An Esplanade Commission
Written by Zulfadli Rashid, directed by Aidli Mosbit (Singapore)

In Malay with English subtitles

An imaginative adaptation of Malay folklore, Alkesah evokes an otherworldly space in which these familiar folktale characters, such as Mat Jenin, Pak Pandir, Pak Belalang, and Nenek Kabayan, meet and produce unexpected chemistry. Through verbal sparring and lively song-and-dance routines, its cast of characters explores pertinent topics such as leadership, sustainability and gender equality in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, as seen in this full-length recording of the production.

The story revolves around the chronicles of Mat Jenin (Norisham Osman), who is now the new head of his village after his father has passed on. However, Mat Jenin prefers to be swept up in his daydreams to become a singer one day, torn between his true desire and his inherited responsibilities. The village shaman, Pak Belalang (Jeff Catz), casts doubt on his ability to lead the village through one of their most pressing problems—the sustainability of their agricultural practices in the face of emerging environmental crises.

Pak Belalang goads Mat Jenin into braving the Bahana forest, to find the wicked witch Nenek Kebayan (Siti Maznah), whom Belalang claims to have put an evil spell on the village. Through this arduous journey, Mat Jenin uncovers greater hidden truths which subvert the narratives he has been fed.

A fresh, joyous mix of contemporary musical fun and traditional folktales, Alkesah tackles important questions with flamboyant absurdity. Does responsibility fall solely on the leader or on the entire community? Why do we only scramble to find solutions when problems arise, and not proactively respond instead? When we unveil the truth, will we then be wise enough to change our ways?

Playwright: Zulfadli Rashid
Director: Aidli Mosbit
Composer, Arranger and Music Director: Elaine Chan
Vocal Coach: Babes Conde
Choreographer: Norhaizad Adam
Lighting Designer: James Tan
Set Designer: Wong Chee Wai
Sound Designer: Joel Fernandez
Costume Designer: Moe Kasim, Moephosis Concepts
Puppet Designer: Frankie Malachi, Mascots and Puppets
Translator: Farhanah Diyanah (FD)
Hair & Make-up: Haslina Ismail, Jane Shah

Performers
Siti Khalijah Zainal
Jeff Catz
Siti Hajar Gani
Hatta Said
Siti Maznah
Norisham Osman
Shafiqhah Efandi
Muhd Haikal Mohd Jani
Ali Mazrin, Qaisarah Anisah
Wan Ahmad
Muhammad Haikal Norman
Navindran Mahindran
Muhammad Raihan Jamaludin
Muhammad Haikal Norman

Ensemble – Puppeteers
Muhamad Huzair Yatim Mustafa
Muhammad Nur Hakim Abdul
Muhammad Raihan Jamaludin
Wan Ahmad, Md Alif Sianipar Amir
Muhammad Sarni Rakib
Muhamad Huzair Bin Yatim Mustafa
Muhammad Nur Hakim Abdul Ghani
Md Alif Sianipar Amir Sjarifuddin Sianipar
Muhammad Sarni Rakib

Ensemble – Villagers
Sri Anum Wahyuni Zainal Abidin
Navindran Mahindran, Ali Mazrin
Qaisarah Anisah Mohamad Raffie
Muhammad Raihan Jamaludin
Muhammad Haikal Norman
Muhammad Sarni Rakib
Muhamad Huzair Yatim Mustafa
Syania Muhammad Shaharuddin
Nurul Arianna Harisa Mohamad Jamil
Maisarah Mydin
Nur Adlina Ismail
Siti Sarah Noor Azman
Sarah Aqilah Shaharudin
Wan Ahmad
Muhammad Nur Hakim Abdul Ghani
Md Alif Sianipar Amir Sjarifuddin Sianipar

Producer: Fezhah Maznan
Production Manager: Elnie S Mashari
Stage Manager: Rashid Shiddiq
Asst Stage Managers: Sri Anum Wahyuni, Navindran Mahindran
Surtitlist Operator: Nur Farisah Abdul Rahim
Sound Operator: Muhammad Shazwan B Mohamed
Lighting Operator: Purlanda Rizki Zahid Abdullah

Staging Crew
Qaisarah Anisah Mohamad Raffie
Muhammad Raihan Jamaludin
Muhammad Haikal Norman
Ali Mazrin
Muhammad Sarni Rakib

An Esplanade Commission
Conceived, written & directed by Ong Keng Sen, Artistic Director, T:>Works (formerly known as TheatreWorks)

Commissioned in 2012 to mark Esplanade’s 10th anniversary, National Broadway Company is a joyous celebration of Singapore’s musical theatre history, as well as a conversation between the past and the present. This recording features excerpts from the production.

Household names such as Dick Lee, Pam Oei, Michael Chiang, Jacintha Abisheganaden, Ivan Heng, Koh Chieng Mun, Najip Ali, Eleanor Wong and Hossan Leong were interviewed on their experiences working on made-in-Singapore musicals beginning with Beauty World (1988), one of the best-known homegrown musicals. Their personal stories were then woven into National Broadway Company, alongside songs from earlier notable musicals such as Fried Rice Paradise (1991), Mortal Sins (1995), Chang and Eng (1997), Haunted (1999), and Forbidden City (2002).

