GEORGE TOWN: The inaugural Penang Heritage Arts Festival which begins on Friday (May 1) will bring an array of theatre, music, dance and comedy performances to the city.
Held until May 10, the festival features productions ranging from historical theatre and jazz showcases to stand-up comedy, choral performances and contemporary dance presentations.
Bangunan UAB in Lebuh China will be transformed into a hub for performances celebrating Penang’s heritage, multiculturalism and creative talents.
Among the highlights are The Legend of Rani Dhobi, a historical play set in Penang circa 1800, and Beyond the Sea, a dramatic recital accompanied by photographs and discussions on historical context.
The music segment includes performances by the USM Music Department Ensemble Project, Citra Simfoni, the Mini Big Band of Penang and vocalist Mable Ooi, while comedy show Light Bites: A Comedic Journey through Penang’s Communities and Cuisine will feature sketches and stand-up inspired by the state's communities and culinary culture.
The festival will also feature Pulse and Voices of Penang, a choral concert built around the island’s histories, languages and cultures, including the premiere of A Song of Pulau Pinang composed by Deborah Martin with lyrics by Jayaram Menon.
Dance performances will conclude the festival with Sasanakala, a contemporary dance programme, alongside workshops and presentations exploring heritage, movement and artistic traditions.
The festival committee's Jay Menon said the event marked the beginning of what organisers hoped would become a distinctive arts event for Penang.
"The seed of this festival was planted in 2019 with Memes: A Love Story, an original play staged by the Penang Players," he said at the launch on Friday.
"Studio Pentas and Penang Jazz Society collaborated with Penang Players on this spectacular production.
"That happy effort sparked a simple idea: Why not create a festival where practitioners collaborate on an ongoing basis, utilising crafts handed down through generations and tweaking them into fresh, exciting forms?"
Jay said the festival was conceived as a pilot project and platform to strengthen collaborations between artists from different disciplines.
"The festival is our pilot project, a testing ground for that vision.
"With the experience we gain here, we aim to evolve it into a nexus for creativity in South-East Asia," he added.
Meanwhile, state tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the festival reflected Penang’s growing creative economy and multicultural roots.
"For 10 days under the roof of this venerable UAB building, we won't just be celebrating the performing arts.
"We will be igniting a spark that's been flickering in Penang's soul for years.
"Penang has seen first-hand how its artists turn stories into strength, heritage into hope and passion into progress, and this festival embodies that alchemy.
"Here, creativity isn't a luxury, it's our lifeblood, as it fosters jobs that last, sparks innovations that endure and cultivates a resilient spirit that turns challenges into cultural capital," he said.
Wong also credited organisers Penang Players, Studio Pentas and the Penang Jazz Society for bringing the festival to life through years of collaboration and effort.
"They didn't wait for permission, they organised, collaborated and created.
"They remind us that the creative economy thrives not on state government alone, but on the bold initiative of everyday visionaries who build communities from the ground up," he added.
Also present were George Town World Heritage Inc general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee, Teochew Puppet and Opera House director Goh Wee Ling and Studio Pentas founder Aida Redza.
