Performances of “Tiger of Malaya” Written by Alfian Sa’at and Directed by Mohd Fared Jainal (Singapore) and Related Events

Performances of [Tiger of Malaya]. Three male actors and two female actors are in the photo.

The Japan Foundation and Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC) will cohost BIOTOPE, a three-year exchange program for people involved in the performing arts in Japan and ASEAN, from 2026 to 2028. As part of the program’s inaugural year, “Tiger of Malaya” written by Alfian Sa’at and directed by Mohd Fared Jainal will be presented at World Theatre Festival Shizuoka 2026. A workshop and talk by the artists will also be held as related events. In the workshop, the artists will introduce their respective creative approaches and thought processes. There will also be time for interactive learning through dialogue and an exchange of views with the participants. Interaction between artists and participants from different backgrounds is aimed at creating opportunities for the birth of new perspectives and creative inspiration.

Two actors are kneeling on the stage.

A performer stands alone on the stage. In the background, a monochrome video is being projected.

A female actress wearing traditional Japanese clothing is in the photo.

From comedy to inquiry: The theatrical world of Alfian Sa’at
Singaporean playwright Alfian Sa’at excels at delivering difficult themes like history, politics, and identity to audiences by wrapping them in keen wit and lighthearted humor. In this work written to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of Teater Ekamatra, his rich sense of language and critical perspective are on full display. The work recasts Malay actors in the roles of the Malay characters and a Chinese actor as a “not-so-villainous villain,” while the Japanese actors waver between heroes, antagonists, and victims. Through the dynamism of theater, audiences will first be brought to laughter and eventually made to pause as their mentalities are shaken.

Performance Information

Date/Time Saturday, April 25, 2026 / 13:00
Sunday, April 26, 2026 / 13:00
※Pre-performance talk: Starting 25 minutes before each performance.
Venue Shizuoka Arts Theatre
Duration 90 minutes without intermission
Language English, Malay, Japanese, and Chinese with Japanese and English surtitles
Tickets　*1 ¥4,600 (High school students and under: ¥1,100), other ticket types available
*Reserved seating　
Credits
  • Playwright: Alfian Sa’at
  • Director: Mohd Fared Jainal
  • Actors: Siti Khalijah Zainal, Ghafir Akbar, Kitagawa Rei, Sugiyama Ken, Darren Guo
  • Production: Teater Ekamatra
  • Organized by the Japan Foundation, Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC)

Related Events

Artist Talk: Tiger of Malaya

This talk will examine the creative process behind the work with its playwright and director as well as Ken Takiguchi, a prominent figure in Singaporean theater.

Date/Time Sunday, April 26, 2026 / 10:30-11:30
Venue Café Cinderella, Shizuoka Arts Theatre
Speaker
  • Alfian Sa’at (Playwright)
  • Mohd Fared Jainal (Director)
  • Moderator: Ken Takiguchi (Dramaturg, Translator)
Fee ¥1,000, reservation required. *1
Language Japanese and English (with interpretation)
Credits Organized by the Japan Foundation, Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC)

Workshop for Theatre Practitioners by Alfian Sa’at

In this workshop focused on the creative process behind “Tiger of Malaya”, Sa’at, a leading figure in Singaporean and Southeast Asian theater, will offer his views on its state as well as the role of the playwright and engage in a discussion with participants. Playwrights, directors, actors, producers, and others interested in Southeast Asian theater practices may find inspiration for their future activities.

Date/Time Monday, April 27, 2026 / 10:00-13:00
Venue Rehearsal room1, Shizuoka Performing Arts Park
Instructor Alfian Sa’at
Participants Theatre practitioners (playwrights, directors, actors, producers, etc.)
Fee ¥1,500 (U-25: ¥1,000), reservation required. *1
Language Japanese and English (with interpretation)
Credits Organized by the Japan Foundation, Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC)

Artist Profiles

Alfian Sa’at (Singapore)

Portrait of Alfian Sa’at
(c) Rachel Ng

Alfian Sa’at is the Resident Playwright of Wild Rice and a renowned writer with works spanning poetry, short stories, flash fiction, and plays. His published works include One Fierce Hour, A History of Amnesia, Cooling Off Day, and Malay Sketches, among others. Alfian has received numerous accolades, including the Golden Point Award for Poetry (2001), the National Arts Council Young Artist Award, and multiple nominations for the Singapore Literature Prize. He has also won Best Original Script at the Life! Theatre Awards four times for plays including Landmarks (2004), Nadirah (2010), and Hotel (2016).

Mohd Fared Jainal (Singapore)

Portrait of Mohd Fared Jainal
(c)A.Syadig

Mohd Fared Jainal: A recipient of the Goh Chok Tong Youth Promise Award, Fared engages in cross-disciplinary work delving into both the realms of visual and performing arts. He holds a Master’s in Arts (Design) from Open University/LASALLE College of the Arts.
Fared has collaborated extensively with various theatre and arts groups in Singapore as a director, performer, visual artist, and set designer. He has won several awards as a director, designer and actor for the Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards and BOH Cameronian Arts Awards.
A founding member of Neon Tights, a visual art collective dealing with theatre design, Fared also served as the Artistic Director of Teater Ekamatra from 2013 to 2023. He also does consultancy work with Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) and teaches at School of the Arts (SOTA).

[Contact Us]

Performing Arts Section, Arts and Culture Dept., The Japan Foundation
Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6063
E-mail: pa＠jpf.go.jp
(When sending an e-mail, please replace the full-width "＠" character with a half-width character.)

What We Do