Bangsawan: A Cosmopolitan Theatre Birthed in Penang
By Izzuddin Ramli
October 2022 FEATURE
THE ARRIVAL OF the British to Southeast Asia in the 18th century brought significant changes to the political, economic and cultural contours of Malaya. The establishment of Penang as a free port in 1786 saw an increase in the number of incoming vessels from 85 to 3,569 by 1802, and the population in George Town rose to 10,000 by 1792 (Nordin, 2007). Immigrants came from all corners of the world—Chinese, Europeans, Arabs, Indians and Malays from surrounding islands such as...
Izzuddin Ramli
is a Kelantanese analyst at Penang Institute. He is a writer who seeks refuge in Penang, and agrees with Rumi that the Earth is not our home, we are just passing through.
