Reviving Potehi: Penang’s Puppet Theatre Legacy

Hon. Professor Dr Tan Sooi Beng, Ethnomusicologist, Activist and Scholar, Universiti Sains Malaysia

04-Jun-25 19:00

Reviving Potehi: Penang’s Puppet Theatre Legacy

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We take a closer look at one of Penang’s most unique and captivating art forms - Potehi, or Chinese glove puppet theatre. With its carved wooden puppets, rich storytelling, and musical flair, it's a tradition that has entertained communities for generations. But how did it get here, and what does it mean to keep it alive today? We speak to Hon. Professor Dr Tan Sooi Beng, a leading ethnomusicologist, activist and scholar from Universiti Sains Malaysia, who has spent decades researching and reviving this fading yet vibrant art.

Image Credit: Sooi Beng Tan YouTube

Produced by: Juliet Jacobs

Presented by: Juliet Jacobs

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Categories: education, performing arts, culture, visual arts, music, History/Heritage

Tags: puppet theatre, potehi, glove puppets, penang, puppetry,

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