Multi-award winning director Joe Hasham OAM takes the challenge of his lifetime to direct Harold Pinter's Betrayal in English and Malay, as two separate shows, on alternate nights, performed by the same cast.

His decision to stage the play in two languages is because he wants to introduce Pinter's work to a Malay speaking audience.

"I’ve never actually directed Pinter before, because I was very frightened of Pinter. He’s such an iconic writer, and his dialogue is such that it makes it very difficult for the actors, and for the director.

“But what makes it even more challenging for me as a director is that I chose to do it in two languages, I mean, as if it’s not difficult enough in English, I also want to do it in Malay!" Joe said.

Kuala Lumpur Performing Art Centre’s resident director Omar Ali played an important role in translating and adapting the show in Malay.

“The process is a very tedious one, because of mainly the text, the style of writing. Pinter’s style of writing is very concise.

“One way to describe it is, it is economical, very modern and short. So that, it is a very challenging aspect of translating,” Omar Ali said.

The story revolves around a love triangle between Emma, her husband Robert and his best friend Jerry. One day after a party, Jerry confesses his love for Emma and the two begin an affair that will continue for years.

The play is written in reverse chronological order, starting from 1977 and ending in 1968.

The cast comprises, among others, Stephanie Van Driesen, Omar Ali, Razif Hashim and Jad Hidhir.

"There’s so much truth in the story. It’s something you don’t see. This happens behind closed doors.

"You really feel like, I’m sure some of us actually know of people who’ve actually had this and how complicated it is, because no one’s a bad guy here.

"You know everyone’s really human, and it is just life and desires and circumstances, and you going after what you want," says Stephanie Van Driesen, who plays Emma.

Betrayal was one of the most popular plays when it first premiered and went on to win awards, including the Olivier Award for Best New Play and the New York Critics’s Circle Award.

The show will be staged at Kuala Lumpur Performing Art Centre from 19th May to 4th June with tickets priced at RM45 onwards.