Boria (theatre)

Boria (Jawi: بوريا) is a form of Malay theatre of Indian origin which has through adaptive processes, become the one and only theatre of Malay community in Penang, Malaysia[1] Records on the origin of Boria are fairly limited but it was first mentioned by H.T.

The performance normally begins with a short comic sketches and followed by a song-dance routine featuring a juxtaposition of choral and solo parts.

The song-dance routine commonly performed in a western music style and with dance forms such as rumbas, cha-cha-cha or soul.

[2][3] Boria’s theme varies from Arab warriors, European traders to Chinese shopkeepers around which the costumes and comic improvisations revolved.

The main melodic instruments has consistently violin but various Western, Malay, or Indian drums and Chinese cymbals are also used in the performance.