69 Aksara Merdeka turns library into interactive Merdeka theatre
Teater 69 Aksara Merdeka dropped an audience of adults into Knowledge Centre @ Bursa and turned the Bursa Malaysia library into a hostage crisis that only an hour-long treasure hunt could resolve.
Source: The Rakyat Post · August 27, 2026 at 2:31 AM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 27 AUGUST 2026 —
Teater 69 Aksara Merdeka dropped an audience of adults into Knowledge Centre @ Bursa and turned the Bursa Malaysia library into a hostage crisis that only an hour-long treasure hunt could resolve.
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The production by Jingga Purnama Production staged on 19 August used a fictional robbery at the library to frame a game in which 69 hidden letters had to be found and assembled to unlock the building’s systems. The audience moved through the shelves under actor guidance, blending theatre, treasure hunt and escape-room mechanics while actors addressed them directly, asked Google searches and posed calculations.
Behind the playful scenario lay a contemporary Merdeka metaphor: Malaysians trapped in a space that has been taken over, forced to collaborate to regain control. The script steered away from 1957 nostalgia, folding in everyday frustrations such as artificial intelligence, public transport and train services to ask what progress looks like decades after independence.
The cast—internal auditor Adeeba Mukhtar as host Azizah, lawyer-poet Syamim Muhaimin as Zaki, and data manager Syahin as ringleader Mat Osman—brought careers outside the stage to the performance. The piece was written and directed by Zuhairah Zamri, an accountant and principal scriptwriter for Jingga Purnama, which was formed in 2019 by young professionals who keep day jobs while mounting original works.
Jingga Purnama has shown at Malaysia Short+Sweet, ASWARA Pesta Teater Runcit and Lantai Teater Selangor, winning recognition including a Short+Sweet Malaysia shortlist for its 2024 production Bahasa Keempat, where Adeeba Mukhtar took Best Actor (Female).
Theatre reviewers noted the production’s lighter touch and audience-centric design. One critic found the experience “quite light” for adult tastes but conceded that its interactive format could sharpen critical thinking and creativity among children. Research in Malaysia cited by the critic indicates interactive theatre boosts involvement and learning for younger audiences.
Teater 69 Aksara Merdeka has completed its run in Bursa Malaysia’s Merdeka Series. Jingga Purnama invites followers on Instagram for updates on future shows.
Related: Bursa Malaysia · Knowledge Centre @ Bursa · Kuala Lumpur