Scene from a Peranakan performance with Francis Hogan

This is a personal album of photographs belonging to Francis Hogan, a well-known female impersonator of the 1950s revival of Wayang Peranakan (Peranakan theatre). The photos document important people and acting moments in his life, including his participation in some landmark plays, such as the Janda Kaya (The Wealthy Widow), alongside other well-known actors such as William Tan and Ong Chwee Kim. Wayang Peranakan is an example of the hybrid nature of Peranakan culture as it derives from an eclectic blend of Chinese Wayang and Malaya Bangsawan. It is commonly staged in the Baba patois and its origins can be traced to the early 20th century.