By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 1: St Joseph’s Private Schools’ (SJPS) original musical, ‘Anak Sarawak’, uses Sarawak’s history and culture to address issues such as cyberbullying, identity, and family.
According to a media release, the story, which is set in today’s modern era, introduces a teenager, Thomas, who is struggling with issues tied to his identity, family, and cyberbullying, when help comes in the form of Sarawakian warrior Rentap, who mysteriously appears from the past and guides Thomas on a journey of discovery.
Through their interconnected journey, they encounter members of their broader community, allowing them to reclaim their inner fortitude by tracing their roots and embracing their identity, heritage, and collective bonds.
Staged in St Ignatius Hall in the recently opened SJPS Extension, ‘Anak Sarawak’ marked a milestone as their first production held on the school’s new premises since their annual school productions began in 2015.
The occasion was attended by Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak and Minister for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Dato Simon Poh; Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai who represented Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; and members of the SJPS Board of Management.
“I am particularly proud that ‘Anak Sarawak’ is an original production by our own school community. Together, our teachers and students have created a musical that reflects the spirit of collaboration, creativity, and excellence that defines St Joseph’s Private Schools.
“At St Joseph’s, performing arts are integral to our curriculum. We believe that true learning happens not only in the classroom but also outside of it. Through music, drama, and dance, our students learn to express themselves, to collaborate, to persevere, and to work with others,” said SJPS chief executive officer (CEO), Christopher Chua.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Abdul Karim congratulated the school on the musical’s production.
“Thank you to the management of this school for inviting me and well done for attracting the attention of the public, especially former students and parents,” he said.
‘Anak Sarawak’, which opened on Friday night (July 31) at the new St Ignatius Hall at Jalan Datuk Polycarp Sim (formerly Jalan Nagor) here, will also hold two more shows tonight and tomorrow night (Aug 2) at 7.30pm.
The musical is the third instalment, rooted in the stories told by the previous two original musicals—‘The White Rajah of Sarawak’ in 2017 and 2019—that looks at the characters in Sarawak’s history with a twist.
Members of the public can purchase tickets online through CloudJoi. For further enquiries, the public may contact SJPS at 082-414575 or 082-420575, or visit the school’s official website and social media channels for the latest updates. — DayakDaily
