How the Penang Peranakan spiced up art, theatre, fashion, cartoons and 78rpm records

The Bintang Soeray ‘dondang sayang’ group (formed in 1919) with a decorated 'goo chia pneh' or bullock cart during the Chap Goh Meh celebration in February 1925. Photo: Penang Peranakan Mansion

“Music hath charms but no greater charm can be found than in Penang Nyo Nya Bangsawan by a party of Chinese Ladies of Penang.”

The advertisement in the Dec 21,1926 issue of Straits Echo, a newspaper in Penang, indeed promised much. Performing on three consecutive nights, the new amateur group would tackle three different plays at the Drury Lane Theatre Hall.