GEORGE TOWN, April 1 ― Puteri Saadong, Helen of Troy and Sita: three strong women who are the stuff of legend.

Their stories have been given a different take, through dance and narratives, in an upcoming international theatrical project called Naga Women.

Naga Women is not a dance but theatrical performance that combines dance moves with narratives to tell the colourful and sometimes tragic stories of the love and lives of these three strong women.

The famed Indian dance scholar Rajika Puri will recount the life of Eleni of Sparta (Helen of Troy) through dance and songs in ancient Greek backed by the brilliant music of master percussionist Suchet Malhotra. The solo will be accompanied by English subtitles.

Sabera Shaik as Puteri Saadong.

Malaysia's own Sabera Shaik, who is also the founder of Masakini Theatre Company, will showcase a reinterpretation of the life of the legendary Puteri Saadong who was the Raja of Kelantan in a solo performance combining narrative with dance.

The third solo will be by one of India's most recognised dancers and choreographers, Anita Ratnam. She will portray A Million Sitas through a neo Bharatam dance-theatre performance where Sita is the link in her exploration of various women in the Ramayana in their roles as mother, friend, wife, and woman.

The project, debuting in Penang Performing Arts Centre (PenangPAC) at Straits Quay this Friday (April 3) night, is the collaborative effort of Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC) and KL's Masakini Theatre.

It is part of PWDC's continued effort to support women in the arts and to celebrate strong narratives and performances on women.

The show, to be showcased at PenangPAC from April 3 to 5 and at Damansara Performing Arts Centre from April 10 to 12, will feature two solo performances per show.

Rajika Puri as Eleni of Sparta.

On April 3 and 10, the show will feature A Million Sitas and Puteri Saadong, on April 4 and 11, it will feature Eleni of Sparta and A Million Sitas and on April 5 and 12, it will feature Puteri Saadong and Eleni of Sparta.

Tickets are priced at RM65 (adults) and RM35 (students and senior citizens) in Penang and RM100 (adults) and RM65 (students and senior citizens) for shows in Kuala Lumpur.

All shows are at 8.30pm except for April 5 and April 12 which are at 3pm only.

For more information, please call 04-899 1722 (PenangPAC ― Penang) or 03-4065 0001 (DPac ― Kuala Lumpur) or contact Masakini Theatre Company Sdn Bhd at 03-2691 0119 or email: masakini7890@gmail.com for enquiries and group booking for 10 tickets and above for each show.

There are also special PWDC tickets priced at RM50 and to purchase these, please email your name and contact details to Ms Syuhaidah at syuhaidah.ismail@gmail.com by 2pm, April 2.