PETALING JAYA, Oct 17 (Bernama)– The newly launched Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) aims to nurture Malaysian talent by providing access to world-class facilities and opportunities to collaborate with international artistes.
Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah said the centre, developed with an investment of more than RM200 million at Sunway Square, would provide a platform for local artistes to develop their skills, pursue meaningful careers and contribute to the creative economy.
He said the investment reflected the importance of giving the performing arts the same level of commitment and resources accorded to education and research.
“Malaysian artistes deserve the opportunity to learn and develop their craft on the finest stages. With the right support, facilities and encouragement, there’s no limit to what they can achieve,” he said in his keynote address at the centre’s launch last night.
The launch featured Brand New Day: A Symphonic Broadway Celebration, showcasing 22 singers, eight dancers and the 73-piece TUTAN Festival Orchestra under the direction of Kevin Field. The performance included songs from renowned musicals such as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Wicked and Dreamgirls.
Cheah said he hoped JCPAC would establish strong partnerships with leading performing arts organisations worldwide, enabling Malaysian artistes and creative professionals to exchange ideas, gain experience and expand their international reach.
He added that the centre’s success would be measured not only by the number of performances hosted but also by the opportunities created for young people to discover their talents, artistes to develop their careers and communities to engage with the arts.
JCPAC is part of the RM1.8 billion Sunway Square integrated development. The idea was first explored in 2018 to enrich the educational experience at Sunway University while serving the wider Sunway City community.
Cheah said a holistic education should place equal emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as the arts and humanities.
“Technology may transform the way we live and work, but it can never replace the wisdom and human connection that the arts inspire. The arts and culture must remain at the heart of our educational ecosystem, which I believe no technology and AI can replace,” he said.
The centre’s design draws inspiration from the tin-mining landscape on which Sunway City was built, with approximately RM30 million invested in its sound system and acoustic technology.
Its 1,200-seat Grand Theatre features Malaysia’s first combined installation of L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive sound and Ambiance active acoustics, allowing the venue’s acoustics to be adapted for orchestral music, musical theatre and spoken drama.
JCPAC also houses The Studio, a flexible venue accommodating up to 150 people, equipped with a portable stage and reconfigurable seating for smaller performances, experimental productions and educational programmes.
Sharing his personal connection with music, Cheah recalled playing drums in The Ambassadors, a band he formed with fellow Malaysian students in Melbourne, Australia, during the 1960s. The group once backed a young Olivia Newton-John at St Kilda Town Hall.
Although he eventually pursued a career in business, Cheah said the experience had given him a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
Upcoming productions at JCPAC include Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical beginning Oct 31, Dama Asia’s The Butterfly Lovers The Musical in November, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical from Dec 22 to Jan 10, 2027.
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