Curtains up: local theatre and dance highlights in August

Yusof Amin and Grace Ng play a couple in conversation in Drifting Kaos Productions' premiere show, 'Lungs'. (Jazzie Lee pic)PETALING JAYA: Local and international theatre, dance, ballet and puppetry productions are among the highlights of Malaysia's vibrant performing arts calendar this month, with Penang taking centre stage through the George Town Festival and Penang Puppet Festival.HIGHLIGHTS'Once Upon A Malaysian Dream' (theatre)Written, produced and directed by celebrated playwright Kee Thuan Chye, this brand-new production features a cast of 12 in an astonishing 200 roles!A boy growing up in newly independent Malaysia dreams of a nation where people of every race thrive together in harmony - but things do not go as he expects.“The Malaysian Dream is something that’s very close to my heart," said Kee, whose last play "Swordfish + Concubine" was staged to critical acclaim in 2017."As Malaysians are becoming increasingly divided along racial lines and on many issues that affect their lives, I hope this play will be a timely reminder of the need for a reboot, maybe even a return to basics, to attain a united, multiracial Malaysia that truly reflects the ideals of Merdeka."When: Aug 13-16Where: Dewan Sivik MBPJ, SelangorGet your tickets here.'Lungs' (theatre)Written by British playwright Duncan Macmillan, "Lungs" follows a couple as they navigate one conversation that stretches across years."As Malaysia grapples with climate concerns, rising mental health challenges and shifting family structures, 'Lungs' offers a precise, unflinching mirror," said Drifting Kaos Productions artistic director and FMT Lifestyle writer Dinesh Kumar Maganathan on his full-length directorial debut."It speaks to a new generation navigating adulthood in uncertain times. More than that, the play presents a brutally honest take on a flawed relationship between a man and a woman, centred around a very important decision - whether to have a child or not.“As a 39-year-old married man, these are the kind of conversations I’ve had with my wife, and I know there are many couples out there who are having similar conversations."When: Aug 27-30Where: indicine, klpac, Sentul, Kuala LumpurGet your tickets here.THEATRE‘Shakespeare Meets Noh: Desdemona’This cross-cultural production reimagines Shakespeare’s "Othello" through the aesthetics and discipline of Japanese Noh theatre.