Categories
Tourism Malaysia

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MALAYSIA’S LATEST ATTRACTION, ENCORE MELAKA

Hear ye! Hear ye! There’s a new attraction in town and we’ve got the 101 on it for you right here!

From the Impression series of world-acclaimed performances in China comes Encore Melaka, specially curated and directed by Wang Chaoge (the creative force behind the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony) to express her feelings for Melaka, its past, present and future.

Having just opened its doors on 7 July 2018, Encore Melaka puts up a magnificent and spectacular show. Expect emotive storytelling, high-energy choreography, vivid stage settings with creative lighting and unbelievable stage effects along with a score of moving music that will not only inspire audiences but capture their imagination, too.

We had a chance to be among the first to view the performance on its grand launch, which coincided with the very date that Melaka was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage City in 2008, and came away fully impressed (no pun intended)!

Here’s a sneak peek of what to expect of this awe-inspiring show that spans 700 years of story-telling through beautiful costumes, light, music, dance, folklore and history, all using top-notch technology that will blow your mind away!

  1. A new landmark in Melaka: The theatre itself is a work of art! Overlooking the scenic Straits of Melaka, it sets a new landmark in Melaka with its contemporary design. The façade is tiled with fish scale-like LED panels which reflect light from the ever-changing and vibrant sky of Melaka. It is the largest permanent theatre in Malaysia designed by chief architect Wang Ge from the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design, and is purpose-built for Encore Melaka and nothing else! Tip: Come early before the show to catch the beautiful sunset scene of the theatre hall against the Straits of Melaka.
  2. State-of-the-art theatre hall: This theatre hall is unlike any other. The audience seats are situated in what seems to be an island surrounded by massive screens. In fact, to get to your seats, you will have to cross rhino over the stage! Seating capacity is 2,000 and it has state-of-the-art theatre technology including a sophisticated hydraulics system to support the 240 meter-long stage, multi-layered stages, advanced audio and 3D video mapping projection equipment. All this technology is synchronised to create a vivid and immersive theatre experience for all.
  3. The 360 degree rotating audience platform: The “wow” factor of this theatre is definitely the 360 degree rotating audience platform surrounded by four stages, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. The entire island of seats rotate automatically during the performance but you might not even realise the movements as the turns are so subtle. But, it will move you from stage to stage, bringing you a new perspective of the performance each time.
  4. Abstract storytelling: Don’t expect a linear re-telling of Melaka’s history in this show. Instead, Wang Chaoge wanted to compile cultural stories of Melaka and vignettes of life that reflected a society which embraced diversity and inclusiveness. There are snippets depicting Baba Nyonya wedding traditions, but in other scenes are abstract representations of Melaka and its people through symbolic adobe dance movements. Never mind if some of the scenes are too deep, the production itself, through artistic choreography, creative stage use, costumes and music, and 3D mapping technology, will keep you mesmerized.
  5. A performer’s dream: During the 70-minute live performance, about 200 local performers from all over Malaysia, aged between 18 and 63 years will take to the stage. The show’s producers proudly shared with us that putting together the show had brought about the realization of dreams for many of their performers. Indeed, the production supports the full-time careers of these performers and goes to show that the arts is well and truly alive in Malaysia.
  6. Memorable scenes: Keep your eyes open for some of the most memorable scenes of the performance: mesmerizing abstract lines dancing across the scene/stage depicting waves that later transform into a fleet of ships during the Cheng Ho scene; rows of shirtless drummers masterfully hitting drums in sync against projected imagery of waves; the water effects accompanied by emotive choreography in one of the show’s most thought-provoking dance sequence; the scene when a line of ladies dressed in colourful kebayas take on the stage with their stirring and nuanced performance. The show is presented in English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and other local dialects, reflecting the multi-racial and multi-cultural society in Melaka, but even so, remember that theatre, dance and music breaks all barriers.
  7. The work of an accomplished director: The whole storyline of Encore Melaka is the brainchild of Wang Chaoge, after studying Melaka’s history, culture, traditions and people for two years. It showcases her own perceptions and interpretations of the Melaka culture, after immersing herself in its history, experiencing the modern Melaka and envisioning its future. In fact, she has been famously quoted as saying, “I did not choose Melaka; Melaka has chosen me…” when explaining why Melaka was handpicked out of 150 competing countries lobbying for their own Impression show.
  8. The tenth Impression series and first out of China: The Impression series was started in 1998 by Wang Chaoge, along with fellow directors Zhang Yimou and Fan Yue. In China, six Impression shows and three Encore shows have been created under the series. Some of the famous Impression series include Impression Sanjie Liu and Impression Lijiang which are outdoor performances utilizing natural backdrops of mountains, lakes and rivers. When Melaka was handpicked by Wang Chaoge as the coveted home of Encore Melaka, it made Malaysia the first country outside of China to continue the legacy of this well-established performance series.
  9. Impression City in Melaka – The Encore Melaka theatre is part of a larger waterfront integrated mixed development called Impression City Melaka which encompasses hotels, serviced apartments, commercial complexes, office towers, educational and wellness facilities, a shopping mall, retail shops, a yatch club and a marina. The landmark 56 ha project with a gross development value of RM7 billion, is being developed by Yong Tai Berhad and expected to be ready in eight to ten years’ time. Encore Melaka theatre will remain as the centerpiece of this new destination.
  10. Close proximity to other tourist attractions – The theatre is located in Melaka’s most prominent site, along the city’s waterfront, just 3.5 km from Jonker Street, a renowned China town in the city. It is quite close to the city’s shopping, historic and cultural areas. In fact, from the Melaka city centre, it will barely take you 15 minutes to reach the theatre site. Bear in mind, though, as the theatre is located within a new commercial district, there aren’t many retail outlets just yet, so it is best to dine in the city before going for the show.

