The Istana Budaya or The Palace of Culture, founded in September 1999, is Malaysia's main venue for all types of theatre including musical theater, operetta,classical concert and opera from local and international performances. It is located next to the National Art Gallery in Jalan Tun Razak at the heart of Kuala Lumpur.History
Upon completion, the former national theater, Panggung Negara was relocated to this new building. Istana Budaya is also the residence of the National Theater Company and the National Symphony Orchestra.The Istana Budaya theater hall "Panggung Sari" with unique design of royal boxes inspired by the window of Malay traditional house, can accommodate up to 1,412 audiences at one time. The building is the first theater in Asia that is equipped with state-of-the-art stage equipment. Istana Budaya is also rated among the ten most sophisticated theaters in the world, and on par with the Royal Albert Hall in London.The idea of this state-of-the-art theater began with the proposal in 1964 to establish a cultural centre. The construction work began in 1995 and was completed three years later. It was built at a cost of RM210 million with theater's floor area of 21,000 m² as part of the 54,400 m² cultural complex. The Istana Budaya was officially opened by the former Prime Minister ofMalaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed in 1999.
Architecture
The main building takes the shape of the 'sirih junjung', a traditional arrangement or a present made of betel leaves used during Malay weddings and welcoming ceremonies. As in a traditional Malay house, the building is divided into three areas:The building was designed by the local architect, Muhammad Kamar Ya'akub. The inspiration for the design is based on a traditional moon kite in flight.The turquoise folds on the roof and the intricate design of the foyer are just two of the interesting features of the building. Istana Budaya’s architecture has intrigued experts and academics.
- The "serambi" (lobby and foyer)
- The "rumah ibu" (main house) as the auditorium
- The "rumah dapur" (kitchen) as the stage and rehearsal hall.
The interior was constructed using local resources such as Langkawi’s marble and high-quality tropical wood for the doors crafted by hand to shape flowers and leaf motifs. The verdant carpets in the entrance hall and lobby feature cempaka flower and the beringin tree, inspired by Malaysia’s traditional opera, Mak Yong.
In the auditorium, there are royal boxes on each side, patterned after the windows of a Malay house. The entrance to the theatre, too, replicates a palace’s main hall, or the Balairong Seri and is said to be modelled after one in Malacca.
The theatre lobby on the third floor extends the influence of Malay culture, taking the shape of the rebana ubi or traditional drum. The auditorium itself seats about 1,412 people, including 797 in the stalls on the first floor, 312 in the grand circle on the second floor and 303 people in the upper circle. The orchestra pit, when it is not in use, can take in 98 people.
While there seems to be a large number of stairs, the disabled can take heart. Istana Budaya has wheelchair facilities, including a ramp into the foyer, a lift with easy-to-reach buttons and an area designated for the handicapped. Restrooms for the disabled are also found at both the stalls and grand circle areas. Additionally, there is also a costume gallery featuring clothes from Malay traditional theatre. The costumes are from Bangsawan, Mak Yong, Ajat Bebunuh, Layang Emas and Bambarayon performances, among others.
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