UKM Students Shine at FESTER 2026 Theater Festival

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has demonstrated the extraordinary talent of its students in the performing arts through its annual theater festival, FESTER 2026. The festival, which ran for a week, featured 11 new productions from UKM's residential colleges, all centered around the theme of 'Legends.' These performances were enhanced with innovative visual technology, drawing praise from theater activists.

Ayu Faliza Roslan, Cultural Officer at UKM's Cultural Center and Project Coordinator for FESTER 2026, noted that the 11 staged productions captivated the jury with the emergence of new talents. She believes these students, with a little polish, could be ready for external productions, highlighting not only the directors but also the actors.

Roslan acknowledged the difficulty for Generation Z students to grasp and interpret scripts from different eras, especially when adapting ancient Malay folklore. The scripts were inspired by classic tales such as Dayang Senandong, Pak Pandir, and Laila Majnun, requiring students to deeply engage their creativity to bring these stories to life on stage.

The festival's judging panel included experienced figures in Malaysian theater: Kamarul A.R, Zaifri Husin, and Siti Rohaya Atan, who served as chief judge. The judges offered positive feedback, particularly noting that UKM does not offer performing arts courses. They commended the competing colleges for their effort and dedication, especially considering the students' academic commitments.

The judges found the young generation's fresh interpretations of 11 legendary tales, presented through various styles like epic, realism, or musical theater, to be particularly impactful. They recognized the significant challenge faced by student directors, who had to analyze scripts and translate them to the stage within tight deadlines, often with only three hours for technical setup and rehearsals before the actual performance.