La Luna

by Ridhwan Saidi
based on the film by M. Raihan Halim

Teater Ekamatra

Pesta Raya 2026

Singtel Waterfront Theatre, Singapore

Inspired by the 2023 film of the same name by M. Raihan Halim, La Luna follows a conservative, patriarchal village shaken by the arrival of a sassy newcomer who opens a lingerie store. This Esplanade commission presented by Teater Ekamatra is a highlight of the 25th edition of Pesta Raya.

Playwright Ridhwan Saidi and director Mohd Fared Jainal give us a production that unfolds like a technicolour, lyrical pantun, with cheeky songs, witty wordplay and infectious choreography. The powerhouse cast have the audience eating out of their hands, with scene-stealing turns from the ever-reliable Siti Khalijah Zainal, Rizman Putra and Munah Bagharib.

Some of the film’s nuances are traded for broader, more crowd-pleasing beats (including a slightly jarring reference to impalement) and a new framing device about a character writing a thesis feels unnecessary. Still, this is a thoroughly enjoyable production that captures the film’s themes of embracing change, celebrating community and creating space to be oneself.

The Crystalwords score: 3.5/5