ArtsPerforming Arts

Front Row

BFM Media

Don’t be afraid of the arts. You too can enjoy it! Don't believe us? Tune in to Front Row to find out about the best shows and exhibitions that will recharge your brain and restore your spirit, as told by the producers, performers and artists themselves.

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20 episodes
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English

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August 21 · 26 min
The Secret Drawer
“When history happens, no-one is spared.” In The Secret Drawer, two women uncover the hidden histories of their fathers, men whose lives were shaped by theatre, social activism and the political upheavals of 1960s Malaysia. One father leaves behind a drawer his daughter is forbidden to open. The other leaves an archive of almost 60 documents tracing years of detention, rejection and separation. Through memories, archival material and re-enactments, these two women - performers and artists Ling Tang and Lim Tiong Wooi - begin to discover how their fathers' lives shaped their own. Presented by the Instant Cafe Theatre Company, we speak to director Jo Kukathas and writer-performer Lim Tiong Wooi about bringing these deeply personal stories to the stage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 21 · 20 min
Todak◉Gundik
You may know the famous story of the swordfish that attacked Singapura. But in Todak◉Gundik, writer Kee Thuan Chye brings that legend together with the story of a Sultan’s favoured concubine, weaving them into a tale of power, jealousy, desire and war. It’s a contemporary Malay-language production packed with puppetry, masks, animation, live gamelan music and even Ulek Mayang. Presented by Pentas Project Theatre Production, we find out more about this very theatrical retelling from Thuan Chye. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 14 · 23 min
A Tribute to Alfonso Soliano
Music has always been at the heart of the Soliano family. Across generations, they've helped shape Malaysia's musical landscape, but at the centre of that story is Alfonso Soliano, a composer, conductor, arranger and educator whose influence earned him the title of the Father of Modern Malay Music. This September, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra is honouring his legacy through A Tribute to Alfonso Soliano, a special tribute concert that brings together the orchestra and The Solianos, the family ensemble he founded, for an evening celebrating his music that continues to inspire. Joining us are the concert's conductor, Ahmad Muriz Che Rose, and Alfonso's daughter, vocalist Isabella Soliano, who'll be taking to the stage with The Solianos. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 13 · 20 min
Lungs
A couple sits down to talk about having a child. But what starts as a conversation about parenthood quickly opens up much bigger questions: climate anxiety, personal responsibility, love, fear, and what it means to build a life together when the future feels uncertain. That’s the premise of Lungs, Duncan Macmillan’s acclaimed two-person play. There’s no elaborate set, no props, and no time markers. Just two people, their words, and everything that sits beneath them. The play is now being staged by new theatre company Drifting Kaos Productions, and we speak to its founder and director, Dinesh Kumar Maganathan, and actor Grace Ng, to talk about the play, the relationship at its centre, and what it takes to bring such an intimate story to the stage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 7 · 26 min
Beyond Words
Some of the most memorable musical moments happen when different traditions come together to create something entirely new. That's the idea behind Beyond Words, a one-night-only concert that brings Grammy-winning musician L. Shankar together with an ensemble of leading Malaysian artists for an evening that blends Indian classical music, jazz, rock, pop and traditional local sounds. Joining us to share more are Violin Virtuoso, Composer & Inventor of the Double Violin, L. Shankar and one of Malaysia's leading sitar players, Samuel J. Dass. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 6 · 22 min
Caliban
For centuries, audiences have seen Shakespeare's The Tempest as a tale of magic, revenge and forgiveness. But what if the story looks very different when it's told from the perspective of the island's original inhabitant? That's exactly what Masakini Theatre Company is exploring in Caliban, a bold new adaptation that reimagines Shakespeare's classic through a Nusantara lens, weaving together local performance traditions, live traditional music and Malaysia's multicultural heritage. Joining us to tell us more are producer and lead actor Sabera Shaik, who plays Caliban, and the production's director, Susan Sarah John. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 31 · 22 min
Bebenang: An Almost Malaysian Story
