GEORGE TOWN, Dec 3 ― They arrived almost 200 years ago on elephants, bringing with them their traditions and practices, and settled in a remote area in Penang.

That was the birth of Kampung Siam, the place where the traditional Thai Menora dance was first introduced to Penang and Malaysia.

Today, the small village with only four families remaining is almost dwarfed by the growing development around it in the bustling township of Pulau Tikus.

The families still living there are third and fourth generation Thais and they are facing a court battle in order to continue living in the place they have called home for several generations.

Advertisement

Their struggles in the setting-up of the village and how they introduced Menora dance here will be depicted in a contemporary dance piece titled Wayang Koh Maak this December 12.

The performance, by Ombak-Ombak ArtStudio, is a modern interpretation of the Thai khon dance, puppet dance and Thai wayang kulit to tell the story of Kampung Siam.

The Ombak-ombak Wayang Time Project dance team leader Aida Redza said Wayang Koh Maak is the result of an intensive collaborative process that started from a dance workshop of the Wayang Time Project.

Advertisement

“We want to revitalise street performance traditions in Penang and this performance is to tell the story, history and struggles faced by people of this village amidst the developments around them,” she said at a press conference.

The performance is a creative response to the issues faced by the village especially with their possible eviction pending the court case, she added.

“The historic Kampung Siam community faces displacement so our performance is one way of crystallising the difficulties faced by this community who are very much part of the multicultural fabric of Penang,” she said.

There will be six dancers and a narrator in the performance with a special guest appearance by Thai Menora dancer Noo Wan Arooratana.

The performance will be a combination of dance and sounds of traditional Malaysian and Thai performing arts.

Aida said Ombak-Ombak ArtStudio will also be looking for other communities to tell their stories through the performing arts and dance after this performance.

Wayang Koh Maak is organised in collaboration with Think City, Gerakbudaya Bookshop and Ruam Thai Persatuan Siam Malaysia and supported by the Pulau Tikus state assemblyman Yap Soo Huey.

There will be two shows, at 7.45pm and 9pm on December 12, within the narrow compound of Kampung Siam.

The performances are free but due to the small space, those interested to attend must register for passes from Hock Kheng at 012-4282711.