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While William Shakespeare’s official birthday is not explicitly stated, the world designates the 23rd of April as his birthday, which happens to also be World Book Day, making it significant due to Shakespeare’s works and contributions to literature. So, I thought why not acknowledge his impact/influence on the Malaysian front by promoting a local production/stage performance, inspired by his very own “The Comedy of Errors”, which has different varieties of humour, with most of them coming from slapstick and mistaken identity. As Shakespeare is a well-known playwright and poet, his plays would be incomplete without puns and play of words. In the original work, the story follows twins who are separated at birth by accident. Of course, one mistake leads to another and makes things complicated and ridiculous, especially when it involves wrongful accusations.

Now, in the Malaysian production that involves students from the Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation of a local public university, there’ll be a twist. You’ll get to experience Shakespeare’s comedy through dance, known as Mak Yong, the dying art form from Malaysia’s Kelantan. In 2005, the UNESCO recognised the dance as an intangible cultural heritage. Today, its performance is limited due to low participation from the younger generation and restrictions by the state government, even if the two-decade ban was lifted in 2019.

The version is a new one, even if you’ve watched other adaptations anywhere in Malaysia previously. A mix of song and music, it is directed by Norzizi Zulkifli, who is a former actress and host, before joining academia in 2006 and since then becoming one of its teaching staff/lecturers. Norzizi Zulkifli is a champion in cross-cultural stage adaptations, likely helped by the fact that she has both qualifications from universities abroad as well as a local university and a few local academies and institutions.

The comic misadventure will be onstage at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP)/ Petronas Philharmonic Hall, home to the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. The initiative is among many, in line with the DFP’s commitment in bringing traditional performing arts to the contemporary stage for the audiences of today, who might want to have a closer look at an in-person performance, rather than via the screen.

So, dance, laugh, and gasp all you want this coming 25th of July 2026, Saturday, 8 pm, MYT.

Tickets start from MYR69. Discounts apply for MYKAD holders, OKU card holders, and senior citizens. For students, a different pricing tier applies. If you’re willing to fork out more to sit in a suite, a different pricing tier applies as well and you will be served light refreshments.

For more information, you may call 03 2331 7007 or email to contactus@dfp.com.my