George Town Festival 2019: The Strangers (Review)

Finding the connections between others who seem worlds apart. PENANG, MALAYSIA – Directed by Argentinian director Leandro Kees and dramaturged by Julia Hesse, The Strangers brings together 4 performers from 4 different Asian countries (Cheng Ying-Yun, Kanako Ihara, James Kan Che Wei and Sanghun Lee) as they gather onstage and learn about each other. Seemingly with little to nothing in common, be it food or language or history, … Continue reading George Town Festival 2019: The Strangers (Review)

George Town Festival 2019: An Interview with The Glowers Drama Group

PENANG, MALAYSIA – It’s not every day you get to see a Singaporean theatre company perform overseas, let alone one made entirely of older actors and crew members. But with the highly successful Kampong Chempedak, which made its international premiere at the 2019 George Town Festival, the Glowers Drama Group can give themselves a pat on the back and more for a job well done. Founded by … Continue reading George Town Festival 2019: An Interview with The Glowers Drama Group

George Town Festival 2019: An Interview with Lee Mok Yee, Creator of Superstition II

PENANG, MALAYSIA – Temples may be sacred ground, but for artist Lee Mok Yee, they also double as a gallery, specifically for his latest exhibition Superstition II. Inspired by their interiors and significance, the Malaysian artist has crafted installations in two beautiful temples in George Town as part of the 2019 George Town Festival, each one delving into concepts of religious symbolism, Taoist philosophy and managing to link … Continue reading George Town Festival 2019: An Interview with Lee Mok Yee, Creator of Superstition II

George Town Festival 2019: Kampong Chempedak by The Glowers Drama Group (Review)

Change is the only constant. PENANG, MALAYSIA – While most modern city-dwellers have long gotten used to the constant march of progress as our cityscape moves forth, there remain those that find it difficult to impossible to adapt to the way the world has changed. Performed by Singapore senior theatre group The Glowers, our story then focuses on the villagers of Kampong Chempedak, once a thriving and … Continue reading George Town Festival 2019: Kampong Chempedak by The Glowers Drama Group (Review)

George Town Festival 2019: Screaming in Silence by Parastoo Theatre Team (Review)

Staging the painful truth of forced marriage in Afghanistan.  PENANG, MALAYSIA – Performed by Parastoo Theatre Team, a group of Afghan refugees who are based in Malaysia, Screaming in Silence uses the form of Theatre of the Oppressed to raise awareness about child marriage in Afghanistan, following the life of a young girl forced into marriage with a much older man by her father and the community. Performed in … Continue reading George Town Festival 2019: Screaming in Silence by Parastoo Theatre Team (Review)

Preview: George Town Festival 2019

PENANG, MALAYSIA – Back for its 10th edition this weekend, the annual George Town Festival returns with a promise to deliver an  entirely new way of experiencing arts to everyone. This year, the Festival embodies the idea of making arts accessible to all, regardless of age or background, with a range of programmes that take place all around the historic city. From traditional auditoriums to halls, shophouse … Continue reading Preview: George Town Festival 2019

Exhibition Extravaganza: Liu Ling’s Of Ordinary Things at SPRMRKT at STPI and Benedict Yu’s Are You Home? at SPRMRKT at Cluny Court

Now with two outlets, one at STPI in Robertson Quay and the other at Cluny Court, eatery SPRMRKT is closely linked to the local arts scene, and its art programme sees a rotation of art exhibitions every quarter, showcasing eight artists a year across its locations. Ranging from the emerging to established, SPRMRKT’s curation focuses on developing local and regional talent, as well as creating … Continue reading Exhibition Extravaganza: Liu Ling’s Of Ordinary Things at SPRMRKT at STPI and Benedict Yu’s Are You Home? at SPRMRKT at Cluny Court

Exhibition Extravaganza: Over Penang + Beyond by David ST Loh at The Fullerton Hotel

Impressing us when we visited it at the Georgetown Festival last year, Penangite photographer David ST Loh’s Over Penang + Beyond photography exhibition makes its way to Singapore this July, exhibiting a series of aerial photographs at The Fullerton Hotel. After 30 years abroad, David returned to Penang in November 2017 as a homecoming of a sorts. Exploring the island with a revived and renewed passion for … Continue reading Exhibition Extravaganza: Over Penang + Beyond by David ST Loh at The Fullerton Hotel