AS soon as the ban on performing arts was lifted on July 1, Fa Abdul wasted no time in trying to stage her play at the Penang Performing Arts Centre (PenangPac).

It would be the first play staged there since the movement control order was enforced in March, resulting in the cancellation of 29 shows.

With the reopening, Fa’s play is one of two shows lined up at PenangPac.

To Fa’s dismay, the response to her comedy, The Ice Kacang Project, was not well received. She believes lingering fears of infection in a confined space like a theatre and the inconvenience of health protocols, turned off many people.

“We had three performances daily and at each performance, we could only accommodate 33 people in order to comply with social distancing rules.

“So, theoretically, we could only have a total audience of 99 people over the three performances.

“But in reality, we got only 45, not even 50%. What I noticed is that while the art buffs are happy plays have returned, social distancing rules are ruining the atmosphere in the theatre.

“They are just not comfortable having to sit apart from their families or friends.” She said the situation was not giving production companies much confidence to continue at the moment.

“The prices of tickets are already very low. So when we plan to stage a show, we have to really give it a hard and long thought,” Fa told The Malaysian Insight.

The social distancing rules mean PenangPac theatres can only seat 30% of their capacity.

She said this could force some productions to raise ticket prices to cover their losses.

“However, not many people could then afford tickets.”

The government has also barred those over 60 from attending plays.

“In Penang, most of the performing arts buffs are in that age group,” Fa said

“My performances usually attract an audience of 80%, but The Ice Kacang Project, unfortunately is my first play that didn’t even attract 50%.

Fa also spoke of the difficulties they faced rehearsing for the show.

She described the experience as “rather unique” as the restrictions in movement forced them to rehearse via video conferencing

“We were rehearsing for two months via the Zoom video conferencing application. We could only do three rehearsals before the performance.

“It’s a real challenge. We all have to wear masks, regularly sanitise ourselves and keep our distance from one another,” she said.

One of Penang’s popular boria groups, Boria Omara, are also in a similar situation after 10 of their performances lined up for the year have been cancelled.

The group’s founder, Omar M. Hashim, said he expects his group to start performing only next year.

For the moment, the group will continue rehearsing.

“Prior to the pandemic, we would be engaged every month to do performances at the Penang port to welcome tourists arriving in cruise ships.

“Now they (arrivals) have all dried up with the cancellations. We have received one tentative engagement but then again that is not a confirmation,” Omar said.

With a sombre mood prevailing among people because of Covid-19 fears, Omar expects the usually lively boria performances to reflect the general mood. 

“I understand it will take time. As we only expect bookings to come in the new year, one booking now is a bonus.

The only performance they made recently was for a National Heritage Department documentary.

Omar said rehearsals are also a problem as only 10 people are allowed, but they have 15 members.

On May 25, the Penang government issued a guideline on the reopening of theatres and the performing arts.

Apart from banning those over 60 and children under 12 from attending performances, organisers have to comply with the 1m social distancing rule.

Body temperature and general health checks have to be done twice daily on performers and support crew.

With the restrictions still in place during this recovery MCO, the performing arts need a lot more time to get back to normal, said arts activist Joe Sidek.

“It was a good sign when the government allowed cultural and artistic activities to  resume. But the big questions being asked are: How many will come and who wants to watch?”

Joe said his greatest fear is his company folding up and to make sure it stays afloat, he has gone to to do talk shows and promotion drives to ensure his brand is embedded in the mind of the Covid-19 wary people.

“I have held a chat session called, Uncut: Live From The Blue Moon, with foreign producers on Facebook.

“In Singapore, they live stream plays and the response was very good,” he said.

Joe, who is known for managing the George Town Festival, said the restrictions in movement had given him plenty of time to think.

“I used the five months to evaluate the plight of the Malays in Penang. Now I am planning to organise a Malay Festival in September this year.

“My team is all geared for it. We will start small and will only involve the local community.

“For those outside Penang and the country, we will transmit the event live on the internet.” – July 12, 2020.