Krate Creative Space Presents : A Musical Theatre

Tears Under the Rising Sun

Directed by Wee Shyre May

Melaka, Malaysia — Krate Creative Space, Melaka’s first independent theatre company, announces its newest original production, Tears Under the Rising Sun, staged for two nights only on 14 & 15 November 2026 at JKKN Melaka, in collaboration with the Persatuan Peranakan Cina Melaka and supported by the Ministry of Arts and Culture Malaysia.

Inspired by true events, Tears Under the Rising Sun is a musical set in Japanese-occupied Melaka. During the war, a young Nyonya’s sheltered world is shaken by a mysterious stranger seeking refuge — a story of love, sacrifice, survival, and the choices people make in times of war.

While the story and its characters are fictional, the production is grounded in deep historical research — accurate wartime references, terminology, and details gathered through interviews, including accounts passed down from cast and crew members’ own grandparents. For the Krate team, that process of research became something more personal: a rediscovery of family history that deepened their own appreciation and love for the nation’s story.

Told through original songs and traditional instrumentation, the production draws on Peranakan heritage and Melaka’s wartime history to bring an underrepresented chapter of Malaysian history to the stage, honouring the resilience of local communities during the Japanese Occupation and preserving Peranakan cultural memory for a new generation of audiences.

The production runs approximately 1 hour 45 minutes (around 2 hours with 15 minutes intermission) and is directed by Krate founder Wee Shyre May, with original lyrics written by Shyre May, composed by Yohan Nadav, and sound designer, Benjamin Yong. The cast includes Kimberly Chan, Skye Falcon, and Janey Shairan.

Tickets available at: https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/7355-tears-under-the-rising-sun/

Krate Creative Space
WhatsApp / Call: +60 18-223 5311
www.krate.com.my