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Focus Malaysia
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Focus Malaysia
Inspiring the future through the lens of Malayan early cinema
IN AN era dominated by global media giants, Malaysia faces the pressing challenge of preserving its own cinematic heritage—a vital cultural treasure that is currently at risk of fading into obscurity. Early cinema in Malaya, spanning from the 1930s through the golden years of the 1940s to 1970s, played a crucial role in reflecting the social realities, cultural identities, and political aspirations of a colonised society moving toward independence. Yet, many of these films and the heritage cinemas that once screened them are deteriorating or lost, threatening a significant part of Malaysia's cultural memory. The current issue centers on cultural erasure due to inadequate preservation and archival efforts. Iconic early Malay films such as Laila Majnun (1933) and Seruan Merdeka (1946) were not mere entertainment but powerful narratives capturing the hopes, struggles, and multicultural fabric of Malayan society under colonial rule. Unfortunately, many films from this era exist only in fragile physical formats, and with the shift to digital media, preservation of these historical works has become more urgent yet complicated. Furthermore, historic cinemas, like the Art Deco Coliseum Theatre built in 1920, are disappearing from urban landscapes. Instead, they are being replaced by modern multiplexes or repurposed for other uses, erasing physical sites of collective memory. Research efforts looking at the impact of Malayan early cinemas, especially the one by Dr Ata' Hanifee Zawawi, from the Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya are addressing this issue by recovering and analysing early cinematic works and their contexts. This research combines archival investigation, oral histories, and film analysis to reconstruct the narratives and cultural significance of early Malay cinema. It highlights how films from the studio era (1950s–1965), including works by pioneering filmmakers like B.S. Rajhans and Malay Film Productions, served as tools for identity formation by centering local languages, traditions, and social issues. These films reflected the complexities of post-war Malaya, blending tradition and modernity, and fostering a sense of national identity before independence. Moreover, the research underscores cinema's dual role as both cultural preservation and education. Films from the studio era not only documented historical realities but also conveyed moral values and social cohesion, helping audiences understand their cultural heritage and societal structures. By studying these films through critical frameworks such as Georg Lukacs's cinematic realism, the research reveals cinema's transformative potential to foster cultural awareness and collective reflection. More importantly, this research is forward-looking. It asks how rediscovering early cinematic narratives can inspire contemporary Malaysian filmmakers and audiences to reclaim and reinterpret their cultural identities in a globalised media environment. With international productions increasingly filming in Malaysia yet often sidelining local stories, preserving early cinema becomes an act of cultural sovereignty, affirming that Malaysian stories matter and deserve to be told and retold. To readers, especially younger Malaysians, the message is clear: the cinematic heritage of Malaya is your inheritance. These films and historic cinemas are more than relics; they are windows into the past and mirrors for imagining future identities. Exploring this heritage invites you to move beyond passive consumption of foreign media and engage actively with your own cultural narratives. By valuing and preserving early cinema, you contribute to a richer, more diverse Malaysian cultural landscape that honours its history while inspiring new stories rooted in local experience. In preserving early cinema, Malaysia safeguards not only its past but also the creative possibilities of its future. The silver screen's flicker from decades ago still holds the power to shape who we are and who we can become—if only we choose to remember and cherish it. ‒ Aug 18, 2025 The author is an undergraduate student of Universiti Malaya, taking an elective university course entitled 'Introduction to Journalism and Storytelling in Digital Age'. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Collage of images from Wikimedia
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oldham: Historic Coliseum theatre reopening delayed until 2026
A historic theatre which is being refurbished after a long campaign to save it will not reopen in time for the 2025 panto season as planned, a council has Coliseum theatre is undergoing a £10m revamp and was due to throw open its doors again in Street actor Julie Hesmondhalgh was among those who joined the campaign to save the 135-year-old venue after the Arts Council withdrew funding in March Oldham Council has now said unexpected extra work could delay the reopening until well into 2026. However, Hesmondhalgh, a member of the Friends of the Coliseum group, said the group was "relieved and happy" with the postponement as it would give them more chance to prepare."Better to return with a beautiful, bold and glittering bang than do something half-baked in a building that isn't yet ready," she said. Arts Council England withdrew funding for the theatre on Fairbottom Street amid concerns over the theatre's after the campaign it U-turned on its plans to replace it with a brand new building and pledged a £10m spend to reopen the Tilbury Douglas started work on the theatre earlier this year. More work to remove asbestos from the walls and roof has led to the postponement, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Council leader Arooj Shah said: "It's disappointing not to be reopening for Panto 2025 as it's such a special part of Oldham's festive season, but unexpected bumps in the road often happen with a project of this scale."Rather than rush to open before the building is ready, our decision to extend the construction period gives us the time needed to get the details absolutely right." Martina Murphy, CEO of the the Coliseum production house, said she was "gutted" by the delay, but was confident the theatre would be "back with a bang" in Coliseum's production house will still be putting on shows around the area in the meantime. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Courier-Mail
