The region’s foremost purveyor of Teochew iron-rod puppetry, the Teochew Puppet and Opera House of Penang, Malaysia, will present two captivating works in this rare and distinct art form. Following the performance, the ensemble will host an open discussion. The performance will be in Teochew and Malay dialects with surtitles in English and Chinese.
The event is free and open to the public.
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Teochew Puppet and Opera House
GOH Ling, Director & Puppeteer
TOH Ai Hwa, Artistic Matriarch
GOH Lih Tat, Music Director, Musician & Puppeteer
LOW Zhi Kai, Stage Manager & Puppeteer
TANG Paik Tiang, Musician & Puppeteer
TAN Saw Ean, Musician & Puppeteer
NG Wei Kie, Musician & Puppeteer
LIM Chai Lin, Light Designer & Sound Operator
Program
Teochew Iron Rod Puppetry: Princess Baihua Bestows Her Sword
Set in the Yuan Dynasty, this timeless tale follows Haijun, a spy sent to infiltrate King Ngee Liak’s palace. Princess Baihua falls in love with him and gifts him her sword, unaware of his true mission. When Haijun’s betrayal leads to her father’s defeat, the Princess, torn between love and loyalty, ultimately avenges her father with the very sword she bestowed upon him.
Contemporary Iron Rod Puppetry: Si Tanggang
A modern retelling of the classic Southeast Asian folktale about Si Tanggang, a poor boy who rose to wealth but denied his humble origins and disowned his mother, leading to a tragic curse.
The performance will be in in Teochew and Malay dialects with surtitles in English and Chinese.
Bios
The only place in Malaysia dedicated to the Teochew operatic culture, the Teochew Puppet and Opera House was founded in 2014 by Ms. Goh Hooi Ling and is Malaysia’s first dedicated cultural space for the promotion of Teochew performing arts. Located in the historic Mor Han Club in Penang, it is recognized as one of Asia’s most unique homes for Teochew iron-rod puppetry—a rare and intricate form of traditional puppet theater.
Beyond showcasing this unique art form, the Teochew Puppet & Opera House tells the heartfelt story of a family based in Penang, Malaysia who has passed down the performing arts across five generations. From preserving the elegance of traditional Teochew opera to reimagining it for modern audiences, this living museum represents a cultural journey of dedication, resilience, and reinvention.
Visitors to the house in Teochew Puppet & Opera House in Penang can admire exquisite opera costumes and stage artifacts, listen to enchanting Teochew music, and even try their hand at puppetry or opera movements—becoming part of the experience themselves.
Combining exhibitions, education, and live performances, the institution offers regular classes in Teochew singing and recitation, opera movements, iron-rod puppetry, and percussion. It also organizes workshops, school outreach programs, and public lectures to cultivate appreciation among younger generations and nurture future successors of the art.
The Teochew Puppet & Opera House has also proudly represented Malaysia at major international arts festivals in Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, and China, bringing the beauty of Teochew opera to the world.
Ling Goh is the founder and director of the Teochew Puppet and Opera House. Her mother, Toh Ai Hwa, established the Kim Giak Low Choon Puppet Troupe in 1989, and in 2008 was recognized as a Living Heritage Treasure by the Penang Heritage Trust. Descended from an unbroken line of opera performers stretching back into the 19th century, Ling had been exposed from the womb to an environment steeped in rich operatic tradition. Under the tutelage of experts, she has mastered the intricacies of iron-rod puppet manipulation as well as the nuances of each prominent archetype in Teochew opera. She is also adept in opera singing and is proficient in various opera instruments, such as drums and the dulcimer.
In 2014, the Mor Hun Club venue was introduced by Ms. Lim Gaik Siang to Ling Goh for the foundation of the Teochew Puppet & Opera House, a museum and performance space dedicated to the preservation and propagation of Teochew operatic arts, particularly Teochew Iron Rod Puppetry and Teochew Opera.