By: Zaki Salleh
IPOH — The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, graced the staging of Kampung Boy, a biographical theatre production on National Laureate Datuk Lat, at the Perak Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) Auditorium.
Also in attendance was the Raja Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad accompanied the royal couple.
Their presence added prestige to the event, underscoring the Perak royal institution’s continued commitment and support for the preservation of the arts and the nation’s cultural heritage.
The production also serves as a tribute to the 9th National Artist Award recipient, Datuk Lat, the renowned cartoonist who elevated Malaysia’s identity onto the global stage.
Directed by Ridhwan Saidi with a script by Saad Omar, Kampung Boy features an experienced ensemble cast who successfully bring to life the iconic world created by Datuk Lat.
Among the actors involved are Safura Ya’cob, Ilya Senario, Taiyuddin Bakar (as adult Lat), and Hadi Mikail (as young Lat).
Employing a fresh realist approach, the theatre piece takes the audience through a nostalgic journey of village life as depicted in the beloved cartoon series cherished by Malaysians for generations.
The staging received an enthusiastic response from the audience, who were excited to witness a live adaptation of the classic work enriched with new elements while retaining the authenticity of Kampung Boy.
The biographical theatre follows the fictionalised autobiographical account of Datuk Lat’s childhood in his hometown of Kota Bharu, Batu Gajah.
Blending realism, music, and narrative, the production invites audiences to immerse themselves in nostalgia and the essence of Malay culture through humour and memories of the past.
