KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts aims to provide Sarawakian performers with opportunities to gain recognition and perform beyond the state’s borders, according to minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
“This is the reason why I think it’s time for Sarawak to have a Centre of Performing Arts.
“I don’t want them to be confined to performing only in Sarawak. We want these performers to have the opportunity to perform at prestigious venues like Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur or the Royal Albert Hall in London, and other locations worldwide,” Abdul Karim stated during a press conference on the Sarawak Harvest and Folklore Festival here on Tuesday (July 11).
“It’s not wrong to dream but to get to that level, we have to build up the performing arts industry in Sarawak, and this is where the ministry comes in.”
Regarding the Sarawak Harvest and Folklore Festival, he highlighted the staging of the musical drama Rentap – The Battle of Bukit Sadok at the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) next month, which will feature local performers.
“I have told the organisers that I would like to see this drama documented and also for the theatre team to tour and perform not only in Kuching or Sarawak but also in Miri, Sibu, and beyond the state as a means of promoting performing arts.
“We should think about how to develop performing arts on a grand scale, expanding our repertoire to include stories and legends of Sarawak, such as Rentap or Puteri Santubong,” he added.
Abdul Karim envisioned that such developments in the performing arts sector would captivate and attract audiences from around the world.
Drawing inspiration from successful international productions like Mamma Mia, he stressed the need to continuously improve and develop the performing arts scene in Sarawak.
