I walked into "Najis Jadi Teman" expecting an educational theatre about sewage and walked out wondering why more lessons in life are not taught this way.
What unfolded at Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) Eco Park was not just a performance, but a surprisingly joyful, musical and deeply human experience that made an unglamorous topic feel meaningful, funny and dare I say, ‘magical’.
From the very first scene, the production made it clear that this was no dry lecture dressed up as theatre.
Framed as an orientation session for "new workers", the story pulled the audience straight into the world of sanitation with humour, music and playful audience interaction.
The set design invited participation, making us feel less like spectators and more like part of the system, quite literally imagining ourselves flowing through pipes, filters and treatment stages.
What stood out immediately was the inclusive nature of the production.
Sign language interpreters were seamlessly integrated into the performance, allowing members of the deaf community to enjoy the show alongside everyone else.
Rather than feeling like an add-on, inclusivity was woven naturally into the narrative, reinforcing the message that everyone has a role to play in society, regardless of ability.
Musically, the show was a delight. The songs were catchy, well-paced and cleverly written to explain complex processes without dumbing them down.
History lessons about early sanitation practices, including people masking odours with herbs and spices, were delivered with charm and wit, while tributes to the "night soil carriers" of the past were treated with dignity and respect.
Their dangerous, often seen as humiliating work, was acknowledged as the foundation of modern public health.
Centre stage, singer and actress Atilia Haron was nothing short of mesmerising. Seeing her perform live, beyond the television screen, was a revelation.
Her voice carried warmth and authority and her expressions brought emotional depth to what could have been purely informational scenes.
There was an ease to her performance that suggested both confidence and generosity and it was hard not to be impressed knowing she rehearsed for just a week.
Equally captivating was singer Mimifly, whose stage presence felt fresh, elegant and quietly powerful. Her voice added a soothing layer to the performance, balancing playfulness with sincerity.
While acting may not be her primary claim to fame, she held her own effortlessly, delivering her lines and musical numbers with grace. The fact that she rehearsed for only three days made her performance all the more impressive.
Theatre veterans Alfred Loh and Phraveen Arikiah, brought infectious energy to the stage. Cheeky, expressive and perfectly timed, they were the heartbeat of the production’s humour.
Their ability to switch between comedy and clarity kept the audience engaged and there was never a dull moment when either of them appeared. Their voices, too, added richness to the musical arrangements, making the educational segments feel lively rather than instructional.
As the performance progressed into the technical side of sewage treatment, screening, aeration, bacteria, clarification and ultraviolet disinfection, the storytelling became increasingly imaginative.
Characters representing trash and oil being rejected from the "party" drew laughter while delivering a clear message about responsible waste disposal. Even the explanation of sludge digestion and biogas production was transformed into something engaging and easy to follow.
One of the most moving moments came through a personal anecdote about a sewage worker missing his child’s birthday due to an emergency caused by blockages.
It grounded the performance emotionally, reminding the audience that behind every system are real people dealing with the "three Ds" (dirty, difficult and dangerous) of the job.
By the time the curtain call arrived, an hour had flown by in what felt like minutes.
"Najis Jadi Teman" proved that education does not have to be boring and that theatre can be both informative and deeply entertaining when creativity leads the way. It is the kind of production that leaves you smiling, thinking and just a little more responsible about what you flush away.
If this is what educational theatre can look like, then perhaps this is where learning truly belongs, on stage, with music, laughter and heart.