Bubu Menari Musical Theatre Brings Perak’s Myth to Life

By: Zaki Saleh

IPOH: The Perak State Department of Culture and Arts (JKKN Perak) continues to impress with its theatrical productions, this time with the staging of the Bubu Menari musical theatre.

Inspired by a well-known Perak myth, the production explores the origins of the traditional Bubu dance and captures audiences with its cultural storytelling.

The two-day performance, held last Friday and Saturday at the JKKN Perak Auditorium, drew an overwhelming response, particularly from theatre enthusiasts.

Written by Zurairi Hanip and directed by Ramdan Misnon, the musical featured a strong cast led by Faris Jamhari as Alang, Harith Iman as Jati, and Jamal Durja as Legam.

All three delivered compelling performances as village youths, engaging the audience with authentic Perak dialect and moments of humour—especially Legam, whose antics provided comic relief.

Other notable performances included Anne Zahuri as Mak Delima, Santy Mala as Mak Cempaka, and Mohd Idzam as Tok Penghulu, all adding depth to the narrative.

The story follows three young men who frequently venture into the forest to catch limbat fish using bubu traps, sometimes staying overnight at their fishing spots. One day, they lose their way, prompting the villagers to search for them.

While trying to find their way home, they encounter a mystical bunian princess and become enchanted by her beauty, to the point that they even dream about her.

To rid themselves of this lingering spell, Alang, Jati, and Legam decorate their bubu traps with attire resembling women’s clothing and dance alongside the villagers, giving birth to the Bubu dance.

The production was supported by Yayasan Hasanah, the Ministry of Finance, JKKN Perak, and Kolej Vokasional Lebuh Cator (KVLC).