The acclaimed George Town Festival (GTF) returns for its 15th edition, bringing with it a host of innovative and compelling acts that invite audiences to experience the unlimited possibilities of the performing arts.
The theme of this year’s GTF is “Here and Now,” with visitors invited to contemplate the interconnectedness of their past, present and future.
Over 80 programmes from both celebrated international acts and innovative local artists will be featured. The festival will include both free and ticketed events.
According to GTF artistic director Ling Tang, this year’s festival will see enhanced diversity in its presented art forms.
“The content is more accessible to the public while still maintaining artistic value. It’s playful and occasionally challenges conventional norms,” Tang told FMT Lifestyle.
“We have placed significant emphasis on public and community engagement. Many of our events are curated with activities that encourage audience participation. This year, we have crafted a festival that is not only diverse and inclusive but also deeply engaging and thought-provoking for all attendees.”
She added the festival was also organising an outreach project for remote communities and artist residencies, to strengthen community ties with the city on a deeper level.
The George Town Festival is an annual celebration of arts, culture, heritage and community. Since its inception in 2010, it has established itself as one of the most significant arts events in the Asia-Pacific region, becoming a platform for artists across the globe to collaborate, create and connect.
The five featured shows this year are:
- “Alle Armi” by Italy’s Hombre Collettivo;
- “Waktu Batu. Rumah yang Terbakar” by Indonesia’s Teater Garasi/ Garasi Performance Institute;
- “Double Bill of Jingju Magic” by Taiwan’s GuoGuang Opera Company;
- Thailand’s “House of Mask and Mime”; and
- homegrown production “Switchblade Operation: A world in the city” by Kongsi Petak.
“The Miniature Public Art is also the highlight of our visual arts programme, offering a unique and intriguing experience with art installations scattered throughout the city,” Tang said.
She also recommends “Pengalaman Prangi”, a speculative roving performance combining theatre, time-travel, and a collective exploration of memory, history, and spatial sensibilities between geomorphology and the built environment.
In it, participants listen to audio narration and soundscapes and experience live performances scattered along a route: each offering a speculative interpretation of the cultural, historical, and urban morphology tapestry that George Town has evolved into.
Also catch “A Woman’s Body”, a curated selection of five international and four Malaysian films by female directors that seek to focus on the Asian female perspective, shatter stereotypes and biases, and reveal the lived truth of inequality affecting women today. There will also be panel discussions and post-screening Q&A sessions.
Another highlight is “lambe lambe” theatre from South America, the smallest theatre in the world.
“Sortilegio” is an outdoor performance, which can only be watched by one audience member at a time. The show is presented inside a closed box, and spectators peer through a peephole to uncover the world unfolding within.
Also not to be missed is the C.O.R.E Homegrown Concert, which features only Malaysian bands and musicians this year. This free concert series spans four nights, each with a different theme, showcasing the incredible talent and creativity of local artists.
The festival organising team have also kindly provided a Programme Schedule and Art Map to help visitors navigate the many activities taking place.
“We hope that visitors to this year’s George Town Festival will leave with a deep sense of connection to the arts and the community. We hope they will be inspired by the creativity, thought-provoking content and innovation showcased throughout the festival,” Tang said.
“Ultimately, we hope that their visit leaves them with lasting memories and a greater understanding of the power of art to bring people together and enrich their lives.”
The Georgetown Festival takes place from July 19-28. For more information, visit the website or follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.