CATHAY CINEMA RE-INVENTED AS MELAKA BANGSAWAN THEATRE TO SHOWCASE HERITAGE OF ARTS AND CULTURE

MELAKA, May 7 (Bernama) -- The official reopening of Cathay Cinema in a re-invention as ‘Panggung Bangsawan Melaka’ or Melaka Nobility Theatre at Jalan Munshi Abdullah will be an operatic stage to showcase the arts and culture of the state’s multiracial heritage of Malay, Peranakan Chinese and Eurasian-Portuguese communities.

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said so far, the state government through the Melaka Corporation (MCorp) will work with 10 production houses to organise various programmes, events and performances throughout the Visit Melaka Year 2024 (VMY2024).

“Panggung Bangsawan Melaka (Bangsawan: theatrical opera stage performances on Malay nobility and royalty) is not only a platform for exponents of performing arts but also as a new tourism product to attract more visitors in conjunction with VMY2024.

“Various performances have been listed according to the schedule throughout this year, including theatre related to the history of Melaka and entertainment in the form of musicals, suitable for audiences of all ages,” he said here tonight.

He said this after completing the launch of the Melaka Bangsawan Theatre which was also attended by the State Tourism, Heritage, Art and Culture exco Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman.

Ab Rauf said the state government also called on all federal government agencies, state governments, local authorities, private companies and individuals to help revive the Melaka Nobility Theatre in terms of sponsorship and collaboration with any reputable production house.

In the meantime, he said the state government is also fine-tuning several methods to attract spectators to the Melaka Bangsawan Theatre, especially from the aspect of transportation using ferry boats provided by the Melaka River Cruise at the stage jetty, in addition to trishaws.

“We want the operation of Melaka Bangsawan Theatre to also have a positive economic (spillover) impact on other tourism operators in the state,” he said.

The theatre can accommodate up to 392 spectators for each performance and is equipped with modern facilities in air-conditioned comfort with technical equipment, audio system and the latest advanced lighting system.

Cinema enthusiasts who attend the choreographed stage shows can enjoy the scenic beauty on the banks of the Melaka River or relax at the bistros designed in modern and classical concepts, as well as buy handicraft products and souvenirs sold at the lobby of the theatre.

-- BERNAMA