Bringing legends to life: Meet the new generation of cast for the acclaimed PGL The Musical

The new faces of Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical. — Picture via Instagram/PGLTheMusical

By Arif Zikri

First Published: Saturday, 31 Oct 2026 2:45 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, October 31  — The stage is almost set for the return of Malaysia’s highly acclaimed theatre production Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical (PGL). 

Seventeen years since its last full theatrical run, PGL will once again mesmerise audiences from October 31 to November 15 with 19 shows scheduled for the 15-day run. 

Adding to its appeal this time around, the musical will depart from its flagship home at Istana Budaya to take up residency at the newly opened, state-of-the-art Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) Grand Theatre in Sunway Square. 

Despite the leap into modern projection mapping, immersive soundscapes, and advanced stagecraft, director Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina is adamant about one principle: technology will never override the human core of the story.

“We used to be low-tech and people already loved it and this time, with new technology, we want to see how much further we can elevate PGL but we will never, ever let technology lead. 

“If audiences walk out talking only about lights and projections, we’ve failed. For me, the acting and storytelling must come first,” Tiara said. 

That commitment to storytelling is felt across every layer of the 2026 staging—from its 50-strong ensemble, where every single member has been assigned a specific name, backstory, and social stance within the Melaka court, down to its newly minted lead cast charged with honoring an iconic legacy.

The weight of legacy

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Actor and competitive jujitsu athlete Mila Mohsin sees Gusti Puteri as a huge feminist icon. — Picture by Raymond Manuel 

At the center of this revival is the formidable role of Gusti Puteri Retno Dumilah, famously originated by Tiara herself. 

For actor and competitive jujitsu athlete Mila Mohsin, stepping into her mother’s footsteps carries both immense weight and a profound sense of purpose.

“It’s never easy doing reruns where the character was previously defined by one person—what more when it’s your own mother,” Mila shares candidly. 

“Of course I feel the pressure, but I believe pressure makes diamonds. 

“From young, I’ve always leaned into challenges. I want to be pushed to grow as an artist and as a person.”

To portray the Javanese princess, Mila spent time in Solo, Indonesia, along with some other cast and creative team, immersing themselves in ancient tata krama (royal customs) and Javanese philosophy.

Dissecting the character through a psychological lens rather than treating her as a mere folklore figure, Mila views Gusti Puteri through a distinctly modern framework.

“To me, Gusti Puteri is a huge feminist icon.

“She isn’t just a dancer or a young girl chasing romance—she is fighting for her freedom. That is her ultimate struggle, and that is where I connect with her most,” Mila said. 

Mila approaches the physical demands of the role not through conventional musical dance, but as an embodied athletic and spiritual practice. 

Working under Javanese master Mak Galo, she learned to lower her center of gravity to align with traditional Javanese posture (doyok). 

“Javanese movement is about being closer to the earth—everything is lower, more humble, and set to a slower frequency. 

“It’s not standard dance; it’s like a practice blending martial elements and yoga. As Mak Galo told us: ‘Sakitnya harus dinikmati’—you have to enjoy the painful process,” she said. 

She also draws a strict distinction between off-stage identity and performance, focusing exclusively on how Gusti Puteri would authentically think and act rather than imitating her mother’s established stage habits or relying on her own personality.

Two visionaries, one princess 

This will mark award-winning singer Aisha Retno first time involving with theatre production. — Picture by Raymond Manuel 

To manage the demanding physical, vocal, and cultural demands of the Javanese courtly roles, Tiara implemented a dual-casting strategy for Gusti Puteri, pairing Mila with pop powerhouse and songwriter Aisha Retno. 

Contrary to public speculation regarding rivalry, both performers view the arrangement as a collaborative sisterhood of craft.

“We are completely different performers and people.  

“My mother showed one side of Gusti Putri twenty years ago – The Princess was a historical figure with a million facets.

“In a two-and-a-half-hour show, Aisha will reveal one side, and I will reveal another. There is zero competition between us,” Mila said. 

For Aisha, a Universiti Malaya economics graduate making her musical theatre debut, the transition from commercial recording artist to stage actor required shedding her pop identity entirely.

“I know some people might buy tickets expecting to see ‘Aisha Retno,’ but my goal is to make sure there is no Aisha Retno on that stage,” Aisha explains. 

“As a singer-songwriter, you spend years hiding your pain—even if you’re unwell, you put on a happy face for the audience. 

“But acting allows you to be vulnerable, raw, and broken, you get to channel real life experiences—like a heartbreak—directly into the dialogue.”

Aisha, whose mother possesses Javanese roots and personal experience in keraton (royal palace) traditions, credits both her family and Assistant Director Sabrina Hassan for helping her navigate the intense psychological demands of stepping into character without bringing the heavy emotional weight home.

Not just that, Tiara was also fascinated by Aisha’s grounded professionalism, pointing out that despite a punishing schedule of traveling and out-of-state shows, she arrives punctually for rehearsals without pretense— which Tiara describes as a rare degree of dedication for an established artist.

Aside from the dual-casting role strategy for Gusti Puteri, Tiara also uses the same approach with Bayan, Gusti Puteri’s loyal lady-in-waiting, which is split between singer Mimifly and actress-singer Nadia Aqilah. 

The tormented Laksamana

Potraying the legendary Hang Tuah is a dream come true for actor and singer Aqasha. — Picture by Raymond Manuel 

Opposite the Princess stands the legendary Hang Tuah, portrayed by actor and singer Aqasha. 

For Aqasha, taking on the legendary warrior is the realisation of a two-decade journey that began when he served as an understudy in the show’s original 2006 run.

“I’ve spent twenty years dreaming of this and I am a fan of this show, its poetic literature, and its score first and foremost. 

“When I was an understudy twenty years ago, my younger self focused mostly on the romantic, ‘lovey-dovey’ aspect of falling in love with the Princess. 

“But coming back to it today, I see Tuah through a completely different lens,” Aqasha said. 

Rather than playing a romantic hero or an untouchable martial arts archetype, Aqasha grounds his portrayal in internal conflict.

“This time, I’m exploring how Tuah serves the Sultan and what his loyalty to Melaka truly costs him – Is he just another general living off wages, or is he a man bound by an unbreakable oath? 

“He is a deeply tormented man– torn between his personal desire for love and his unyielding duty to his sovereign,” he said. 

Rather than fearing comparisons, Aqasha encourages audiences to view the production through the lens of musical storytelling—focusing on themes of love, duty, and sacrifice—to fully appreciate the character’s emotional depth.

The legend returns

From the royal courts of Majapahit to the mighty Sultanate of Melaka and the mist-shrouded heights of Gunung Ledang, PGL tells an epic tale of love, loyalty, power and sacrifice.

After months of preparations, PGL will be premiering its first full show today with all 23,000 tickets already sold out since August for its 15-day run. 

Although there’s no update of any new added dates for its JCPAC run, PGL will be making its way to Singapore next year. 

As confirmed by theatre venue Esplanade Singapore via its social media, PGL is set to arrive at Singapore shores in part of its Pesta Raya - Malay Festival of Arts in April next year with priority bookings set to open starting from November 4 to November 10. 

The Singapore run will also feature the same lineup of the new generation of cast. 

Apart from the cast, PGL also boasts an experienced creative team with visual projections overseen by Datuk Yusry Abdul Halim of KRU Studios, wardrobe creations by Singaporean couturier Fatimah Mohsin, stagecraft by scenic designer Raja Malik, and backstage operations led by Tiara’s long-time technical director, Roslidah “Cik Lid” Ali.