THEATRE: 'APOSTATE'
Venue: Pentas 2, KLPac
Date: June 20-22
As part of KLPac’s 20th anniversary celebrations, all eyes are on the international premiere of Apostate – making its debut outside of Taiwan for the very first time. Originally staged in 2023, the acclaimed production won the Grand Prize at the 22nd Taishin Arts Award and the Jury Prize at the 35th Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan.
A collaboration between Approaching Theatre and Gang-a Tsui Theater, Apostate interweaves two powerful narratives: a classic Nanxi tale of Zhu Bian, a Song Dynasty envoy captured and compelled to marry his captor’s daughter, and a contemporary story of a prisoner held against his will. Both protagonists face deeply personal dilemmas, caught between their inner struggles and the larger demands of belief, loyalty, family, and state.
Performed in Mandarin with elements of the Quanzhou dialect and English surtitles, the 12-actor production fuses traditional Nanguan opera – recognised by Unesco since 2009 – with contemporary soundscapes and multimedia design.
The production also marks a homecoming for Taiwan-based Malaysian director Koh Choon Eiow, a grantee of the Asian Cultural Council.
More info here.
This weekend, three weavers from Myanmar will be conducting a workshop titled 'Weaving Heritage, An Introduction to Traditional Chin Handloom' at The Godown Arts Centre in KL. Photo: Columban Gum
THE GODOWN ARTISTS MARKET: WORLD REFUGEE DAY EDITION
Venue: The Godown Arts Centre, KL
Date: June 21 and 22
The Godown Arts Centre is celebrating World Refugee Day with a special weekend edition of "The Godown Artists Market", presented in collaboration Cobem (Coalition of Burmese Ethnics Malaysia) and JinnD Productions.
This two-day event – Stand With Myanmar – is a celebration of arts, food, culture, and stories, featuring participation from various Myanmar refugee communities.
Visitors can look forward to a lively and diverse line-up of vendors offering art, crafts, prints, jewellery, merchandise, and a tempting spread of Myanmar street food.
The daily programme flows with engaging activities, including panel discussions, hands-on workshops, traditional Chin handloom weaving demonstrations, a history walk series, and live performances by MYRooTopia – a dance and storytelling project by a refugee student group, developed by Lau Beh Chin and Adriana Nordin Manan.
The Godown Artists Market (free admission) is open noon to 7pm this weekend.
More info here.
Actors (from left) Sofia Jane, Nabila Huda, and Nadia Aqilah star in a fresh take on Jit Murad’s dark comedy 'Visits', which explores mental health. Photo: DramaLab
THEATRE: JITFEST 2025 PRESENTS 'VISITS'
Venue: Nero, PJPAC, Petaling Jaya
Date: June 20-29
The late Jit Murad’s Visits returns to the stage after 22 years. Directed by Ida Nerina and starring Sofia Jane, Nadia Aqilah, and Nabila Huda, this new production breathes fresh life into one of the theatre legend’s most poignant works.
First staged in 2002, Visits is a sharply observed, darkly funny play that brings together three women at a high-end mental health retreat.
A patient, her sister-in-law, and an enigmatic nurse find themselves in a surreal space where memory, identity, and power slowly unravel.
This new staging at PJPAC is part of JitFest 2025, organised by DramaLab—a timely revival that balances humour and heartbreak with stunning clarity.
More info here.
Start your day with a groove - join the Zumba Rimba session at Taman Tugu and dance your way into the weekend, rainforest-style! Photo: Friends of Taman Tugu
CELEBRATE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY@TAMAN TUGU
Venue: Nursery Area, Taman Tugu, KL
Date: June 21
Here’s something to get you out of bed and into the greenery. On June 21, Taman Tugu and Yayasan Hasanah are teaming up for Celebrate World Environment Day @ Taman Tugu, a lively, eco-friendly bash themed “Beat Plastic Pollution.”
Running from 8am to 2pm, the family-friendly event (free admission, walk-in) champions the “Bring Your Own Container” (BYOC) mission - so skip the disposables and come prepped for sustainable fun.
Expect a day packed with good vibes and green action: think hands-on eco workshops, interactive booths, inspiring talks, live performances, and activities for the little ones too.
Whether you’re a die-hard greenie or just want to enjoy the outdoors with a side of impact, this one’s got your name on it.
More info here.
On Sunday, Amir Muhammad presents a direct-to-camera monologue in response to 'Bintang Bukan Saja di Langit', Hamzah Hussin’s final novel. Photo: The Star/Yap Chee Hong
INDEPENDENT FILM: TEN YEARS OF WAYANG BUDIMAN
Venue: Centre for Film's Research & Appreciation, Shah Alam
Date: June 19-22
Indie film lovers are in for a treat this weekend as Temasya Wayang Budiman unfolds in Shah Alam. Running through June 22, the four-day event marks the 10th anniversary of the Centre for Film Studies & Appreciation (Pusat Kajian & Apresiasi Filem) with a packed programme of film screenings, forums, workshops and cultural activities.
