A TRADITIONAL glove puppet play tracing the journey of early Hokkien migrants to Penang will open Friday (April 24) night at Komtar in George Town.
Titled "A Song of Crossing to the Southern Seas", the production by local performing arts group Ombak Potehi follows two friends who left Zhangzhou in southern China in the late 19th century in search of work, eventually settling in Penang.
The story reflects the uncertainty faced by early migrants, from the dangers of the sea journey to questions about survival and life in a new land.
The play is presented through potehi, a form of glove puppet theatre that originated in China’s Fujian province and was brought to South-East Asia by migrants.
Founded in 2015, Ombak Potehi began as a group of youths aiming to learn and preserve the traditional artform, which has since evolved with local influences.
Director Marcus Lim said questions of identity shaped both the production and the troupe’s direction.
"We are all trying to find our identity. I’m Chinese, but why am I here? How did I get here and become a Malaysian?
"I went to China years ago and found my ancestral home.
"When I set foot on my so-called motherland, all I felt was that I am indeed Malaysian," he said.
He added that the group initially struggled with whether to remain fully traditional or adapt to local culture.
"We can perform in the traditional way and learn the techniques from our masters.
"At the same time, in Malaysia, we have our own stories that we can tell," he said.
In the play, characters begin speaking traditional Hokkien before gradually shifting into localised speech as their journey unfolds.
The production is Ombak Potehi’s first large-scale standalone show.
It is staged in collaboration with Taiwan-based Smile Folksong Group and supported by Arts for All Seasons under Yayasan Hasanah.
Performances run until Sunday (April 26) at Auditorium A, Komtar.
Tickets can be obtained at https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/5206-a-song-of-crossing-to-the-southern-sea.
