Since opening earlier this month, the KL Festival has drawn lively crowds into the city centre, giving outdoor theatre and street performances a renewed cultural cool.
From the spirited Jogeton dance event to the atmospheric Wayang Women shadow puppet show at Dataran Merdeka, the festival has transformed public spaces into feelgood stages for community and performance.
Whether you are an arts scene regular or simply curious, the festival has had something for all audiences.
As it enters its third weekend, the festival promises another memorable evening for the masses. This time, colourful characters from another era will take to the streets alongside live traditional music as Cantonese Opera By The River Of Life arrives in downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Presented by the Yuet Wan Cantonese Opera Association, the performance will take place at the Masjid Jamek Pedestrian Bridge this Saturday (May 23) at 6pm, bringing the rich traditions of Cantonese opera to an outdoor urban setting.
Artistic director Yoong Poo Hiong says this KL Festival show marks the first time the Yuet Wan Cantonese Opera Association – founded in 2003 – will stage a performance in such an outdoor setting.
“One advantage of performing outdoors is that it brings us closer to audiences, especially younger viewers and tourists. But there are also many challenges. Weather is a major concern, particularly performing under the evening sun. Daylight differs greatly from stage lighting, so the makeup has to be lighter and less heavy,” says Yoong in a recent interview.
She adds that the narrow setting at the bridge has also required adjustments to the choreography and staging.
“Because the performance is taking place outdoors on a bridge, audience visibility becomes a key consideration. I have had to readapt parts of the choreography and rearrange certain movements with visibility as the main priority,” she says.
The payoff of an outdoor performance lies in turning the bridge and historic river confluence (where the Klang River and Gombak River merge) into part of the stage itself.
Many Cantonese opera stories, brought by early immigrants from southern China – especially Guangdong – in the 19th and early 20th centuries, are closely tied to the imagery of boats, rivers and bridges, allowing these ancient tales to resonate naturally within a modern cityscape.
This Saturday, the Yuet Wan troupe will present condensed versions of two Cantonese opera classics.
“In An Unfinished Tale Of Love And Retribution At The Phoenix Pavilion, the lovers sing together on a boat before they are forced to part. In The Legend Of The White Snake, the couple first meet and fall in love on a bridge before reuniting there after the birth of their child. Performing these stories on the Masjid Jamek Pedestrian Bridge feels special and fitting to the themes of the songs,” says Yoong.
She adds that the pop-up production offers a rare opportunity for both enthusiasts and passersby to encounter Cantonese opera outside a conventional theatre setting.
“This is a fresh and exciting idea for us. While challenging, it is also an opportunity to introduce Cantonese opera to the public. We hope more people, especially youngsters and tourists, will come and experience it. We want audiences to know there are still dedicated groups in Kuala Lumpur committed to preserving and performing Cantonese opera,” she says.
Featuring elaborate costumes and striking makeup, the production includes music director Wong Jon Yew, performers Daniel Wong, Gini Wong, Venice Hoo, Ron Lee and Ivy Ong, alongside Chinese classical musicians Wong Jon Yew, Loke Wen Bin, Tan Lee Kung, Khor Kar Choy, Wee Lee Sung and Chow Ah Wai.