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
‘Black-listed': Anastacia reveals the moment she realised she'd never achieve success in America
Don't miss out on the headlines from Music. Followed categories will be added to My News. Anastacia has one of the most recognisable voices in the music industry, but heartbreakingly an entire continent never got the chance to experience it. Breaking out in the early 2000s with iconic banger I'm Outta Love, Anastacia quickly became one of the biggest pop stars in the world and she's enjoyed success ever since, and will soon be bringing her sell out NTK25 tour down under. But one place the American's tour won't be visiting is North America, and it's all because record label politics meant that one of the biggest music industry markets on earth never got the chance to get to know Anastacia's vocal talents. 'I'm at that age where I'm fine with what I've got. My resume is beautiful and I'm proud of it,' the feisty singer told 'At the beginning, I felt like what's wrong with me, because I didn't know the reason why.' Anastacia. Picture: Jason Edwards As she prepared to go into the promotional tour for her second record, Anastacia finally realised the incredible success she was experiencing around the world was never going to happen in her home country. 'Then I kind of got an idea of what happened between the radio station and the record company, that it was like a power struggle thing,' she continued. 'And the radio stations made you. The record company made the radio station upset and I was the black-listed name.' 'So it wasn't that I was this rejected artist in America. It was like, they never actually knew me.' She'll be playing four shows later this year in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Picture:. While she was never given the chance to show off her talents in the US, thankfully the rest of the world immediately embraced her powerhouse vocals and ear for a banger. After performing to sell out crowds in Europe, Anastacia has announced that she's bringing her latest tour to Australia later this year. She'll be performing in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in September, with just a handful of tickets left remaining for fans to snap up ahead of the shows. Anastacia's Not That Kind 25 tour starts at The Forum in Melbourne on September 24, before heading to the Coliseum Theatre in Western Sydney on September 26, the Sydney's Enmore Theatre on September 27, before a final show at Brisbane's Eatons Hill Hotel on September 29. Tickets are available here. Originally published as 'Black-listed': Anastacia reveals the moment she realised she'd never achieve success in America
BBC News
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Oldham Coliseum: Historic theatre finds way to keep show on the road
A historic theatre awaiting a £10m revamp has found a way to keep its shows on the road - by performing at a range of different community years ago Oldham's famous Coliseum Theatre was forced to close down when the Arts Council withdrew its prompted a huge outcry and a campaign was launched to save the 140-year-old venue. And, following a U-turn, the theatre is set to open again later this year after a full while the building is out of action the Coliseum's theatre company is embarking on a tour of the town. Martina Murphy, chair of Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd, said: "We've done shows in the library, we've done shows in the arcade. "So we are meeting the people where they are and to give them something we could not give them in a building."Their latest production, The Engagement Party, held at the town's Queen Elizabeth Hall, is their largest since the theatre shut and a show where the audience are expected to Akbar, who plays Bilal in the show, said: "There's a lot of drama, a lot of dancing, a lot of music. We're all set up for an amazing engagement party but drama unfolds and the show focuses on the joy and families and communities." Co-star Noor Hadid, who plays Aisha, added: "It's really interactive audiences see them alive in the families. They love watching the drama unfold."They know what it is like with the in-laws and we get them on stage dancing and get them involved in some games."There was shock in 2023 when Coliseum was forced to close after Arts Council England withdrew its funding and the local council said the building was "no longer fit for purpose".But a passionate campaign involving many who trod the theatre's boards saw the council change its mind and commit £10m to refurbish is set to reopen before the end of 2025 and hopefully in time for pantomime season. Ms Murphy said: "It's really exciting so we'll be going [back] with a pantomime and this is what this theatre is known for most."Actor Evanya Taylor, who has appeared in BBC One's Waterloo Road and ITV's Coronation Street, plays Daphne in the current said she was also excited by the prospect of getting back into the refurbished venue."It will be amazing to walk through those doors and be part of the history," she said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
