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9 Local Plays You Should Totally Catch Instead Of Going To The Cinema

As Oscar Wilde once said, "I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being."

Cover image via Twitter @joannekam

1. Momotaro And The Ogre @ DPAC (22 to 26 October 2014)

Momotaro, a Japanese young boy born from a mysterious peach, sets out on a quest to save his village from Oni, a fearsome Ogre. Along the way, he meets Inu the dog, Saru the monkey, and Kiji the pheasant and together, they learn some lessons about empathy, diversity, and friendship. Combining narration, dialogue, music and movement, plus fun action and interaction, this show will engage, delight and tickle family members across the generations, from ages 3 on up!

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Dates and Times: 22 to 24 October, 10.00am; 24 October, 8.30pm; 25 & 26 October, 3.00pm

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Venue: Black Box, Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC), H-01, Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana, 47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

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Ticket prices: RM50 (adults), RM35 (students/disabled/seniors)

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For more information about the play and ticketing details, go here.

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2. 'Human After All' by Tapestry @ DPAC (23 to 26 October 2014)

‘Human After All’ is an interactive musical showcase choreographed for the stage, accompanied by multimedia effects and the sounds of current and traditional instruments. Through its music numbers, the show invites the audience to explore the effects of living in a digital world surrounded by instant gratification in contrast to heart-to-heart human connection. With the aid of visual, lighting and live vocal processing effects, the songs are weaved together through a range of narrative stories, dramatised vignettes, with direct interactions with the audience.

Dates and Times: 23 to 25 October, 8.30pm; 26 October, 3.00pm & 8.30pm

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Venue: Theatre, Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC), H-01, Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana, 47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

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Ticket prices: RM55 (Category 1), RM 45 (Category 2). Book your tickets here.

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For more information about the show, go here.

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3. Faith Healer @ The Actors' Studio (2 to 9 November 2014)

Presented by The Actors' Studio, Faith Healer is a play told in four parts by three individuals; the eponymous hero whose name is Frank Hardy, Gracie who is Frank Hardy’s wife, Frank Hardy’s manager Teddy and finally by Frank Hardy once again. Each of them in their own way describes their successes and failures in their lives in a highly dramatic, comic and at times in terrifying details as they bring forth the Faith Healing performances to small villages halls in remote parts of the UK.

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Dates and Times: 6 to 8 November 2014, 8:30 PM; 9 November 2014, 3:00 PM

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Venue: Pentas 2, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), Jalan Strachan, Sentul, 51100 Kuala Lumpur.

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Ticket Prices: RM63 (adults); RM43 (seniors/disabled/TAS card holders); RM33 (students). Book your tickets here.

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4. The Paper Cinema's Odyssey @ Pusat Kreatif Kanak-Kanak Bainun (6 to 9 November 2014)

Kakiseni and Battersea Arts Centre presents The Paper Cinema's Odyssey - an interpretive live performance based on Homer's The Odyssey, brought to life using hand-drawn paper puppets and ingenious use of light, camera and sound. The show is performed to originally scored music, performed and written by The Paper Cinema musicians.

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Dates and Times: 6 to 8 November 2014, 8:30 PM; 8 to 9 Nov 2014, 3:00 PM

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Venue: Pusat Kreatif Kanak-Kanak Tuanku Bainun, 48, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur.

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Ticket Prices: RM25 (early birds & students), RM30 (at the door). Early bird tickets are only valid until 5 November and can be purchased here or via phone (03-2723 7983).

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Get more information about the show here.

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5. Kam In Your Face 2 @ PJ Live Arts (6 to 16 November 2014)

Image via PJ Live Arts

Bringing together the glamour of Hollywood and Broadway, Joanne Kam’s final production for 2014 showcases amazing singing in glam costumes, fun mash-ups and heart-pounding production numbers. Inspired by Saturday Night Live, this comedy cabaret sequel to the original 2008 production features fall-off-your-seat spoofs and hilarious comedy skits poking fun at popular social issues. Cast includes Joanne Kam, Vince Chong, Kavin Jay, and Papi Zak.
NOTE: Contains mature content.

