Five years since its debut, 'The Working Dead' returns to the stage at PJPAC this week, featuring a main cast that includes (from left) Lee, Adry, Ronnie, Cheong, and Ida. Photo: Rafflethazzle
Have you ever been so tired from work that you felt like a zombie shambling about? You may want to be careful about that.
In local theatre company KuLT Productions’ darkly funny musical The Working Dead, the term “corporate zombie” is taken quite literally.
First staged in 2019 and winning three Boh Cameronian Arts Awards a year later, this original, all-Malaysian production follows the story of Edwin, a diligent company man pushed to the brink by his tyrannical boss, Mr Chan.
When Edwin unexpectedly dies on the job, Mr Chan hires an enterprising bomoh to bring Edwin back as a zombie so he can finish his work. So it’s up to Edwin’s wife Sarah, with the help of his colleagues, to put a stop to all this undead business.
For this post-Halloween season, The Working Dead returns to the spotlight, playing at PJPAC, 1 Utama in Petaling Jaya from Nov 8-10.
“The Working Dead may have premiered in 2019, but so many of its themes continue to strike a chord today – many of us get caught up with hustle culture, and we’re constantly pressured to be productive just to keep up with societal demands,” said Terence Toh, the show’s writer, lyricist and producer.
“But I think it’s important to remind ourselves to not lose sight of what or who we’re actually doing all this for. Very few people would honestly say they wished they spent more time at work – instead, they regret not spending enough time with their family and friends,” he added.
Post-pandemic work issues like remote work dynamics and mental health challenges have also reshaped the modern workplace.
Malaysia also ranks as the second worst country for work-life balance among the world’s top 60 GDP nations, according to a March 2023 study by HR company Remote. In the study, Malaysia scored 27.51 out of 100, with an average workweek of 40.8 hours.
"The pandemic has prompted all of us to rethink how we want to work and live. A show like The Working Dead brings these reflections to life, tackling issues that resonate deeply with our shifting perspectives," said Toh.
When asked about changes in this upcoming performance compared to the 2019 show, Toh noted that while there are a few subtle differences, the core story remains much the same.
“We also had to update a few references, obviously, since the last show took place five years ago. For example, there were references to using Skype then, but now they’ve been updated to using Zoom,” he said, adding that certain scenes have been tightened up based on audience feedback.
A tragic character
This re-staging features new faces, especially the character Edwin, who is now played by Sabah-born singer-songwriter Ronnie Quiamco (popularly known as Ronnie).
“I consider myself pretty new to musical theatre, having gotten my first big break in the 2022 production Fortune Kooky, where I first worked with Terence,” said Ronnie.
“So it’s quite a lot of pressure, but at the same time, I’m excited and grateful. Because this is something I’ve been dreaming of as a kid, to do a project that involves singing, acting and dancing all in one,” he added.
Discussing his approach to the role, Ronnie shared that, instead of focusing on similarities with Edwin, he chose to explore their differences.
“Actors have to draw their performance from a real place, so while Edwin and I have some things in common, like wanting to work hard towards a goal, the first time I read the script, I thought, ‘this is not me’, because it’s important to me to maintain a work-life balance, whereas Edwin is blinded by his ambition to the point that he neglects his well-being and personal relationships,” he said.
“So my mission is to portray him in a way that the audience understands the reasons behind his actions. I want people to watch the show and think, ‘I know someone like him’. I actually feel sorry for him, because to me, Edwin is a tragic character.”
Other new names in the show's line-up of 12 performers include Adry Nasution, Lee Sher Maine, and Rachel Liu, while Ida Mariana (she of "Kebaya Jazz Queen" fame) adds star appeal to this restaging.
Working together
In this second outing, Brian Cheong and Colin Kirton reprise their roles as Derek and Mr Chan respectively. Also returning from the original production are director Nicole-Ann Thomas, choreographer Kenny Shim, and production designer Christopher Ling.
The music, composed by Lydia Tong and Kelvin Loh, will be performed by a five-piece band, led by music director Lee Han. The setlist will feature 22 songs, spanning genres such as pop, rock, Latin and comedy.
A portion of The Working Dead’s takings will also be channelled towards the Dignity Foundation, an NGO providing holistic care and education for marginalised and urban poor children in Kuala Lumpur.
Five youths from the foundation will make their professional stage debut in this show. The Dignity foundation is also contributing across the production – from hair and costumes to set building, catering, front of house, and stage management.
“Hopefully, the musical serves as a reminder that no matter your life choices, it’s never too late to awaken from a dead-end job just to pay the bills, rediscover your passions, and fight for a life filled with purpose and joy,” concluded Toh.
