KUCHING: The upcoming Sarawak Harvest and Folklore Festival at the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) on Aug 18 and 19 will feature the highly anticipated musical drama Rentap – The Battle of Bukit Sadok.
Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah announced during a press conference here that the musical drama would not only be performed live at the SCV but would also be available for live streaming on the festival’s website, www.sarawakharvestfestival.com.my, for a fee of RM30 per watch.
“The captivating musical drama revolves around the story of Rentap, an Iban warrior known for his fearlessness and legendary status.
“It portrays his unwavering loyalty, sacrifices, and the epic battle between good and evil, driven by jealousy and revenge.
“The tale is interlaced with a captivating romance between Rentap and his wife, Sawai. Rentap, a revered Iban-Dayak chief and war leader, is remembered as the hero of Bukit Sadok,” he said on Tuesday (July 11).
The main and supporting cast of the musical drama includes talented actors such as Anding Indrawani as Rentap, Melissa Francis as Sawai (Rentap’s wife), Nick Jansen as James Brooke, Jay Iswazir as Razlan (James Brooke’s follower), Arwan Umar as Orang Kaya Nanang (Rentap’s friend), Shakira Stephen as Suntey (Sawai’s friend), and Abdul Wahab as Dana Bayang.
Rentap, born in 1800, was an esteemed 19th-century Iban war chief who fought bravely against James Brooke and his men.
Despite being labelled a rebel leader by Brooke, Rentap displayed remarkable bravery in defending his country and his people from intruders.
His victories at Kerangan Peris and Beting Maru showcased his resilience and unwavering determination.
In addition to the musical drama, the festival will also feature the Tribal Ironman Challenge on Aug 19 and 20.
“The 15 finalists, selected during auditions in May, will demonstrate their superhuman strength through traditional activities such as mountain climbing, lifting and carrying 50kg gunny sacks, blowpipe shooting, and more,” said Abdul Karim.
The winner of the Tribal Ironman Challenge 2023 will receive a cash prize of RM1,500, a challenge trophy, medal, and certificate, while the first and second runners-up will be awarded RM1,250 and RM1,000, respectively. Other finalists will also receive consolation prizes of RM500.
Another exciting event at the festival is the Santubong International Folk Dance Competition, scheduled for Nov 3 and 4, also available for live streaming at www.sarawakharvestfestival.com.my
This competition, in collaboration with the Federation of International Dance Festivals, will feature two categories: one open to international participants and the other exclusively for local juniors aged 12 and below.
The winner of the international group will receive RM20,000, while the first and second runners-up will be awarded RM15,000 and RM12,000, respectively. Prizes of RM5,000 each will be given for the Best Costume and Best Music categories.
The winner of the local junior group will walk away with RM4,000, while the first and second runners-up will receive RM3,000 each.
Subsidiary titles such as Best Folk Dance (RM2,000), Best New Creation (RM2,000), and Best Costumes (RM1,000) will also be awarded.
For those interested in attending the festival, dinner and live show tickets are available at RM250 per person. Dinner will be served from 7pm to 8.30pm, followed by the musical drama from 9pm to 10.30pm.
“The festival is being held in conjunction with Sarawak’s 60th anniversary of independence and aims to celebrate the diversity of the different ethnic groups in Sarawak.
“It also provides an opportunity for both locals and foreigners to appreciate and understand the cultures of this region,” added Abdul Karim.
To obtain further information about the festival, the public can visit www.sarawakharvestfestival.com.my or contact the SCV at 082-826108. Additional details can be found on the official Facebook page, Sarawak Harvest and Folklore Festival, or by emailing scv4you@gmail.com
Among those present at the press conference were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Tourism), Datuk Sebastian Ting; Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Creative Industry and Performing Arts), Datuk Snowdan Lawan; Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts permanent secretary Datu Sherrina Hussaini, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation general manager Datu Abdul Hadi Abdul Kadir, Hemisphere Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mark Ferguson, Sarawak Arts Council chief executive officer Dayang Mariana Bolhassan, SCV general manager Jane Lian Labang and SCV sales and marketing manager Zaini Zainuddin, who is also the festival director.
Some 6,000 people are expected to converge on SCV while about 20,000 people are expected to follow the festival through live streaming.
