Author Description

Bangsawan was the first popular urban commercial theatre in Malaysia which catered to multiethnic audiences. Emerging in the late nineteenth century, it was performed solely for entertainment and promoted through advertisements in the press, radio, and handbills. To attract multiethnic audiences, bangsawan incorporated stories, music and dance from Malaya, Europe, America, Asia, and other places. Bangsawan performers developed the first popular music and dance orchestra in this country. By examining the stylistic elements of bangsawan and the lives of important star performers, this book and DVD illustrate that bangsawan was eclectic, innovative, and constantly adapting to the times. The performers advocated their own sense of being modern.