Pesta Raya 2025 will be held from May 9-12, marking its 24th edition. The festival celebrates the best of Malay arts and culture as part of Hari Raya festivities. In addition to ticketed performances, there will be free programs throughout the Esplanade’s various spaces, including Pesta Pasar, the festival’s largest outdoor marketplace to date with over 35 regional stalls.

Main attractions highlighted in the article include:

Salina – A theatre production by Teater Kami, directed by Cultural Medallion recipient Atin Amat. This is a restaging of her adaptation of a Malay novel, set in a 1950s kampung (village) in the aftermath of the Japanese Occupation. Performances run May 2-4 at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre.
Dari Sudut Hati, Habsah Hassan – A concert on May 2 at the Esplanade Concert Hall celebrating Malaysian songwriter Habsah Hassan, who has written lyrics for over 1,000 songs. Performers include Malay pop veterans like Jamal Abdillah, Rahimah Rahim, and Salamiah Hassan.
My Name Is (Not) Khan – A one-man show by Singaporean performer Hafidz Rahman, who plays a Malay man obsessed with Bollywood. While Hafidz is known for comedy, he notes this English-language performance explores deeper themes of race, microaggressions, and racism.
Jarum Dalam Jerami – A dance piece by Indonesian choreographer Hartati, who previously choreographed for the Esplanade’s grand opening in 2002.

In-Depth Analysis of Malay Arts Performances at Pesta Raya 2025

Let me analyse each of the Malay arts performances mentioned in the article in greater detail:

1. Teater Kami’s “Salina”

Historical Significance:

Directed by Cultural Medallion recipient Atin Amat
Revival of prior stagings from 1993 and 1997
Adaptation of an important Malay-language novel

Production Elements:

Set pieces preserved for over 30 years by Atin Amat
Recreation of “Kampung Kambing” (Goat Village)
Includes authentic props from:
- The now-defunct Sungei Road Thieves Market
- Atin’s own former kampung home, including a traditional tempayan (stoneware jar)
Staged at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre from May 2-4

Narrative Context:

Set in post-Japanese Occupation Singapore (1950s)
Centres on the protagonist Salina’s struggle for survival
Explores complex themes including sex work and poverty
Depicts life in a squatter village converted from a goat pen with “thin walls and leaky roofs”

Cultural Importance:

Preserves memory of Singapore’s kampung history
Documents the post-war Malay experience in Singapore
Represents Atin Amat’s legacy as a Cultural Medallion recipient

2. “Dari Sudut Hati, Habsah Hassan” Concert

Artist Background:

Features Malaysian lyricist Habsah Hassan, now 75 years old
Habsah has contributed lyrics to over 1,000 songs
She began her songwriting career in Singapore, making this venue especially meaningful

Performance Structure:

Concert dedicated to showcasing Habsah’s five decades of songwriting
Features veteran Malay pop performers, including:
- Jamal Abdillah
- Rahimah Rahim
- Salamiah Hassan

Cultural Significance:

Celebrates cross-border Malay musical heritage between Singapore and Malaysia
Recognises female creative contribution to Malay popular music
Preserves musical legacy spanning half a century
Scheduled at the prestigious Esplanade Concert Hall on May 2

3. Hafidz Rahman’s “My Name Is (Not) Khan”

Performance Format:

One-man monologue show performed in English
Features a new character creation named Harith
Performed by Hafidz Rahman, known for social media comedy but exploring more serious theatrical territory

Thematic Elements:

Centres on a Malay man’s obsession with Bollywood culture
Explores complex intersections of:
- Cultural identity and cross-cultural appreciation
- Racial dynamics and microaggressions
- Meritocracy as a social construct
- Experiences of racism within the Singaporean context

Artistic Approach:

Deliberately transcends Hafidz’s reputation for comedy
Employs humor while addressing substantive social issues
Represents evolution of a digital creator into theater performer

4. Hartati’s “Jarum Dalam Jerami” Dance Performance

Choreographer Background:

Created by celebrated Indonesian choreographer Hartati (aged 59)
Hartati previously choreographed for the Esplanade’s grand opening in 2002
Demonstrates ongoing regional artistic collaboration

Performance Elements:

Features dancers moving through and interacting with Paddy Hay
Title “Jarum Dalam Jerami” translates to “Needle in Hay”
Merges traditional and contemporary dance elements

Cultural Context:

