The 20th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards (20BCAA) took place on May 4, 2025, at Stage 1 Theatre in the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC), marking a monumental milestone in the history of Malaysian performing arts. Celebrating two decades of excellence, this event honoured the extraordinary contributions in theatre, dance, music, and musical theatre, showcasing the finest talent that Malaysia has to offer. The theme for this year’s awards, 20 Years of Legacy: Igniting Inspiration for Tomorrow, celebrated the visionaries who laid the foundation for Malaysia’s vibrant arts community while also looking ahead with pride and excitement for the future of the arts.
The night was a spectacular celebration of the nominees and winners of 2024, with performances that demonstrated the passion and brilliance that define Malaysia’s artistic landscape. In the Theatre category, productions such as The Bee and Randai “MacBeth” garnered multiple nominations, with Randai “MacBeth” leading the charge, securing seven category awards. The Dance category saw Geetha Shankaran-Lam’s inspiring win for Best Featured / Lead Performer in Samskara Past Reflections, Present Expressions, an achievement made even more remarkable by her age of 56, highlighting her enduring excellence and discipline in dance. In the Music category, Dr. Bernard Tan was awarded Best Musical Direction, while Dr. Poom Prommachart received the award for Best Solo Performance Instrumental, further cementing the contributions of these distinguished academics and performers to the Malaysian music scene.
In Musical Theatre, Teater Muzikal Sakti Merong Mahawangsa impressed audiences with its creative storytelling and captivating performances, winning four awards. The event also saw the presentation of the Best of 2024 awards, which were given to three outstanding productions: Randai “MacBeth” by Pusat Seni Pentas Tradisional (PuTRA), ASWARA; Spice, Magic and Mystique by The Young KL Singers, presented by TAS Seni Teater Rakyat and klpac; and Teater Persiapan Seorang Aktor by Studio Sedar Ruang. These productions exemplified the creativity, dedication, and exceptional quality driving the Malaysian performing arts community today.
A particularly emotional moment of the evening was the presentation of the BOH Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Dr. Tan Sooi Beng, a towering figure in ethnomusicology. Professor Tan’s lifetime dedication to the arts has shaped generations of students and practitioners, and her legacy continues to inspire the future of Malaysian performing arts. The event was a powerful reflection on the last two decades, as attendees artists, audiences, and advocates alike came together to celebrate not just the past, but also the future of the arts in Malaysia.
Caroline Russell, Executive Chairman of BOH Plantations, expressed the privilege BOH has had in supporting the Malaysian performing arts community over the past 20 years, witnessing countless moments of artistry and innovation. Low Ngai Yuen, President of Kakiseni, highlighted the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards as a platform that uplifts and connects artists, emphasising the significance of these awards in recognising the excellence of Malaysia’s arts scene while envisioning its future potential. The 20th anniversary of the awards was a reminder that the journey of artistic excellence is ongoing, and as Malaysia moves into the next 20 years, it continues to carry forward a spirit of nurturing creativity, courage, and unity through the arts.
As the night concluded, the event was not only a celebration of the past but also a call to action for the future one that continues to honour the visionaries and pioneers who laid the foundation for Malaysia’s performing arts, while also inspiring future generations to push boundaries and create new artistic legacies. The arts are not just a reflection of the past, but an ongoing process of reimagining, building, and inspiring a future that is even more vibrant, inclusive, and extraordinary.
For more information on the award recipients, visit www.kakiseni.org/awards.
The BOH Cameronian Arts Awards is proudly endorsed by the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, with generous support from BOH Plantations, the title sponsor, and key partners such as Yayasan Sime Darby, Taylor’s University, A Cut Above, Sephora, and Capri Communications.
