Drury Lane

Drury Lane, George Town (20 May 2012)


Drury Lane is a short, L-shaped lane in George Town, Penang. It connects Kuala Kangsar Road to Campbell Street, passing through the compound of New Theatre. In the early days, Drury Lane was the Bangsawan Street of George Town, a place where the locals come to view Bangsawan performances (or "nobility plays," so called for its storyline centering around the Malay aristocracy).

The name Drury Lane is appropriately taken from Drury Lane, the main theatre street in London. The earlier stage was later replaced by the New Theatre which was built in the Art Deco style fashionable in the early part of the 20th century. It was often rented out for Chinese operas until matinees became fashionable.

Lorong Drury road sign (30 August 2012)


The popularity of theatres in Penang took a nosedive with the arrival of television, as people preferred to watch television at home, or even at a neighbour's house, than to pay for a theatre performance.

The New Theatre at Drury Lane is now converted into the Heaven Dance Club, and may continue to metamorphose according to changing taste and market demand.

In Other Words ...

Drury Lane was also called Sin3 Hee1tai2, meaning New Theatre, in Hokkien.

The old colonial-period Drury Lane road sign (24 November 2008)

Getting there

Take Rapid Penang bus 10, 11, 101, 103, 104, 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 301 and 302 to Penang Road. From there, walk down Campbell Street until you arrive at Drury Lane on your left, after the junction with Kuala Kangsar Road.

View Drury Lane in a larger map

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