What does it really mean to be Malaysian? Is it the stories we're told, the languages we speak, the histories we inherit, or the memories we carry? Bebenang: An Almost Malaysian Story is an original theatre production that explores those questions through the real-life experiences of everyday Malaysians. Developed using verbatim theatre, it brings together personal stories that reveal the many different ways we understand identity, belonging and home. We find out more from producer and director Farah Rani, together with deviser and actor, Perassath. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 30 · 20 min
Once Upon a Malaysian Dream
As Merdeka approaches each year, we're often encouraged to reflect on how far Malaysia has come. But it's also a chance to ask some difficult questions: have we lived up to the ideals that independence promised, and what does the "Malaysian Dream" actually mean today? Those are the questions at the heart of Once Upon a Malaysian Dream, a new play that's equal parts history, satire, music and heartfelt drama, exploring the country's past while imagining where it could still go. We find out more from its writer, producer and director, Kee Thuan Chye. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 24 · 26 min
Unbound
For centuries, baroque music has endured because of its beauty, emotional depth and technical brilliance. But can it also become the foundation for an immersive, multidisciplinary performance that resonates with audiences today? That's the challenge Wicked Music People has set itself with Unbound, a new production that brings together period instrument performance, contemporary dance, digital scenography and live theatre in a bold exploration of human freedom. Joining us are co-producers U-En Ng and Lin Lee, both co-founders of Wicked Music People, to tell us more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 23 · 28 min
Pravaham - The Pulse Of Creation
Our rivers have always sustained us, but today many are under increasing pressure from pollution, development and climate change. Rather than presenting those challenges through facts and figures alone, Pravaham – The Pulse of Creation invites audiences to experience them through dance, music and storytelling. It's an original production that celebrates water's role as the pulse of creation while encouraging us to rethink our relationship with the natural world. Joining us are Shangita Namasivayam, Artistic Director of Kalpana Dance Theatre, and Kennedy Michael, the Founder of Community Action Nexus and the Alliance of River Three (ART!) to tell us more about this dance performance, and their collaboration. *For invitations to the show, please call: 017-6725672 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 17 · 29 min
Robert Rauschenberg and Asia
Some artists travel to exhibit their work. Others travel because they're endlessly curious about the people, places and cultures around them. Robert Rauschenberg was very much the latter. Widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, he believed that creativity flourished through collaboration, conversation and seeing the world firsthand. Those ideas are at the heart of Robert Rauschenberg and Asia, an exhibition organised by M+ in collaboration with ILHAM Gallery, and currently on display at Ilham. Joining us to explore the exhibition are Rahel Joseph, Director of ILHAM Gallery, and Russell Storer, Senior Curator and Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs at M+, and curator of this exhibition. Image Credit: Robert Rauschenberg Studies for Chinese Summerhall #I 1984 From an edition of 25, published by Graphicstudio, University of South Florida, Tampa, and Gemini G.E.L, Los Angeles ©️Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Photo: Ron Amstutz Image courtesy of Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 16 · 18 min
Poets for Peace & Humanity
Poetry has often been called the language of the heart, but can it also become a language of resistance, dialogue and peace? Poet, author and cultural activist Raja Ahmad Aminullah certainly believes so, and has spent decades using literature to spark conversations about humanity, justice and the world we live in. This month, he's bringing together voices from Malaysia and beyond for "Poets for Peace and Humanity: Against Hegemony & Imperialism" while also launching his latest book, Sepucuk Surat, Sebuah Episod: Rakaman Pelaku-Pelaku Zaman. He joins us to tell us more. Poets for Peace and Humanity runs from the 23rd to the 25th of July, with events at GMBB, Rumah Mandiri and PPAS in Selangor. The series brings together poets and writers for readings and conversations on peace, humanity and social justice. The launch of Sepucuk Surat, Sebuah Episod: Rakaman Pelaku-Pelaku Zaman will take place on Thursday, 23 July at 4pm, at The Grey Box in GMBB. Free admission for all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 10 · 27 min
Being Carried
Being Carried is a new theatre production that puts disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent artists at the heart of the creative process, exploring themes of care, connection and survival through lived experience. Created as a collaboration between Malaysia and the UK, the production also asks audiences to rethink how disability is represented, both on stage and in society. Joining us are two of the artists behind Being Carried: Ho Lee Ching, neurodivergent and disabled theatre-maker and founder of Teater Untuk Semua, and Wheelsmith, a musician and performer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 9 · 27 min
