Photo by the late Baba Peter Wee, originally published in The Peranakan magazine.
16 April 2023 (Sun) 3 – 6p.m Pileh Menantu written by the late Baba Felix Chia
The Peranakan Association Singapore (TPAS) is delighted to host a series of three Baba Malay play-reading sessions, jointly with the Peranakan Museum.
What better way to kick-start our series than with Pileh Menantu (Choosing a Daughter-in-Law), a Baba Malay play that launched Baba GT Lye’s wayang Peranakan career. The then novice actor, who played the role of the father, has over the years of honing his stage practice, became a doyen of Peranakan theatre. In 2020, Baba GT Lye was nominated by TPAS for the inaugural Stewards of Intangible Cultural Heritage Award, conferred by the National Heritage Board (NHB) to recognise outstanding practitioners of intangible cultural heritage, and received the award.
This Baba comedy of domestic foibles was commissioned by the Singapore Arts Festival in 1984, with the objective of writing for the general audience, not just Peranakans.
We recognise that the use language of Baba Malay is fast diminishing, and as such, are striving to revive our unique native tongue that is bazaar Malay mingled with Chinese dialects and English. So, if you read and speak Baba Malay, or want an opportunity to practise your Baba Malay, or just want to observe, please email events@peranakan.org.sg.
Fees to cover refreshments and materials for this event are:
Member: $15 | Non-member: $20
Registration will be on first-come first-served basis, limited to 30 places only.
Read about the play in THE PERANAKAN magazine archive