Randai Macbeth

“Randai MacBeth is a testament that tradition, when respected and reimagined, has the power to endure.” – Eksentrika

This is Shakespeare like you’ve never seen before: Reimagined through Minangkabau traditions and Malay cultural identity, Randai Macbeth is a thrilling adaptation of a popular Shakespeare classic by one of Malaysia’s most inventive playwright and director, Dr. Norzizi Zulkifli.

Keeping true to the original text, Randai Macbeth follows the story of a hero named Macbeth, who receives a prediction from three witches about his fate to become King. When his wife discovers this, she plots to murder the existing King so that both herself and her husband can ascend to power—resulting in worse misfortune when this tragic murder haunts both their lives.

This production by ASWARA’s Traditional Performing Arts Centre (PuTRA) from Malaysia reimagines the tragedy of Macbeth through the Malaysian theatre form, randai. Originating from the Minangkabau in West Sumatra, Indonesia, randai is actively performed by diasporic communities through Malaysia. This theatre tradition combines music, singing, dance, drama and the martial art silat.

In 2025, the production won a staggering eight awards at the 20th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, Malaysia’s premier performing arts awards. Randai Macbeth was awarded Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Music Director, Best ensemble and Best Costume, Make-up and Styling, and also clinched one of the coveted Best Of honours, Best Production of 2024. Drawing parallels between the character tropes and cultural nuances found in both Western and Malay culture, this bold and inventive production shows the enduring power of traditional theatre and its potential for relevance in contemporary times.