A city at the heart of Penang is celebrating its eighth year festival dedicated to its inauguration as a UNESCO Heritage Site. Endorsed by the Penang State Government, George Town Festival (GTF) is a month-long celebration of the arts, culture, heritage and community. It is growing into a major Asian Arts event, as quoted by International New York Times.
This year, GTF will run from 28 July to 3 September, together with its satellite event Butterworth Fringe Festival (BFF) on 12 August and 13 August. Making a comeback for the third year, BFF is a two-day street festival consisting of local and international acts.
Executive director Joe Sidek, believes George Town is emerging as a crucible of an artsy and contemporary city, giving local artists a hub to nurture their talents, as well as providing them a global platform. With more than 100 events, GTF transforms the city into a universal stage where different arts from traditional to contemporary, local to international converge.
The festival showcases world-class performances, installations, and collaborations between international and local artists alike. Through art, design, photography, film, music, dance and drama, GTF aspires to present the stories that make-up George Town’s identity today.
As Penang is widely known as the heaven for local eateries, the festival will see more than 20 types of laksa brought from all over ASEAN to compete at the Laksa of the Region (LOTR) competition, to be held at the Penang State Museum at Macalister Road. In line with its ASEAN focus this year, GTF opens with Svara ASEAN featuring the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Gus Teja World Music from Indonesia, The Penang Philharmonic Orchestra and renowned singers from Malaysia and the region. The final week sees the festival presenting a special series of events entitled WOW – Week of Women.
Award-winning Indian theatre director Roysten Abel is returning with The Manganiyar Classroom which places thirty five village children as young as eight on a four-row bench terrace on stage, spontaneously singing and dancing to their schooling days. Another highlight show will see a group of handpicked ordinary Penangnites varying from generations, backgrounds and life-stories taking the stage to dance.
Directed by French choreographer Jérôme Bel, Gala showcases the beauty of diversity, united with the passion to dance. Other international highlights include contemporary dance 6 & 8 by Tao Dance Theatre from China, theatre show Anthar Agni from The Temple of Fine Arts, Singapore and A Simple Space by Gravity & Other Myths from Australia.
For more information, please visit http://www.georgetownfestival.com.
By Tang Ching Yee
Images Courtesy of George Town Festival
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