KUCHING: Sarawak’s rich tapestry of culture is set to come alive once again as the highly anticipated Sarawak Harvest & Folklore Festival returns to Sarawak Cultural Village from today (Aug 18) to Aug 20.
The highlight of this festival is the eagerly awaited musical drama, “Rentap: The Battle of Bukit Sadok,” promising to transport audiences deep into the heart of Iban legend and history on Aug 18 and 19.
Staged against the backdrop of Sarawak Cultural Village, the musical boasts an impressive cast.
Among them, Anding Indrawani taking on the role of Rentap, Melissa Francis portraying Sawai, Jay Iswazir as Roslan, Nick Jansen as White Rajah, Arwan Umar embodying Orang Kaya Nanang, Shakira Stephen as Suntey, and Abdul Wahab as Dana Bayang.
Complementing the production’s immersive experience, it features melodies composed by Jerry Kamit, while the original soundtrack ‘Rentap’ is sung by Sarawak rock legend Depha Masterpiece.
For those seeking digital access, an option to enjoy the festival via live streaming on www.sarawakharvestfestival.com.my is available at a fee of RM30 per viewing.
Physical viewing is exclusively scheduled for Aug 19, with a starting price of RM200, while the Aug 18 event is by invitation only.
Indrawani, who embodies the main character of Rentap, expressed his passion for the world of musicals.
“I have always loved performing in musicals. Following a two-year musical hiatus, I didn’t hesitate to take on this project. It’s something I eagerly looked forward to.
“Playing a significant character from a historical figure, I saw it as a challenge to push my boundaries as a stage actor.
“Theatre is like stepping out of your comfort zone, and it truly makes you a better actor,” he said when met by reporters after the full-dress rehearsal of the musical at Sarawak Cultural Village here last Wednesday.
The multifaceted demands of the production became apparent as he delved into the intricacies of his role.
“Apart from acting, singing, dancing, and memorising lines and choreography in minimal time, I must say the most challenging parts were memorising lines in the Iban language while performing the intricate fighting scenes.
“Additionally, we had to work with limited materials. We needed to visualise the mannerism of each historical character based on pictures and channel our creativity to interpret them authentically.
“These aspects were both physically and mentally taxing. As actors, we must come prepared and be ready for the demanding daily rehearsals,” he explained.
Beyond the artistic endeavours, the musical carries a profound message of patriotism and heritage.
“The core message of this musical is centred around patriotism. It’s a call to delve into our history, especially the stories of our local heroes who valiantly fought for our land.
“The musical reminds us that history has a way of repeating itself, and we can learn valuable lessons from it. It’s our responsibility to protect and preserve our land for future generations,” he emphasised.
With rehearsals having commenced on Aug 1, Indrawani shared that rehearsals have been going well and have now reached the state of combining all nine scenes.
Francis, who plays the role of Rentap’s wife Sawai, took on the role with the goal to venture outside her established identity as a singer and businesswomen.
“I wanted to try something new in my career as an artist. This musical marks my debut as a theatre actress.
“It also happens to be the first ever Iban theatre production, which serves as an inspiration for my career and the music industry at large,” she said.
With each new step comes its own set of challenges, and for Melissa, the realm of live acting presents a unique set of hurdles.
“While I’ve dabbled in acting through video clips and music videos, this is a new territory. We’re performing live on stage, where dialogue and movements need to be memorised. Mistakes cannot be edited out; the show must go on,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, Jansen, who portrays the character of Rajah Brooke, shared his journey of conquering stage fright, despite being a content creator and having a substantial following on social media.
“I love taking up projects that push me beyond my comfort zone. After embarking on a career in filming, content creation, and even releasing a song, I felt it was time for the next stride: participating in an exciting musical.
“Prior to joining the musical, stage fright had been a constant companion. I have never been comfortable on stage, in front of people. However, through this project I am slowly overcoming these fears,” he said.
Jansen went on to express how the production has widened his perspective on the intricacies of such a project and the sheer amount of dedication and effort required to execute such a large production.
Umar, who hails from West Malaysia, shared that his inspiration for embracing the role of Rich Nanang, a loyal and unwavering friend to Rentap, stems from his connection to the historically rooted narrative of the Iban warrior.
“The demands of this role have pushed me to study and challenge myself in portraying this character, especially having to learn the Iban language in a short time,” he shared.
He expressed hopes for the audience to learn lessons from this story.
“The audience needs to recognise that each character brought to life mirrors our daily life, and it is a reflection of reality,” he highlighted.
