Penang's Potehi glove puppet theatre is in good hands

Traditional glove puppets from the Beng Geok Hong Potehi troupe in Penang. While facial features and hairstyles indicate the role types and age of each puppet, the colours and designs of the costumes, headgwear and hand-held props reflect the social status, rank and occupations of the different characters. The Beng Geok Hong Potehi troupe is one of the oldest Potehi groups in Penang, dating back to the 1940s. Photo: Chew Win Chen

Hokkien Potehi shows used be the talk of the town when it attracted large crowds in Penang. Today, apart from temple festivals, it is hardly seen anymore as modern audiences gravitate towards other forms of entertainment.

A series of shows at the George Town Festival in July and a new book published by George Town World Heritage Incorporated titled Potehi Glove Puppet Theatre Of Penang: An Evolving Heritage, written in both English and Mandarin, seeks to change that.