Shakespeare Meets Noh: Desdemona
Cross-cultural collaborations often produce some of the most exciting work in theatre, especially when they bring together traditions that, at first glance, seem worlds apart. Shakespeare Meets Noh: Desdemona does exactly that, combining Shakespeare's Othello with the centuries-old performance traditions of Japanese Noh theatre to create an entirely new theatrical experience. Following a successful premiere in Tokyo, the production now returns to Malaysia for audiences here to experience this striking fusion of classical storytelling, movement, music and ritual. Joining us to talk about the journey behind the production are cast member and producer Lim Soon Heng, along with musician Santosh Logandran. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 3 · 26 min
TITANS & Temptations
The klpac Orchestra is celebrating its 20th anniversary with its biggest production yet, bringing together more than 100 musicians for TITANS & Temptations. We speak to Music Director and Resident Conductor Lee Kok Leong, and First Violinist Zeth Yuen about the orchestra's journey, the challenge of bringing more than 100 musicians together on one stage, and why TITANS & Temptations promises an unforgettable evening of Romantic masterworks by Mendelssohn, Mahler and Suppé. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 2 · 29 min
Mak Yong Shakespeare: The Comedy of Errors - an adaptation
What do Shakespeare and Mak Yong have in common? More than you might think! Mak Yong Shakespeare: The Comedy of Errors brings together one of the world's best-known comedies with Kelantan's centuries-old dance theatre tradition, creating a fresh take on a timeless tale of mistaken identities, family reunions and comic confusion. We speak to director Norzizi Zulkifli about the inspiration behind this ambitious production, the creative challenges of blending two distinct theatrical traditions, and why reimagining Shakespeare through the language of Mak Yong offers audiences a new way to experience both classics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 26 · 23 min
WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble's 20th Anniversary Celebration
This year, WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking twenty years of original music, collaborations, recordings and performances that have helped shape Malaysia's jazz landscape. Founded and led by pianist and composer Tay Cher Siang, the group has built a reputation for blending jazz with distinctly Malaysian influences, literary themes and fearless experimentation. The celebrations include a performance at the Royal Selangor Jazz Festival 2026, as well as a special anniversary concert, WVC 20, that brings together past and present collaborators for an evening reflecting on the band's remarkable journey. We speak to Cher Siang to reflect on the band’s journey thus far, while discussing the big anniversary celebrations, and also the road ahead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 25 · 17 min
Across Galaxies & Kingdoms
Great stories need great music. Often, it's the score that nudges us when to feel hope, fear, triumph, or heartbreak, turning unforgettable moments on screen into experiences that stay with us for years. Tutan Entertainment's upcoming concert, Across Galaxies & Kingdoms, shines a spotlight on the music behind some of science fiction and fantasy's most iconic worlds, from The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones to Battlestar Galactica and beyond. Leading the performance is conductor Kevin Field, Conductor Laureate of the Tutan Festival Orchestra (appearing courtesy of Bentley Music Academy) to tell us more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 19 · 24 min
The Merry Widow
What happens when an entire country's financial future depends on who one wealthy widow decides to marry? That's the delightfully improbable premise at the heart of The Merry Widow, Franz Lehár's much-loved operetta filled with romance, intrigue, and plenty of laughs. KL City Opera is bringing the classic work to the stage this July, reimagined in English and set against the elegance and glamour of 1920s Paris. Joining us to talk about the production are cast members Janet Lee and Gui Foo Chen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 18 · 16 min
Shades of Handel
When most people think of George Frideric Handel, it's often the Messiah and the soaring "Hallelujah" Chorus that come to mind. But Handel's musical legacy extends far beyond his most famous work. A special concert titled Shades of Handel, presented by VerSeS Music Ensembles and performed by the KL Madrigal Singers & Players, aims to reveal the many colours of the Baroque master's music, through a programme of vocal and instrumental works performed on period instruments. We find out more from Scott Woo, tenor and Director of the KL Madrigal Singers & Players. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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