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Dates and Times: 6 to 16 November 2014, 8.30pm

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Venue: Theatre, PJ Live Arts, Level 2, Block K @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, 46200 Selangor.

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Ticket Prices: RM68 (Economy), RM88 (Premium), RM108 (VIP). Tickets can be purchased here.

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More information on the show here.

6. Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Footstool Players @ DPAC (13 to 16 November & 19 to 23 November 2014)

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Footstool Players returns with their critically acclaimed and award-winning play, which explores the themes of love, courtship, marriage and family in a collection of comedic and dramatic sketches about relationships. There’s innocence, idealism, joy, hope, regret, heartbreak, sorrow, and more – everything that comes with that “crazy little thing called love”!

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Dates and Times: 13 to 14 November, 8.30pm; 15 to 16 November, 3.00pm & 8.30pm; 19 to 22 November, 8.30pm; 23 November, 3.00pm

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Venue: Theatre, Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC), H-01, Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana, 47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

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Ticket Prices: RM48 (normal), RM38 (students/seniors/disabled). Tickets are available for purchase here.

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More on the Footstool Players here.

7. Lungs @ Sparky Dawg (13 to 29 November 2014)

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First of its kind in Kuala Lumpur, the play does not have a set, props, costume change, sound or elaborate lights. Written by Duncan Macmillan, Lungs is a simple play about the rollercoaster journeys couples have to embark on and the consequences of their choices as they grapple with questions of family and change, betrayal, optimism, happenstance, and the terrible pain that you can only cause the people you love.

Weekday & Weekend Night Shows @ 8.30pm: 13 to 15 November, 20 to 22 November, 27 to 28 November

Matinee Shows @ 3.00pm: 16, 23 & 29 November

Venue: Sparky Dawg, Unit 108, Block G, Ground Floor, Jln 16/11, Phileo Damansara 1, 46350 Petaling Jaya.

Ticket Prices: RM30 (Weekday and Weekend Night Shows), RM25 (Matinee Shows, students & senior citizens). Book your tickets here.

For more information about the play and ticketing info, go here.

8. Shear Madness @ PJ Live Arts (26 November to 6 December 2014)

Image via PJ Live Arts

Isabel Fernandez, the landlady and former world-famous pianist who lives above the Shear Madness unisex hair salon, is murdered with a set of beautician shears, so now everyone in the shop is a suspect! Whodunit?! The cast and audience work together to solve the crime! This Malaysian production of the world’s longest-running comedy play combines up-to-the-minute improvisational humour and a mixture of audience sleuthing to deliver a unique performance each night. Cast includes Qahar Aqilah, Marina Tan, Na’a Murad, Junji Delfino, Phoon Chi Ho and Alfred Loh.

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Dates and Times: 26 November to 6 December 2014, 8.30pm; 7 December 2014, 3.00pmVenue: Level 2 Block K @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Selangor 46200 Malaysia
Tickets: RM65, RM288 for 6 tickets

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Venue: Theatre, PJ Live Arts, Level 2, Block K @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, 46200 Selangor.

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Ticket Prices: RM65 (normal), RM288 for 6 tickets. Get your tickets here.

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Get more information about the play here.

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9. Raj And The End Of Tragedy @ klpac (27 to 30 November 2014)

Image via klpac

Written by Jo Kukathas and directed by Natalie Hennidige, 'Raj and the End of Tragedy' is a creative collaboration between The Instant Cafe Theatre Company and CAKE Theatrical Productions. The story tells of two dreamers, Raj and Uncle L, who embark on a long trip to the States despite protests from their families. As the two embrace their wanderlust, the audience will be strung along in this tragic-comic tale that portrays the ups and downs of life.

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Dates and Times: 27 to 30 November, 8.30pm (Night Shows); 29 to 30 November, 3.00pm (Matinee Shows)

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Venue: Pentas 2, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), Jalan Strachan, Sentul, 51100 Kuala Lumpur.

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Ticket Prices: RM58 (Night Shows), RM48 (Matinee Shows), RM38 (students). Tickets can be purchased here.

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For more information on the play and other ticketing details, go here.

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Check out more works of art from Malaysia's flourishing art community HERE:

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