Represents Indonesian dance traditions within the Malay cultural festival
Explores agricultural imagery significant to traditional Malay world
Revisits historical connections between the choreographer and Singapore

Overall Festival Context

The performances collectively represent:

Intergenerational artistic expression (from veteran artists like 75-year-old Habsah to contemporary creators)
Cross-border Malay cultural exchange (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia)
Multiple artistic disciplines (theatre, music, dance)
Preservation of traditional elements alongside contemporary themes
Exploration of Malay identity in relation to historical events, other cultures, and modern social challenges

The festival’s programming demonstrates both the depth of cultural tradition and the willingness to engage with complex contemporary issues, reflecting the evolving nature of Malay arts in Singapore and the broader region.

Analysis of Digital Aspects of Pesta Raya 2025 – Malay Festival of Arts

While the article doesn’t explicitly focus on digital elements of the Pesta Raya festival, there are several digital dimensions worth analysing, both from what’s mentioned and what can be inferred:

Digital Presence and Performers

Digital-to-Stage Transition
- Hafidz Rahman represents a new generation of performers who have built their audience through social media.
- Known for digital character creations like “Bonda Bedah” before bringing performance art to live theatre
- Demonstrates how Malay cultural content creators are moving between digital and traditional performance spaces
Festival Promotion
- The article itself (dated April 23, 2025) is part of the digital promotion strategy for the festival.
- Photos credited to “Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay” suggest institutional digital documentation.
- Cross-platform promotion likely extends beyond what’s seen in this article.

Missing Digital Elements (Notable by Absence)

The article doesn’t mention several digital aspects we might expect in a 2025 arts festival:

Virtual/Hybrid Components
- No mention of livestreaming or digital access to performances
- No reference to virtual reality extensions or digital exhibition spaces
- Appears to maintain focus on in-person attendance
Digital Art Integration
- No explicit mention of digital art installations or technology-enhanced performances
- Traditional art forms (theatre, concert, dance) remain the highlighted elements.
- Suggests possible emphasis on preserving traditional performance modes
Online Community Engagement
- No reference to social media campaigns, hashtags, or digital audience participation
- No mention of apps or online platforms for festival navigation
- The “Me-You Market” collaboration for Pesta Pasar could have digital components not elaborated on

Digital Documentation and Preservation

Cultural Memory
- The article itself serves as digital documentation of Malay cultural history
- Atin Amat’s physical preservation of set pieces contrasts with potential digital preservation methods
- Opportunity for digital archiving of these performances for cultural continuity
Cross-Generation Digital Bridge
- The festival brings together performers from different generations:
  - 75-year-old songwriter Habsah Hassan
  - Social media personality Hafidz Rahman
- This generational spectrum suggests different relationships with digital media

Cultural Digitization Context

The minimal mention of digital aspects could indicate:

Deliberate Focus on Traditional Arts
- Possible intentional emphasis on non-digital cultural experiences during Hari Raya
- Potential celebration of analog community experiences as complementary to digital daily life
Digital Divide Considerations
- Possible acknowledgment of diverse audience with varying degrees of digital access
- Ensuring cultural traditions remain accessible to all community members
Unexplored Opportunities
- Potential for greater digital integration in future festival editions
- Possibilities for digital preservation of disappearing cultural elements (like the kampung settings of “Salina”)

Conclusion

The Pesta Raya 2025 festival, based on the available information, appears to maintain primary focus on traditional performance spaces and forms while incorporating some elements of digital cultural evolution (namely through performers with digital backgrounds). The apparent limited digital integration could represent either a conscious choice to emphasize traditional cultural experiences or an opportunity for future development of the festival’s digital dimensions.

The festival’s ability to bridge traditional Malay cultural forms with contemporary digital contexts will likely be crucial for engaging younger audiences while preserving cultural heritage in Singapore’s highly digitised society.

