Liver & Lung, the celebrated creators behind Sepet The Musical and Melur The Musical, are excited to announce the latest addition to their musical theatre repertoire set to charm audiences this 2024: Sang Kancil & The Dragon King.
A tale that intertwines the enchantment of folklore with the vibrancy of a Malaysian playground, Sang Kancil & The Dragon King promises to be an exciting adventure for the young and the young-at-heart. Celebrating the Year of the Dragon in 2024, this will be Liver & Lung’s first venture into children’s theatre.
Set in a colourful playground in TTDI, Kuala Lumpur, the musical tells the story of Ben, an ordinary schoolboy with an extraordinary talent for painting. Ben loves the playground and is heartbroken when he finds out that it is soon to be demolished and replaced with a concrete monster: a condominium.
On the eve of the playground’s demolition, magic unfolds as Ben is transformed into Sang Kancil, a clever little mousedeer. His transformation into the legendary Sang Kancil sets the stage for an adventure of a lifetime. Ben’s quest is amplified by misfits – including a clueless tiger, conniving crocodiles, and the imposing Dragon King, who threatens to wash away the joy of the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Sang Kancil & The Dragon King is set to show at PJPAC from the 29th of February to 10th of March 2024
“We set out to create a musical that not only captivates children but also reignites the youthful spirit in adults,” says Shafeeq Shajahan, founder of Liver & Lung and recipient of the Best Director at the 2020 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards. “Sang Kancil & The Dragon King represents the vast potential and promise within us all, a reminder that no matter our size, we can enact significant change.”
The musical will star Joshua Anthony Gui, from Sepet The Musical fame. Collaborating with Liver & Lung once again, Joshua will play Ben/Sang Kancil, the musical’s protagonist. Joshua will be joined by Putrina Rafie, who recently starred in ‘Fault Lines’ at PJPAC and Phraveen Arikiah, recipient of the 2020 BOH Cameronian Arts Award for Best Supporting Performance.
“Sang Kancil & The Dragon King is a musical odyssey, celebrating the heart of Malaysian diversity, creativity, and the courageous spirit that defines our youth,” Shafeeq adds. “I’m thrilled to collaborate with Josh, Veen, and Trina to bring this roller-coaster of wonder and life lessons to the stage.”
The musical will feature original music and lyrics, a colourful blend of traditional and contemporary sounds. Shafeeq will develop the musical with frequent collaborator Irena Taib, musician in local indie-band The Impatient Sisters and Ji Yong. The musical will be produced by Su En Hoh.
Liver & Lung invites everyone to embrace their inner child as ‘Sang Kancil & The Dragon King’ wrestles with childhood’s endearing beauty, the richness of variety, and the pure joy of creating and overcoming challenges. The performance is designed to be interactive and spectacular, offering ripples of laughter and imagination.
Tickets for Liver & Lung shows sell out extremely quickly, so audiences are encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible here. Viewers can also subscribe to Liver & Lung’s YouTube channel for more content or follow its Instagram for further updates.
Production Information:
Tickets: Link
Spotify: Link
Directed & Written by: Shafeeq Shajahan
Produced by: Su En Hoh
Music by: Shafeeq Shajahan, Irena Taib, Ji Yong
Cast: Joshua Anthony Gui, Putrina Rafie, Phraveen Arikiah
