By Norhidayyu Zainal
PETALING JAYA, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- The Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) offers Malaysian artistes opportunities to develop their talents through world-class facilities and collaboration 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 here, aims to serve as a platform for artistes to pursue meaningful careers and contribute to the growth of the creative economy.
“Our investment in JCPAC reflects our belief that excellence in the performing arts deserves the same commitment, resources and opportunities that we devote to education and research.
“I firmly believe that 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 JCPAC’s launch last night.
The launch featured ‘Brand New Day: A Symphonic Broadway Celebration’, with 22 singers, eight dancers and the 73-piece TUTAN Festival Orchestra directed by Kevin Field, performing songs from ‘Les Misérables’, ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Miss Saigon’, ‘Wicked’ and ‘Dreamgirls’.
Cheah hoped JCPAC would cultivate strong relationships with renowned performing arts organisations around the world, providing opportunities for local artistes and creative professionals to learn, exchange ideas and broaden their horizons.
“We have much to contribute to the global cultural landscape and our artistes deserve every opportunity to be seen, heard and appreciated beyond our shores,” he said.
He added that JCPAC’s success will not be measured simply by the number of performances it hosts, but by the opportunities it creates for young people to discover their gifts, artistes to grow in their chosen path and communities to come together and enjoy the arts.
He said the idea of establishing JCPAC, which forms part of the RM1.8 billion Sunway Square integrated development, was first explored in 2018 to enrich the educational experience at Sunway University while serving the wider Sunway City community.
According to Cheah, a holistic approach to 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.
On JCPAC’s development, Cheah said its design drew inspiration from the tin mining landscape on which Sunway City was built, with some RM30 million dedicated to its sound system and acoustic technology.
The 1,200-seat Grand Theatre features Malaysia’s first combined installation of L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive sound and Ambiance active acoustics, allowing the theatre’s acoustics to be adapted for orchestral music, musical theatre and spoken drama without physically altering its architecture.
The centre also houses The Studio, which accommodates up to 150 people and has a portable stage and reconfigurable seating for smaller performances, experimental work and educational programmes.
Sharing his personal connection with music, Cheah recalled playing the drums in The Ambassadors, a band he formed with fellow Malaysian students in Melbourne, Australia, in the 1960s, which once backed a young Olivia Newton-John at St Kilda Town Hall.
“And although I eventually pursued a career in business instead of music, those years left me with a lifelong appreciation for the arts,” he said.
Upcoming productions at JCPAC include ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical’ from 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.