Celebrating the richness of Malaysian and regional cinema beyond the mainstream, the festival features rare archival titles, experimental shorts, student films, and thought-provoking documentaries. It's a space where filmmakers, critics, and cinephiles come together to engage with cinema as both an artistic expression and a tool for social reflection.
One of the highlights of the festival is a spotlight series on the works of four distinctive voices in Malaysia’s independent cinema: Bebbra Mailin, Isyraqi Yahya, Gogularaajan Rajendran, and Taufiq Suharto.
On Sunday, the Ruang Gelap Essay Readings features seven voices from different backgrounds and generations, each with a deep connection to cinema. The readers are U-Wei Haji Saari, Laqman Al-Jefri, Datuk Kamil Othman, Nazim Masnawi, Yvonne, Jaymani Sevanathan, and Asyraf Bakti.
In one of the festival's closing events, Amir Muhammad presents a direct-to-camera monologue in response to Bintang Bukan Saja di Langit, Hamzah Hussin’s final novel. Based on his time at Cathay-Keris Studio in the 1950s–60s, the book blends film industry gossip with themes of loyalty, responsibility, and resilience.
Free admission event.
More info here.
The 'Old School X New Rules exhibition at Galeri Petronas features 15 emerging names in the Malaysian art scene. Photo: The Star/Muhamad Shahril Rosli
EXHIBITION: 'OLD SCHOOL X NEW RULES'
Venue: Galeri PETRONAS, Level 3, KLCC
Date: ends Sept 28
Curious about the new wave of Malaysian artists? Old School X New Rules at the newly reopened Level 3 gallery in KLCC offers a compelling entry point. Spanning installations, video, paintings, and found objects, the group show explores fresh voices and evolving perspectives in local art.
Featuring 15 emerging names, it highlights the shifting balance between tradition and experimentation. Galeri PETRONAS, returning after a pandemic-era pause in 2021, marks its comeback with a renewed public focus through this exhibition.
The gallery also features a section showcasing classic Malaysian works from the Galeri PETRONAS collection.
Free admission exhibition. Galeri PETRONAS is closed in Mondays.
More info here.
Join Kugan this Sunday at 2pm for an artist walk-through, where he’ll share insights into his work. Photo: Temu House
EXHIBITION: JEROME KUGAN’S ‘ALL LIFE IS RECYCLED’ and ‘TIME IS A DONUT’
Venue: Temu House, Petaling Jaya
Date: ends June 29
Sabahan artist-writer Jerome Kugan presents a deeply personal exhibition at Temu House this month, weaving together poetry, music, and visual art.
Set against the backdrop of family and artistic life in Kota Kinabalu, All Life Is Recycled traces Jerome Kugan’s works from 2017 onwards, exploring memory and grief through the use of recycled and found materials.
The show also includes pieces from Time Is A Donut, developed during Kugan's residency in Frankfurt, reflecting on the quiet weight of objects left behind.
This Sunday at 2pm, don’t miss the artist walk-through with Kugan, where he’ll share the stories and processes behind his works - and welcome your questions too
More info here.
A view of Bayu's 'Resonance Of Souls' exhibition at Harta Space in Selangor. Photo: The Star/Glenn Guan
EXHIBITION: BAYU UTOMO RADJIKIN’S 'RESONANCE OF SOULS'
Venue: Harta Space, Ampang, Selangor
Date: ends June 29
Bayu's Resonance Of Souls marks a powerful new chapter in the veteran artist's career.
Known for expressive intensity, he creates intense drama at the Harta Space gallery, presenting large-scale paintings of anonymous male figures – raw, contorted, and emotionally charged.
These haunting forms, stripped of identity, evoke universal themes of struggle and resilience.
With brooding tones and visceral textures, the works signal a bold evolution in the veteran artist’s practice, blending abstraction and figuration. After more than 30 years in the field, the Matahati and Hom Art Trans co-founder shows he’s still pushing forward.
More info here.
Tong's painting titled 'Wood Drill And Tool Box', which is part of his 'Occurs' exhibition in KL. Photo: Tong Fung Chuar
EXHIBITION: TONG FUNG CHUAR'S 'OCCURS'
Venue: The Changing Room, Zhongshan building, KL
Date: ends June 22
It’s the last weekend to catch Occurs, Tong’s solo debut – a bold, contemplative series curated by Umar Sharif.
With titles like Blister, Screaming Car, and Bloodletting, Tong’s work explores quiet chaos and everyday anxiety through naive, unstructured forms.
Trained in France, the artist leaves figures out, inviting personal reflection. More than a strong debut, Occurs also underscores the importance of independent spaces in fostering experimentation and expression.
More info here.
