Khor Yi Heng 许颐蘅

Education:
B.A., National Taiwan University

Research Interest:
Sinophone literature, Modern literature; Contemporary literature

Self-Introduction:
Malaysian. I graduated from the Department of Chinese Literature at the National Taiwan University and am currently pursuing my studies in the Chinese Studies department at the National University of Singapore.

Thesis Advisor: Dr Chan Cheow Thia

Thesis title: Hidden Localized Performances: Adaptations of Mahua “Amusement Park” Plays by the Golden Star Dance Troupe (1940-1950)

Thesis Research Area:
In the 1940s, theatre in Singapore and Malaya carried not only the ideals of enlightenment and mobilisation but also a strong sense of entertainment. Using the Golden Star Dance Troupe as a case study, this paper examines the often-overlooked genre of 'amusement-park' plays. Through adaptations of "The Story of Shrimp-Ball" and "Oppression", the Golden Star moved between street comedy and social critique, both meeting audiences’ demand for entertainment and embedding local life experiences. This study thus reveals that the history of Chinese theatre in Malaya was not a single nationalist narrative, but a diverse and dynamic cultural practice.