By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 3: The Malaysia Theatre Festival Sarawak Zone 2026 will provide a platform for local theatre practitioners to showcase their creativity and talent while strengthening the State’s performing arts ecosystem.
The seven-day festival, themed “Narratives of Rivers, Forests and People”, will be held from Sept 28 to Oct 4 at Pustaka Sarawak, featuring seven selected theatre productions exploring the relationship between people and nature.
Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the participation of seven theatre groups reflected the continued growth and vibrancy of Sarawak’s theatre scene.
“I see the participation of these seven groups as a very positive development, as it shows that Sarawak’s theatre ecosystem continues to move forward and grow,” he said at a press conference on the Malaysia Theatre Festival Sarawak Zone 2026 at the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) headquarters here today.
The seven productions selected from the participation period held from May 1 to 31 are Gema Rajang, Sungai Mengalir Lesu, Derau, Sumpah Darah Menanti, Aruna, Suara Rimba and Saksi Bisu.
Each production will present its own narrative and creative interpretation, offering audiences a diverse showcase of Sarawak’s local theatre talent.
The festival offers a RM10,000 prize for the champion, RM7,000 for the runner-up and RM5,000 for third place, with each winner also receiving a trophy and certificate.
Nine special awards will also be presented, with each recipient receiving a trophy and certificate.
Snowdan urged the participating groups to make full use of the festival to present their best work, highlight Sarawak’s distinctive identity and demonstrate that local theatre practitioners are capable of competing at higher levels, including internationally.
The festival is organised by the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) Sarawak, in collaboration with the Sarawak Arts Council and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Sarawak Branch, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration in the development of the State’s arts and cultural sectors.
Also present were JKKN Sarawak director Noor Seela Noor Sulaiman, DBP Sarawak director Dr Azizul Ismail, JKKN deputy director Norsyahrul Syafsaidatina Ismail, Sarawak Arts Council representative Easter Melebeh, as well as heads of relevant departments, agencies and associations and participants of the Malaysia Theatre Festival Sarawak Zone 2026. — DayakDaily
