The all-singing, all-dancing musical is now becoming an annual event to be looked forward to in the Penang theatre calendar. Globe-trotter turned Penang resident Dr. Nancy Jenster, who premiered her shows “Abbie & the A Team” and “One Minute to Midnight” in Penang, in 2018 and 2019 respectively, is back with another musical. “Forkbeard: A Viking Musical Odyssey” has had successful performances in London and Dublin, and will have four performances in Penang in March.
Forkbeard promises to be a high-intensity Broadway-style rock musical, and features a highly talented Penang-based cast of 23 young and youthful Malaysian and international actors, ranging in age from 14 to 65. Inspired by true events, the story revolves around two brutal Viking leaders, whose friendship is destroyed by their quest for power at all costs. This tale of love, greed, betrayal and revenge takes us back to the turbulent and bloody times of the Vikings, when the pagan gods All-Father Odin, Thor and Freja were being challenged by the new god of the Saxons to the South.
The energetic singers and dancers will wield swords, axes and shield and kick up a storm of exciting dance moves, with choreography again by Aida Redza, award-winning artistic director of the Penang modern dance ensemble, “Euphoria”. Special stage effects are promised to create a truly dramatic Scandinavian on-stage experience.
Showtimes are Friday 20th March 8.30pm, Saturday 21st 3pm and 8.30pm, and Sunday 22nd at 3pm and will take place on the big stage at penangpac, Straits Quay. You can get tickets for Forkbeard at www.proticket.com.my/Forkbeard or at the penangpac box office. Tickets are on early bird discount until March 1st (RM 38); and after that are RM 46 (RM 38 for students)