In Singapore’s imagined future, when a National Broadway Company has been established, various real-life theatre personalities (played by other actors) audition to become the company’s artistic director.

National Broadway Company’s big theme is the search for a homegrown identity by young talents hungering to express themselves. What should Singaporean songs sound like? As the characters sing and dance their hearts out to vie for the top spot, we are infected by their love for musical theatre and the vitality of this community. With energetic numbers and nudge-nudge-wink-wink insider references, National Broadway Company strikes a chord with audiences who yearn for belonging.

Songs performed in the excerpts

Fried Rice Paradise and Only If I Could from Fried Rice Paradise
Composer / Lyricist: Dick Lee
Performed by: Benjamin Kheng as Dick Lee

Nothing Gets in My Way from Beauty World
Composer / Lyricist: Dick Lee
Performed by: Gani Abdul Karim as Lulu

No Class from Beauty World
Composer / Lyricist: Dick Lee
Performed by: Gani Abdul Karim as Lulu; Tabitha Nauser & Jacintha Abisheganaden as Jacintha Abisheganaden

Time from Mortal Sins
Composer / Lyricist: Dick Lee
Performed by: The ensemble of National Broadway Company

My Only Chance from Forbidden City
Composer: Dick Lee
Lyricist: Stephen Clark
Performed by: Julia Abueva as Emma Yong

Friends from Mortal Sins
Composer / Lyricist: Dick Lee
Performed by: Julia Abueva as Emma Yong, Denise Tan as Pam Oei

Welcome to Beauty World from Beauty World
Composer / Lyricist: Dick Lee
Performed by: The ensemble of National Broadway Company

Director / Playwright: Ong Keng Sen
Music Director / Conductor: Iskandar Ismail
Choreographer: Zaini Mohd Tahir
Composers: Dick Lee, Ken Low, Mark Chan

Cast (in order of appearance)
Denise Tan
Leena Salim
Dwayne Tan
Benjamin Kheng
Gani Abdul Karim
Tabitha Nauser
Jacintha Abisheganaden
John Lee
Karen Tan
Glory Ngim
Amanda Tee 
Chua Enlai 
Jonathan Lum
Rayve Tay 
Lim Yu-Beng
Erwin Shah Ismail
Aw Yeong Peng Mun
Julia Abueva

The Host: Dick Lee

NBC Dancers
Chang Yao Chung
Elle-May Patterson
Farah Dawood
Francesca Harriman
Gino Babagay
Hafeez Hassan
Jackie Ong
Jennifer Pau
Lei Hoi
Liz Fong
Lu Wit Chin
Marie Shirl
Natalyn Goh (Dance Captain)
Samantha Kan
Tay Wei Liang
Trev Neo
Zhang Minggao

Scenic Designer: Myung Hee Cho
Lighting Designer: Scott Zielinski
Costume Designer: Kaye Voyce
Associate Director: Lok Meng Chue
Sound Designer: Shah Tahir
Hair/Wig Designer: Ashley Lim
Make-up Designer: The Make Up Room
Video Producer: Fran Borgia
Projection Design: Hana Kim
Choral Mistress: Babes Conde
Assistant Music Director and Répétiteur: Joel Nah
Voice Coach: Wendy Tan

Musicians
Brandon Wong
Daniel Chai
Han Oh
Jacob Dalager
Joel Nah
Jonathan Lim
Kenneth Lun
Leo Jeoh
Meah Tze Chuan
Natasha Liu
Ramu Thiruyanam 
Soh Wen Ming
Syawaludin Kassim
Tan Kian Wee
Vuk Krakovic

Music Arrangers
August Lum
Bang Wen Fu
Ernest Thio
Iskandar Ismail
Joel Nah
Julian Wong
Syawaludin Kassim

Music Copyists
Ernest Thio
Joel Nah
Su Wen Li
Syawaludin Kassim

Session Singers
Juwanda Hassim
Gerald Tan
Hazrul Nizam
Lim Huimin
Quek Li Huan
Simone Khoo
Yap Shili

Executive Producer: Tay Tong
Production Manager: Grace Low
Assistant Music Director and Répétiteur: Joel Nah
Stage Manager: Valerie Oliveiro
Technical Manager: Joe Holbrook
Staging: Danny Hones
Wardrobe Mistress: Yvette Ng
Assistant to Executive Producer: Mervyn Quek
Assistant Stage Managers: Jasmine Ng, Phua Yun Yun, Stanley Ng, Suan Yip Ling
Assistant Stage Managers (Bauprobe): Cody Chen, Sarah Sim, Victoria Lim
Assistant to Set Designer: Chan Silei
Assistant Lighting Designer: Gabriel Chan
Assistant to Sound Designer: Sandra Tay
Production Assistant: Tan Xiang Yi
Assistants to Hair/Wig Designer: Jane Neo, Michelle Wai
Wardrobe Assistants: Cheryl Ho, Sophia Foo
Rehearsal Crew: Norashid B Zulbahary, Muhd Hidhayat