Izzuddin Ramli

What I discovered is that traditional performing arts in Malaysia offer more than just music, dance, intricate costumes and kenduri (ritual offerings), but also poetry—or rather “spoken poetry” in the form of doa, mantra, incantations and jampi.

SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, human beings have felt the need to commemorate special occasions—be it as individuals or communities. We celebrate the universal experien...

University students used to be active in theatre clubs on their campuses. But all that ended during the 1970s. Students were no longer allowed to participate in politics; this limited their creative development but, happily, it led to theatres being started outside the universities.