Moved to Life: Tradition and Reinvention in Asian Puppet Theatre is an international performing-arts symposium on 7–8 November 2026, organised by the Teochew Puppet & Opera House and hosted with Penang Institute. It gathers Teochew iron-rod puppeteers from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, alongside artists and scholars from the US, Japan, India, Taiwan and elsewhere.
By day (9am–6pm), Penang Institute on Jalan Brown hosts keynotes, panel and roundtable discussions, artist dialogues, feature performances and workshops, including a Malaysian traditional puppetry showcase and Teochew iron-rod puppet demonstrations. The day programme is ticketed: RM50 for one day, RM90 for both, or RM30 for an online Cloud Pass, via CloudJoi.
By night (8pm–11pm), the action moves to Armenian Park in the heritage core, with free public performances, a documentary screening, interactive games and projection mapping, closing with a finale on the Sunday. This is the easiest way for families to drop in – no ticket needed.
If you are a student of theatre, heritage or design, the day pass is excellent value for access to practitioners rarely seen together in Malaysia. For casual visitors, the night shows are a magical way to spend a weekend evening in George Town; arrive early for a good view, and bring a small mat or stool, as open-air seating may be limited.
Highlights
- Teochew iron-rod puppet masters from across Asia
- Talks and workshops at Penang Institute
- Free night performances and projection mapping at Armenian Park
Programme at a glance
| Session | Time | Venue | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Symposium, talks & workshops (7–8 Nov) | 9am–6pm | Penang Institute, 10 Jalan Brown | RM50/day, RM90 two days, RM30 Cloud Pass |
| Night performances & screening (7 Nov) | 8pm–11pm | Armenian Park, 95 Lebuh Armenian | Free |
| Night finale (8 Nov) | 8pm–11pm | Armenian Park | Free |
Tips
- Buy the 2-Day Pass if you want the full symposium
- Night shows are free – arrive early
- Bring a mat for open-air viewing
Not yet confirmed by the organiser: detailed session timetable, parking. We'll update this page when details are published.
How to get there
Penang Institute (day) & Armenian Park (night), 10 Jalan Brown, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang; Armenian Park, 95 Lebuh Armenian, 10300 George Town. Armenian Park is in the George Town heritage core on Lebuh Armenian; Penang Institute is on Jalan Brown Open in Google Maps or open in Waze.
More workshops in Penang · What's on in Gurney Drive & Pulau Tikus · What's on in Penang this month · more free things to do in Penang
Information from Teochew Puppet & Opera House – Moved to Life 2026, Penang Institute – event page, Penang Global Tourism event listing. Last verified .
Details change — confirm with the organiser before you go. Spotted an error? Tell us.
