer Goh Siu Lin, whose maternal roots trace back to Sarawak. She attended to support the production, helmed by her former Bristol Law School junior, Jacqueline. In a delightful twist, she also discovered that Jacqueline and I were both distantly related to her — woven relatives indeed!
At its heart, Dreamweaver the Musical tells the story of a young weaver Aaliya (played by Larren Cotter) from a Sarawak village who discovers the sentient magic within her cloth. This revelation launches her on a mystical journey to save her struggling business, preserve her cultural heritage, and unite her community against modern challenges.
The narrative blends traditional craftsmanship with magical realism, featuring heartfelt songs, stunning visuals, and the extraordinary participation of real songket weavers.
This edition of Dreamweaver the Musical was supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Sarawak Energy Berhad, and 1Utama Shopping Mall. The producers also express gratitude to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd, and Lee Hoo Leng for their support in the production’s debut.
The ensemble comprises career songket weavers with between one to fifteen years of experience in handwoven textiles. Together, they carry Sarawak’s cultural legacy into a new medium, which is preserving and promoting the art of songket weaving through theatre.
Dreamweaver the Musical is more than a stage production. It is a living tapestry of culture, artistry, and heritage, woven for today’s audience and generations to come.
