Page 639 - Proceedings Collega2023

REINVENTED RITUAL IN THRONE OF THORNS A CONTEMPORARY
INTERCULTURAL PERFORMANCE

Norzizi Zulkafli

Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia

norzizi@uitm.edu.my

ABSTRACT

Throne of Thorns is an intercultural theatre production that fused the performance techniques
from Mak Yong, a traditional Malay theatre form, with elements drawn from the text of William
Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The production was staged in University of Wollongong, Australia from
February 25-27, 2015. It was performed in English and involved ten Australian actors, two musicians and
a lighting designer. The production was directed, set and costumes designed by two Malaysian theatre
practitioners. The aim of this research is to examine the opening ritual of Mak Yong, primarily the dance
of Mengadap Rebab (Salutation to the Rebab, the spike fiddle) which it is involves dancing and singing.
This research explores the possibility of how traditional Mak Yong ritual could be used reinvented in
contemporary performance. Therefore, this paper explains how the traditional elements could be
moulded in intercultural contemporary productions by reworking and reinventing the tradition to create
the unique performance and has its identity. Thorns of Thorns applies the practice-led research which
the actors and director work closely in the rehearsal studio. The reinvented ritual that was created as the
opening of Throne of Thorns was inspired by the opening ritual of Mak Yong which involves its own
music, style of singing, and dancing with elaborate hand, finger, and wrist movements and intricate leg
positions.

Keywords: intercultural theatre; reinvented ritual; Mak Yong; traditional Malay theatre; performance

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