GEORGE TOWN, Penang – Get ready for songs that will Baloo-you away! School of The Arts and
Dewan Budaya from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) proudly brings you Jungle Book The Musical.
This musical will be swinging into Penang for an unforgettable three days featuring an original script
and songs that would make Rudyard Kipling proud. This endearing tale of an orphan child left in the
jungle is set to grace the stage of Dewan Budaya Auditorium at USM from September 5 to 7, 2019.
A Classic Tale with a Rohingya Touch
The cast will consist of refugee children, local Malaysian children and university students of USM. Dr.
Pravina Manoharan, the Project Director of the musical, hopes that this move to introduce performing
arts and English to refugee children will give them an opportunity to communicate their challenges
and hardships.
“Mowgli’s search for an identity resonates with these children. They’ve been through so much to get
here and they’re still struggling to find their way in this country,” says Dr. Pravina.
The Right To Dream
The refugee children attend Penang Peace Learning Centre where they receive their basic education.
While many of these children have hopes and dreams for their future, their refugee status continues to
deny them entry to any public school in Malaysia.
“We want the public to come and watch how these kids are enjoying themselves with the roles that
they play in the musical. No child should be deprived of their childhood and we really hope that this
musical will be able to provide them the opportunity to tell the world their story while having a
moment of fun for themselves,” stresses Dr. Mumtaz Begum, Dean of School of The Arts, USM.
A Local Effort to Make a Change
Joining the School of The Arts, USM in its mission to help the refugee children are a team of
Malaysians who seek to bring change through their local influence. They are none other than local
singer-composer Datuk Zainal Abidin, his wife and manager Datin Angelina Asmawi, Founder of Spine
& Joint Clinics Dato’ Dr Nick Boden, his wife and local actor-TV host Datin Elaine Daly, former beauty
queen and Founder of Fugee School Deborah Henry and YB Syerleena Abdul Rashid, State
Assemblyman of Seri Delima and School of The Arts USM alumni who did Fine Arts in Graphics
Communications. They will be attending the musical as VIP guests on September 6, 2019 for the VIP
Show to lend their support to the event.
Lending a Helping Hand
Penang Peace Learning Centre has been in operation since 2013 and is home to about 40 refugee
children who live nearby. However this home is currently threatened with financial shortage and will
face immediate eviction by end of this year if it can’t pay rent and other expenses incurred.
Hence the ticket sales for the musical will be used to help the learning centre to clear off existing
debts and to improve the quality of educational facilities available to the children.
The following are the dates and time of the musical:
September 5, 2019 Matinee Show 11.00am – 12.30pm
September 6, 2019 VIP Show 8.30pm – 10.00pm
September 7, 2019 Regular Show 8.30pm – 10.00pm
For ticketing enquiries and media information, please contact:
Dr. Pravina Manoharan
Project Director
Email: pravina@usm.my
Telephone: 04 – 653 4077
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