A list of five performing arts venues in Penang to consider for showcasing your next theatre, musical, or dance project.
By Lim Wan Phing
Since the closure of penangpac in January 2022, many producers, directors and artists have been left wondering where performing art and theatre groups can stage their shows in the Pearl of the Orient.
Here’s a list of five venues that’s currently active and available.
Triple-I Production House
The iBOX Theatre can seat up to 100 patrons. Photo courtesy of Triple I Production House.
Triple-I Production House is a performance art theatre involved in stage production, drama education, and event planning. It runs iBOX Theatre strategically located in Sunny Point Complex near University Sains Malaysia (USM) and the first Penang Bridge. Its indoor and fully air-conditioned theatre within an office complex makes it suitable for any cosy and intimate performance, with capacity for up to 100 people in the audience. With a strong focus to cultivate talent amongst the younger generation and to promote development of the arts in Penang, iBOX Theatre has hosted everything from traditional theatre to film festivals, dance workshops, fashion shows, music shows, school musicals, and kids theatre.
Contact: Jason (+6012-412 3008)
Email: marketing@tripleiproductionhouse.com
Address: 8-2-8 Sunny Point Complex, Jalan Batu Uban, 11700 Gelugor, Penang
Website: facebook.com/TripleIProductionHouse; facebook.com/iBOXTheatre
Dewan Budaya
The 2,000 sqft auditorium of USM’s Dewan Budaya. Photo from Dewan Budaya website.
Located within the compounds of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Dewan Budaya is a stalwart venue for traditional, modern, and contemporary performing arts in Penang. Established in 1994, it has a 2,000-square-foot auditorium with a capacity for 493 people, a dance studio called Studio Gerak for 20–30 dancers, and an open-air performance area called Dataran Bintang. Dewan Budaya also provides costumes, props, and music equipment rental. Most recently in July 2022, it was the venue for the well-received traditional Mak Yong performance Dewa Indera, Indera Dewa that was part of the George Town Festival.
Contact: Ms Fadzilah Ismail (+604-653 3888 ext. 4126/2307)
Email: dir_dbudaya@usm.my, dewanbudaya@usm.my
Address: Dewan Budaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11700 Gelugor, Penang
Website: dewanbudaya.usm.my
Hin Bus Depot
Semi-alfresco deck area for performances. Photo courtesy of Hin Bus Depot.
A community arts space well-known for its weekend markets, art exhibitions, and wide range of local cafés and small businesses, Hin Bus is a popular spot and a strong support base for all things artistic in Penang. The compound has an exhibition space (2,000 sqft), deck (2,000 sqft), mural garden (1,600 sqft) and lawn area (2,300 sqft) available for rental to performing arts groups. Its mixture of indoor, outdoor and semi-alfresco venues makes it suitable for a variety of arts programmes, with each space configurable depending on the setting or event. In the past, events have included theatre, dance, live action painting, and music festivals.
Contact: hinbusdepot.com/contact.html
Email: team@hinbusdepot.com
Address: 31A Jalan Gurdwara, 10300 George Town, Penang
Website: hinbusdepot.com
Loft 29
The 5,000 sqft Heritage Auditorium. Photo from Loft 29 website.
Loft 29 is a 10,000-square-foot event space that comprise a Heritage Auditorium (5,000 sqft), Social Lounge (1,200 sqft), and a loft-style Mezzanine (1,700 sqft) for events as diverse as weddings, product launches, corporate symposiums, and you guessed it—the performing arts. Its heritage warehouse concept with high ceilings and red-brick walls has attracted many art and musical troupes to stage their shows here. In the past, performances have included stand-up comedy shows, rock band gigs, orchestra concerts, benefit concerts, Shakespeare plays, drum performances, and 2022’s George Town Festival iron-rod puppetry performance IBU based on the Si Tanggang folklore.
Contact: +6018-212 1829
Email: enquiry@loft29.com.my
Address: 29 Gat Lebuh Gereja, 10300 George Town, Penang
Website: loft29.com.my
Soundmaker Studio
A typical performance night. Photo courtesy of Soundmaker Studio.
More popularly known as a live gig venue for indie rock bands, Soundmaker Studio is slowly moving into the performing arts space. Recently in December 2022, it was home to Pitapat Theatre Company’s award-winning play Kakak, showcasing a four-day run at its first floor venue in a heritage shophouse along Lebuh Bishop. Soundmaker Studio also recently partnered with the Penang state government’s Youth Development Corporation (PYDC) to encourage young people to explore the performing arts, a signal of its commitment to be a space for the art community.
Contact: +6017-428 7327
Email: soundmaker.pg@gmail.com
Address: 18 Lebuh Bishop, 10200 George Town, Penang
Website: facebook.com/soundmakerstudio
With a variety of venues to choose from above, we look forward to welcoming performing arts troupes to Penang and seeing new shows staged in 2023!
Wan Phing is a Penang writer with a short story collection ‘Two Figures in a Car’ published by Penguin SEA.