In an innovative blend of art and history, the Cambodian performing arts scene is set to witness the premiere of The Golden Voice, a stage musical which chronicles the life of the legendary singer Ros Sereysothea.

Sereysothea was one of the brightest stars of the Kingdom’s “Golden Era” of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Christened “The Queen with the Golden Voice” by then-Prince Norodom Sihanouk, she forever changed the musical landscape. Like so many other Cambodian loved ones, she vanished in the maelstrom of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, with the circumstances of her death uncertain.

This incredible tribute, announced at a March 8 press conference at the Raffles Le Royal Hotel in Phnom Penh, marks the first time such a production has been developed and produced in the Kingdom, with a primarily Cambodian cast and crew who will share the powerful tale in the Khmer language.

“I’m very excited about this project and I am very thankful to everybody who’s involved. So, just wanted to say hello from Los Angeles and wish everyone the best of luck,” says Gregory Cahill, in a video played during the announcement. 

Ghosts of the past

Inspired by Sereysothea’s music after hearing it on the soundtrack of Matt Dillon’s feature film City of Ghosts, Cahill’s fascination with her story led to his production of a short film and then a graphic novel – released first in Khmer, and then in English – and now, a live musical.

The project, which celebrates Sereysothea’s extraordinary journey and talent, aims to honour her legacy as well as the memory of the magical music of Cambodia’s golden era.

Cahill explains that upon first hearing her music and voice, he immediately recognised its special quality and, after learning about her life and biography, realised the importance of her story. This realisation has spurred him to work on The Golden Voice project for 18 years. 

“Back in 2006, I wrote and directed a short film called The Golden Voice about her life. And then years later, the project evolved into a graphic novel, also called The Golden Voice,” he says.

The project’s development continues, with Cahill enthusiastic about its transformation into a piece of musical theatre, especially with the involvement of a talented creative team, comprising director Soung Sopheak and producers Sok Visal and Claire Devine.

Cahill expresses his confidence in the team’s ability to produce a high-quality production that will do justice to Sereysothea’s life story, honouring her legacy, Cambodian history and culture, and showcasing the magic of the Kingdom’s golden era of music to the world.

“I think this is a great honour for her legacy, and will show the world just how magical the music of Cambodia’s golden era truly was,” he says.

A fascination with a national treasure

At the heart of the project is the collaboration between Cambodian talents and international consultants. Visal, a well-known film producer and project manager, is deeply honoured to be involved, highlighting the transition from a potential film to a theatrical production.

Visal expresses his enthusiasm at being part of the project, adding that his interest in her story long predates his current involvement.

“Originally, we conceived of it as a large-scale film. But then Sopheak came across the project’s owner in the US and got permission to turn it into a musical. After that, he asked me to come on board to manage the production, but now as a theatre piece,” he tells The Post.

As a producer, his responsibilities are comprehensive, spanning the oversight of casting, staff recruitment, team management, securing sponsors, and creative aspects like costumes, stage and graphic design.

He said they plan to begin casting this month, with a view to commencing rehearsals in April and May. Visal is ambitious, and plans to make his acting debut in the production.

The musical is expected to premiere at the end of May 2024, with 10 performances planned, across Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang.

“Since we’re still in the middle of casting, we’re tentatively planning for the first performance to happen by the end of June at the latest. We’ll start promoting tickets in April, right after the Khmer New Year, as we work towards bringing this much-awaited project to fruition,” he says.

The musical will not only serve as a tribute to Sereysothea, but will also be a landmark moment in promoting Cambodian culture and arts.

The world joins hands

Local theatre producer Sopheak, along with 802 Films Production founder and CEO Visal, artistic director Devine and composer Him Sophy, are leading the venture.

The entire management underline their commitment to blending traditional Cambodian performing arts with modern musical theatre, aiming to introduce traditional Lakhon Niyeay theatre to contemporary audiences.

Devine, artistic director of Bud’s Theatre in Singapore, explains that the idea was first shared with her by Sopheak at the beginning of 2023.

She adds that he had just read the graphic novel, fallen in love with it and wanted to share it with her. They went through it and decided to plan an incredible musical stage performance, as the music was so amazing.

“We had a meeting with Greg and chatted about it. We all agreed it would be a wonderful thing to do,” Devine says, during a video recording played during the March 8 press conference.

At the end of 2023, they met with 802 Films’ Visal, who also agreed it would be a wonderful venture and opted to come on board.

“It’s my absolute pleasure to be working on this project. I hope and trust that you will enjoy the outcome, when it eventually appears,” Divine enthuses.

The initiative has received significant support from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Art, the Cambodian Living Arts (CLA), The Princess Bopha Devi Dance School, among others, demonstrating a collective commitment to celebrating and promoting Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage. 

As The Golden Voice gears up for its historic premiere, the production team is seeking sponsors and donors to join them in this pioneering cultural project. This represents a unique opportunity to support a venture that not only highlights Cambodian artistry but also connects with a worldwide audience, making it a milestone in Cambodia’s cultural narrative.