A large crowd turned up at the community field in Bandar Baru Ayer Itam for the GTF encore at Paya Terubong. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
Penang neighbourhood field transforms into vibrant showcase of art and culture
Arts can be a bridge that connects people across generations and cultures in ways that words typically cannot.
The George Town Festival (GTF) 2025 brought that creative spirit to the suburbs with a one-night encore at Paya Terubong, Penang’s most populous constituency.
Themed “GTF at Paya Terubong”, the showcase turned a community field in Bandar Baru Air Itam into a stage that brought neighbours together through music, dance, storytelling and fire.
The event opened with several performances by Temple of Fine Arts, including Carnatic music tukkudas, which were short and lively, audience-friendly compositions.
Following suit was an Odissi dance called Basanta Pallavi that used intricate footwork and lyrical movements to evoke feelings of joy, hope and new beginnings.
Later, a Bharatanatyam number called jathiswaram illustrated the dancers’ technical mastery through precise rhythmic patterns and graceful body lines.
For some in the audience, it was their first encounter with these centuries-old artforms, yet the beats resonated deeply and had them nodding along joyfully.
Koispinnfire’s spectacular fire juggling and breathing acts captivating audiences during the performance.
Hawker Lim Chong Woon, 35, who took his young children to the field in the evenings to play, was pleasantly surprised to find the event going on.
“They’re still too young to go to proper shows, so this was a good introduction,” the local resident said when met at the event.
As the sun set, the atmosphere heated with a series of fire-dancing acts by Selangor-based troupe Koispinnfire.
They spun and juggled torches and staffs, creating mesmerising arcs of light and showers of glowing embers.
Most spectators instinctively reached for their phones to capture the blazing spectacle.
Fire juggler Muhamad Izrin Daniel Nor Imzuan said the unique neighbourhood setting allowed them to feed off the energy of the crowd.
“While we try to make our performances unique, we also made sure not to get carried away because safety is paramount,” he said.
Wak Long Music and Art Centre was up next with a wayang kulit performance titled “The Abduction of Sita Dewi”.
Temple of Fine Arts dancers performing at the festival.
Through dexterous manipulation of puppets and clever use of light, a tale of love, jealousy and bravery was brought to life.
Local ensemble Naungan then celebrated Malaysia’s musical tapestry with a set combining traditional instruments such as the guzheng, jidur, tabla, seruling and ruan.
The contemporary arrangements of folk sounds took the crowd on an euphonic journey of heritage.
Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai described the event as not just a feast for the eyes and ears, but also a celebration for the heart and soul.
The venue allowed suburban audiences to experience the festival’s creative energy without having to travel to the city centre.
“Art should always be within the reach of ordinary folk. It shouldn’t be distant, complicated or elitist.
“This was why the team specially curated this special chapter of GTF, taking it from the city stage to a neighbourhood field and into the everyday lives of people.
“It epitomised this year’s festival theme of Connection,” said Wong who is also assemblyman for Paya Terubong.
On a separate matter, he told residents who were present to remain patient with temporary traffic inconveniences caused by the ongoing construction of the Package Two of Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass project, which will significantly shorten travel time between the island’s northeast and southwest districts.
“Every development project that benefits the future will have pain points in the present.
“But residents will be among the greatest beneficiaries once it is completed,” he added.
