Sunway City Kuala Lumpur,15 October 2026
Sunway Group officially launched the RM200 million Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) at Sunway Square, establishing a venue for international productions and a platform to develop and showcase Malaysian and Southeast Asian talent.
Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO said the investment reflected a belief that the arts should have a central place in education and community life.
“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,” Cheah said.
“We want Malaysian artists to have access to world-class facilities, to collaborate with leading productions from around the world and to develop their talents to the highest international standards,” he added.
The launch is marked by Brand New Day: A Symphonic Broadway Celebration at JCPAC’s Grand Theatre, a concert featuring 22 singers, eight dancers and the 73-piece TUTAN Festival Orchestra directed by Kevin Field, an award-winning conductor celebrated for his versatility across classical, contemporary, and theatrical repertoire.
Developed to host large-scale productions and intimate performances, JCPAC houses the 1,200-seat Grand Theatre and The Studio, a flexible experimental theatre accommodating up to 150 people. The centre provides a platform for musical theatre, orchestral concerts, dance, drama and other performing arts, expanding opportunities for artists and audiences in Malaysia.
Of the centre’s RM200 million development cost, about RM30 million was allocated to its sound system and acoustics technology.
The Grand Theatre combines L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive sound with Ambiance active acoustics in Malaysia’s first combined installation of the two systems. The technology allows the theatre’s acoustics to be adapted for orchestral music, musical theatre and spoken drama without physically altering its architecture. A full-sized fly tower and orchestra pit support major theatrical productions.
The Studio has a portable stage and reconfigurable seating for smaller performances, experimental work and educational programmes. Its independent lighting, audio and backstage facilities allow it to operate alongside the Grand Theatre.
Cheah also called for relationships with performing arts organisations abroad to support exchanges, collaboration and professional development.
“We have much to contribute to the global cultural landscape, and our artists deserve every opportunity to be seen, heard and appreciated beyond our shores,” he said.
Led by an international creative team, Brand New Day brings together performers including Stephen Rahman-Hughes, Sean Ghazi, Izen Kong, Aaron Teoh, Gian Magdangal, Elvira Arul, Ida Mariana, Lara Maigue, Mae Elliessa and Tria Aziz.
The programme features songs from Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Wicked and Dreamgirls, among other musical theatre favourites, showcasing the scale of productions the centre can accommodate.
JCPAC’s founding vision is to bring international performances to Malaysian audiences while helping local artists reach a wider stage.
Upcoming productions in its inaugural season include Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical from 31 October, Dama Asia’s The Butterfly Lovers The Musical in November, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical from 22 December 2026 to 10 January 2027.
The centre forms part of Sunway Square, a RM1.8 billion integrated development comprising twin corporate towers, Sunway Square Mall and an expanded Sunway University campus housing the Sunway Business School and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Find out more about the Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre at www.jcpac.my, and keep up with the latest shows by visiting https://jcpac.my/season-2026/.
