Kee Thuan Chye's Political Plays: An Analysis

In Malaysia, most forms of public expression are subject to control in the form of licensing laws and censorship. Despite this, the theatre in English has managed to develop a quite openly critical political voice. One of Malaysia's most openly and stridently political playwrights is Kee Thuan Chye. This paper traces the trajectory of development in Kee's political thinking, as evidenced in his four major plays, to show a deeper, more inclusive engagement with the state of the nation.