Contact Details/Information:

Address: No. 1 Jalan KSB, Impression 8, Impression City @ Kota Syahbandar, 75200, Melaka, Malaysia.
Ticketing: The ticket prices is from RM128 onwards. Visit https://encore-melaka.com/ticketing for ticket purchase.
Show Time: Monday –Saturday (5.30pm 8.30pm); Sunday (2.30pm 5.30pm).

Categories
Travel to Melaka

YONG TAI EXPANDS LAND BANK IN MALACCA

Yong Tai Acquires Two Parcels of Land in Malacca
• March 22, 2017


Key player in the tourism and cultural development in Malacca, Yong Tai Berhad will embark on two mega property projects with GDV of RM2.3 billion.

Yong Tai Bhd has acquired two parcels of land within the Impression City project in Malacca from Mustazah Osman and Laila Endut of Laila Development Sdn Bhd for RM35 million, reported The Sun Daily.

In a Bursa Malaysia filing, Yong Tai revealed that the acquisition price will be funded via a mix of bank borrowings and/or internally generated funds.

The property developer intends to develop the six acre land into a mixed development project comprising retail units, a hotel and serviced apartments.

With a gross development value (GDV) of RM1.1 billion and a gross development cost (GDC) of RM800 million, the project, which is set to be completed in five years, will yield a potential gross profit of RM300 million.

Meanwhile, Yong Tai’s fully-owned unit YTB Impression Sdn Bhd has inked a joint development agreement with JM Bestari Land Sdn Bhd for the development of another piece of land in Melaka Tengah.

Set to be completed in five years, the project will include retail, office and commercial units.

It is expected to have a GDV of RM1.2 billion and a GDC of RM800 million, resulting to a potential gross development profit of RM400 million.

Categories
Travel to Melaka

IMPRESSION CITY BY END 2017

Yong Tai Berhad : bullish on Impression City
     
02/24/2016 | 03:12 am
KUALA LUMPUR: YONG Tai Bhd expects its RM5.4 billion project in Malacca to generate net profit margin of 20 per cent, which would help to sustain the company’s earnings in the long term.

The garment maker-turned-property developer, which has been loss- making for several years, expects to return to the black this year with contribution coming from the real estate sector.

The company, which has pockets of developments in the Klang Valley and Johor, is planning to develop Impression City on a 47.03ha site in Malacca.

The project would be developed in 11 phases and over 10 years, said its executive director Boo Kuang Loon.

Construction for Phase 1 would start in the third quarter of this year and feature retail and commercial units, said Boo at a luncheon hosted by MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd, here, yesterday.

It is expected to have a gross development value of RM1.1 billion,

The catalyst for the commercial-led Impression City is the Impression Melaka performing arts theatre, to be built on the 47.03ha site.

Construction of Impression Melaka, the jewel of the company, will start next month at a cost of RM300 million and includes land acquisition. The opening is slated for end-2017.

Boo said although Impression Melaka required a huge capital investment, the returns would be long term and attractive.

It would take two years to construct and the projected returns would start from 2018 onwards, he added.

With 15 million tourists visiting Malacca annually, Yong Tai hopes to attract at least 1.1 million visitors to Impression Melaka, with 40 per cent coming from China.

The company is also targeting visitors from Southeast Asia (30 per cent), Asia (20 per cent) and the rest from the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

“With two shows a day and tickets priced at RM120 per person, we are poised to achieve a revenue of RM140 million a year, including the sale of souvenirs and merchandise. For this business, we are targeting a profit margin of 50 per cent. This would net us a profit of around RM60 million a year.

“There are many more upsides, such as increasing the ticket prices and having up to four shows a day. This is the potential of Yong Tai in the future,” said Boo.

“For the next two years we are at the investing stage and would generate profits. But the profits would not be much to give dividends,” he said.