MAK yong or mak yung is an ancient theatre form that combines acting, vocal and instrumental music, gestures and elaborate costumes.
This traditional art form originated from the kampung of Kelantan in northeast Malaysia, where mak yong is performed in the royal theatre under the direct patronage of the Kelantan sultanate until the 1920s.
The art form was banned in 1998 because of its elements of pre-Islamic culture and partly due to the visibility of women on the mak yong stage who cross dress, often taking on both men and women roles in a play.
This traditional art form is undergoing a steady decline, as attested by reduced dramatic and musical repertories and a shortage of seasoned performers.
This year, Seri Makyung Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang presented Raja Besar Maha Gading featuring venerable performers of mak yong. Rosnan Rahman, also known as the nation’s pak yung (male actor) takes the stage with renowned traditional music players.
The orchestra consists of a three-stringed spiked fiddle (rebab), a pair of double-headed barrel drums (gendang) and hanging knobbed gongs (tetawak). Women take on most roles in the play with a pak yung to carry one of the male roles.
The stories are based on ancient Malay folk tales with royal characters, divinities and clowns. – March 3, 2018.
Pak yong Rosnan Rahman performing at the Makyung performance of Raja Besar Maha Gading at the Dewan Budaya auditorium USM, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.Hands framing dancer Wan Anisa (Nisha) during the mak yong performance of Raja Besar Maha Gading at the Dewan Budaya auditorium USM, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.A performer speaking during the mak yong performance of Raja Besar Maha Gading at the Dewan Budaya auditorium USM, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.Nadhilah Suhaimi (centre) and other women taking on male and female roles in the mak yong performance of Raja Besar Maha Gading at the Dewan Budaya auditorium USM, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.A performer applying make-up for the Seri Makyung USM performance of Raja Besar Maha Gading at the Dewan Budaya auditorium. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.Make-up artistes preparing the performers for the mak yong performance of Raja Besar Maha Gadingí at the Dewan Budaya auditorium. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.Wan Anisa (Nisha) showing part of the beaded costume used in the mak yong performance at the Dewan Budaya auditorium USM, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.A performer applying make-up for the mak yong performance of Raja Besar Maha Gading at the Dewan Budaya auditorium. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.Wan Anisa (Nisha) and Linda (left) warming up their vocals before the mak yong performance at the Dewan Budaya auditorium USM. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.Pak yong Rosnan Rahman checking his make-up before the performance of Raja Besar Maha Gading at the Dewan Budaya auditorium USM. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.The make-up bag of an artiste preparing a performer for the mak yong performance of Raja Besar Maha Gading. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.Renowned rebab player Che Mat Jusoh playing the three-stringed spiked fiddle during the mak yong performance of Raja Besar Maha Gading at the Dewan Budaya auditorium USM, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 3, 2018.
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