Sunway Group has officially launched the Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) at Sunway Square, introducing a new venue for musical theatre, orchestral performances, dance and drama. The RM200 million development is designed to host international productions while providing a platform for Malaysian and Southeast Asian talent.

Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah said the investment reflected the importance of the performing arts alongside education and research, with the centre intended to give local artists access to professional facilities and opportunities for international collaboration.

The opening was marked by Brand New Day: A Symphonic Broadway Celebration, featuring 22 singers, eight dancers and the 73-piece TUTAN Festival Orchestra under conductor Kevin Field. The programme included songs from Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Wicked and Dreamgirls.

A theatre built for different performances

JCPAC houses two performance spaces designed for productions of different scales. Its Grand Theatre accommodates 1,200 people, while The Studio offers a more flexible setting for experimental performances, smaller productions and educational programmes, with capacity for up to 150.

Around RM30 million of the development cost was allocated to sound systems and acoustics. The Grand Theatre combines L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive sound technology with Ambiance active acoustics, marking Malaysia’s first combined installation of the two systems.

The technology allows the auditorium’s acoustic characteristics to be adjusted for different performance formats, from orchestral concerts to musical theatre and spoken drama. A full-sized fly tower and orchestra pit also support larger theatrical productions.

The Studio, meanwhile, features a portable stage, reconfigurable seating and independent technical facilities, allowing it to operate alongside the Grand Theatre.

An inaugural season of international productions

JCPAC’s programme is intended to bring international performances to Malaysian audiences while helping local artists expand their reach. Cheah has also called for greater collaboration with overseas performing arts organisations to support professional development and creative exchange.

Upcoming productions include Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical from 31 October 2026, Dama Asia’s The Butterfly Lovers The Musical in November, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical, running 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 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.