A Musical Journey Through Classic Fairy Tales
On 16 August 2026, Penang Institute presented The Wolf, the Emperor, & the Ensemble, as part of GTLF+—an afternoon of music, imagination and storytelling for audiences of all ages.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng, Executive Director of Penang Institute and Festival Director of the George Town Literary Festival, before The Tarts Ensemble and guest narrators took audiences on a musical journey through two classic tales, directed by Fa Abdul.
The afternoon began with Little Red Riding Hood, following Little Red Riding Hood as she set off from the kampong to visit her grandmother, only to encounter a sly and hungry wolf along the way. The story was brought to life by four guest narrators—Maryam Richardson, Garu, Donovan Ng and Alison Stevens—accompanied by music by Bruce Adolphe, giving the familiar tale a fresh and playful character.
This was followed by The Emperor’s New Clothes, with Chris Miley as the narrator. In this witty retelling, two mischievous children set out to trick a vain emperor, catching both the ruler and everyone at court by surprise. The story brought together humour, imagination and music in a lively interpretation of the well-known tale.
The Tarts Ensemble featured five founding members—Lee Chun Howe on oboe, Peter Lo on violin, Jeremy Tan on clarinet, Katie Coolbaugh on cello and Alyssa Khong on piano.
Although The Tarts Ensemble is a new name, its musicians are familiar faces on Penang’s concert stages. Originally formed simply to play together for fun, the ensemble takes its name from the egg tarts shared during rehearsals. The group continues to approach its programmes with a spirit of creativity, joy and generosity.
Through the interplay of live music and storytelling, The Wolf, the Emperor, & the Ensemble offered audiences an engaging afternoon with two timeless fairy tales, giving familiar stories a fresh voice for audiences of all ages.
