ORIGINAL HEROES
Chinese opera was brought to Singapore by early immigrants from China in the 1800s. The opera was performed in different dialects to celebrate festivals and acted out on makeshift stages, often within the compounds of Chinese temples. These performances remained a major form of entertainment for the Chinese and were attended by thousands.
Kim Eng Teochew Opera Troupe was founded in the 1980s by Mr Chua Hock Kee, who started his career as a child performer in the renown Sin Yong Hua Heng Teochew Opera Troupe. Kim Eng, which means “Golden Eagle”, was highly popular and its performance schedule was often booked out a year in advance.
Over the years the popularity of Chinese Opera dwindled, largely due to the advent of television and cinema, and the inability of the new generation to understand dialect.
The portraits in this series were made in the final month leading to the closure of Kim Eng Teochew Opera Troupe on 11 February 2007.
