KUCHING: St Joseph’s Private Schools (SJPS) will bring Sarawak’s history to the stage with its third original musical, ‘Anak Sarawak’, from Jul 31 to Aug 2 at the new St Ignatius Hall.
The production marks the first time the school will stage an original musical at its own venue since launching its performing arts productions in 2015.
Blending history with a contemporary storyline, the musical follows Iban warrior Rentap, who embarks on a mysterious journey through time while fighting at Bukit Sadok.
Along the way, he meets Thomas, a modern teenager grappling with personal struggles, and together they discover how their identity as Anak Sarawak gives them strength.
Playwright Stanley Goh said the musical was conceived as a response to the school’s earlier production, ‘The White Rajah of Sarawak’, rather than a sequel.
“Historical figures can sometimes feel distant and removed from our own experience. By bringing the local hero, Rentap, into conversation with the modern world, we can grow to appreciate the rich history of our land, allowing our identity as Sarawakians to become our strength,” he said in a statement today.
The production will showcase student performers alongside award winning performing arts groups from the three SJPS schools, supported by teachers, alumni and community partners.
SJPS first ventured into original musical theatre in 2017 with ‘The White Rajah of Sarawak’, based on the life of James Brooke.
The production sold out and was restaged in 2019 during the World Rainforest Fringe Festival.
All proceeds from ‘Anak Sarawak’ will be channelled to the schools’ Development Fund.
Members of the public can secure their seats by purchasing tickets through Cloud Joi.
