KUCHING: In a groundbreaking achievement within the world of performing arts, Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) has etched its name in history by pioneering the live streaming of musical dramas.
SCV sales, marketing and events director Zaini Zainuddin unveiled this remarkable initiative, which commenced with the acclaimed production ‘Putri Santubong’ in 2021. This marked a monumental occasion as it became the world’s inaugural live-streamed musical drama.
This trailblazing success of the first musical served as a catalyst for the subsequent masterpiece, titled ‘Rentap – The Battle of Bukit Sadok’, set to make its premiere on Aug 18.
“The 2021 musical was a bold step beyond our comfort zone, especially considering the backdrop of the Movement Control Order (MCO),” Zaini elaborated.
“I posed a challenge to my team: why not transcend the conventional and explore the realm of live streaming? From this challenge, the concept of a musical drama was born, and we took it upon ourselves to turn it into reality.”
The debut musical achieved astounding success, drawing a global audience of 110,000 paying viewers on its premiere night and an additional 120,000 viewers on the second night.
“This triumph inspired us to embark on a second musical drama, and we are poised to drive this digital movement forward with more musical dramas in the future,” he stated.
Zaini shared these insights during a conversation with the media at the full-dress rehearsal of the musical, which took place at Sarawak Cultural Village here on yesterday (Aug 16).
Beyond setting records in the theater domain, he envisions transforming Sarawak into a prominent hub for Malaysian filmmakers.
“These musicals lay the foundation for establishing a broader platform within the performing arts industry. Our aspiration is for this production to set the standard for emerging artists,” he explained.
“Furthermore, we aspire to see Sarawak become a destination for film production, where international filmmakers can converge to create cinematic art, dramas, and theatrical performances. Our expansive landscape presents a latent opportunity, akin to Johor, to establish our very own film studio right here.”