Malay Cultural Festivals in Singapore: Scope and Significance

Malay cultural festivals in Singapore occupy an important but somewhat specialized position in the country’s cultural landscape. Based on available information through October 2024:

Established Major Malay Cultural Festivals

Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts
- The most established large-scale Malay arts festival
- Organised by the Esplanade since approximately 2001 (reaching its 24th edition in 2025)
- Nationally recognised as the premier Malay arts showcase
- Features performances across multiple venues in a significant cultural institution
Malay Heritage Festival
- Organised by the Malay Heritage Centre (now Kampong Gelam Heritage Precinct)
- Typically smaller in scale than Pesta Raya but with a significant cultural focus
- Emphasises historical and heritage aspects of Malay culture
Bulan Bahasa (Malay Language Month)
- Annual festival celebrating the Malay language and associated cultural elements
- Organised by the Malay Language Council of Singapore
- Features literary, performing arts, and educational components

Contextual Factors

Demographic Context
- Malays constitute approximately 15% of Singapore’s population
- As the indigenous people of Singapore, their cultural presence extends beyond population percentage
Institutional Support
- Government policy emphasises multicultural representation
- Support through institutions like the National Arts Council, the National Heritage Board
- Dedicated spaces like Wisma Geylang Serai and Kampong Gelam Heritage Precinct
Comparative Scale
- Fewer large-scale Malay-specific festivals compared to Chinese cultural festivals.
- Smaller in scale compared to some pan-ethnic national celebrations
- Significant within their cultural context,t but not as numerous as other cultural festivals

Religious and Cultural Intersections

Hari Raya Celebrations
- Major religious/cultural celebrations with widespread national recognition
- Geylang Serai Hari Raya light-up and bazaar attracts visitors across ethnicities
- These celebrations have cultural components but are primarily religious in nature
Cultural-Religious Overlap
- Malay culture and Islamic practices are often intertwined in Singapore
- Some cultural festivals incorporate religious elements and vice versa

Assessment of Prevalence

Large-scale festivals dedicated specifically to Malay arts and culture are:

Not numerous – Only a handful of major dedicated festivals exist
Well-established – Those that exist have long histories and institutional backing
Significant – Plays a vital role in Singapore’s cultural landscape despite the limited number
Evolving – Growing recognition of their importance to Singapore’s multicultural identity

Pesta Raya stands out as the most significant large-scale Malay arts festival, with its longevity (24 editions by 2025) indicating its importance in Singapore’s cultural calendar and institutional support from a major national arts centre.

Analysis of Malay Features at the Esplanade

The Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Singapore’s premier performing arts centre, demonstrates varying levels of Malay cultural representation throughout its programming year. Here’s an analysis of the prevalence of Malay features at this institution:

Dedicated Malay Programming

Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts
- The Esplanade’s flagship Malay cultural festival
- Annual event spanning multiple days (four days in 2025)
- Comprehensive programming across various venues
- Running continuously for over two decades (24th edition in 2025)
- Represents the most concentrated period of Malay programming
Dedicated Series & Recurring Programs
- “Pentas” – Periodic Malay performance series
- “Dwi: Dalam & Luar” – Platform for emerging Malay artists
- “Cipta Cita” – Child-friendly Malay programming
- These represent regular but more limited-scale Malay cultural presentations

Integration in General Programming

Mainstage Productions
- Occasional Malay language/cultural performances in main season programming
- Limited but prestigious slots in the Concert Hall, Theatre, and Recital Studio seasons
- Examples include major Malay music concerts and theatre productions
Free Programming
- “Esplanade Presents” free series occasionally features Malay performances
- Community and Outdoor Theatre sometimes showcase Malay cultural groups
- Represents more accessible but less prominent presentation opportunities

Institutional Commitment

Programming Team
- Dedicated programmers with expertise in Malay arts
- Intentional cultivation of Malay artists and audiences
Regional Network
- Connections with Malay artists from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei
- Position as a regional hub for Malay performing arts

Comparative Analysis

Relative to Other Cultural Programming
- Less prevalent than Chinese cultural programming (which benefits from a larger population base and more institutional resources)
- Generally comparable to Indian cultural programming
- More visible than smaller ethnic communities’ cultural programming
In the Context of Singapore Cultural Institutions
- More substantial Malay programming than most private venues
- Comparable to but different focus from Malay Heritage Centre/Kampong Gelam
- Significant as the premier national arts centre’s commitment to cultural diversity

Assessment

The prevalence of Malay features at the Esplanade can be characterised as:

Consistent but concentrated – Highlighted during specific periods rather than evenly distributed
Institutionally supported – Backed by dedicated resources and programming staff
Symbolically significant – Important representation at Singapore’s premier arts venue
Growing in prominence – Evolving from token representation to more substantial programming

Pesta Raya remains the most visible manifestation of this commitment, serving as both a showcase for Malay arts excellence and a signal of institutional recognition of Malay culture’s importance in Singapore’s multicultural identity.

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Malay Arts Festival at the Esplanade