George Town Festival returns from July 9
For the first time in two years, events will be held before a live audience
THE epitome of what is trending culturally and artsy in the northern region would be originating from Penang once again, from July 9 until 24.
It marks George Town’s status as one of the 1,121 World Heritage sites globally.
The George Town Festival (GTF) is back to thrill audiences in the world of performing arts, heritage, and culture – mixed with the gastronomic delights which Penang offers.
The event is into its 12th edition and for the first time in two years, it is back to its physical format where events are held before a live audience.
GTF was held to support Unesco’s universal declaration that all heritage sites must protect their intangible cultural heritage. In Penang, there is a blend of the customs of the Malay, Chinese, Indian, and minorities such as the Eurasians, Thais, and Burmese.
Altogether, there are around 80 GTF-sanctioned events. A total of 70% of the events are complimentary while the ticketing events will be discounted by 30%.
The organisers were mindful of crowd control amid the inflationary conditions.
GTF spokesperson Connie Chan said that GTF has also signed up with Socar car rental services to help lessen traffic congestion. So those attending need not drive but instead opt for rent-to-drive vehicles here.
There would also be a cap of up to 250 persons for some events and all event goers need to be mindful of masking, physical distancing, and personal hygiene.
Penang remains a red zone although there are no longer Covid-19 related deaths. There remain 799 active cases as of July 4 and 32 hospitalised.
There are also speculations of a new Omicron sub-variant, which is said to take a longer time for recovery despite the advances made in the vaccination process.
To this, Chan said that the organisers would remind the audience to take precautions and to respect the standard operating procedures for their own sake.
Despite concerns over traffic, inflation, and healthcare, Chan said that domestic tourism is in full bloom. She expects a reasonable number of people to show up to witness the return of the cultural and arts scene after some 24 months of partial confinement.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that GTF positions Penang on the global map of arts, with the potential of becoming a permanent big feature on the global calendar.
It provides more value to Penang’s role as a preferred tourism destination while also providing a platform for the talents in the performing arts field to showcase themselves.
The talents would be stimulating the audience – starting with shows such as the short films (G-Short: Finalists Film Screening) where short movies spanning 90 minutes, created by filmmakers from various countries, will be screened.
Then there is the Macallum Rooftop Concert where performers would serenade the audience atop one of the state’s biggest working-class neighbourhoods in Macallum, which was developed on one of the state’s earliest reclamation sites.
There is also the Great Story of The Infinite Drawing which is a mixture of drawings and augmented reality.
Tech is also coming to the GTF in a big way with the Cahaya XR: First Edition with storytelling augmented by cutting-edge new display tech.
Then there is Ibu – a puppet theatre performance that showcases a tale of a famous Southeast Asian folklore.
Although there are many complicated elements in GTF, most of the shows are contemporary with inspirational themes, says Chan.
Other attractions are The Shang Sisters: Pesta Irama Bersama-sama, a jazzy affair with the Shang Sisters group, whose members are Janet Lee, Winnie Ho, and Mian Tan.
They will perform songs in a distinctly Malaysian and Nanyang sound.
The Senses is an out-of-this-world concert that is taking place at The Habitat Penang Hill’s Curtis Crest.
It offers an all-around sensorial experience in Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve’s 130-million-year-old rainforest.
There is also the Angin OmBulan where artist-researcher Kamal Sabran and choreographer Aida Redza teamed up to bring about an onsite experimental performance with the sounds and sights of nature.
There is also the Tanjong Life – a comic book of life in the 1990s collection.
All events are tailored to preserve and showcase the rich culture and performing arts.
Tickets are available at https://georgetownfestival.com/2022/programmes/box-office/.
source – The Vibes
