Chinese opera is a traditional form of musical theatre that was first brought to Singapore in the 19th century by Chinese immigrants. It incorporates various art forms such as singing, acting, acrobatics, wushu and more. Join host Munah Bagharib as she transforms into a Chinese opera performer and learns the basics alongside Nick Shen, founder of Tok Tok Chiang and leader of Teochew opera troupe Lao Sai Tao Yuan.
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00:00 Alright, I'm going to keep the costume.
00:01 Okay.
00:02 I'm going to walk around.
00:04 Hello, welcome to another episode of Asia One Tries,
00:19 where we discover local traditions and cultures.
00:21 I'm Muna, and today we are in what I think is Red Hill.
00:26 I've been really coming here a lot, and I'm totally thrown off,
00:30 because all I see are buildings,
00:31 so I have no idea how it's related to art or culture.
00:34 But please, give me my three hints.
00:37 Okay Muna, here are three hints for you,
00:38 and if you guess the activity correctly,
00:40 it'll help you on the activity challenge later.
00:42 Expressive, bold makeup, music.
00:46 Bold makeup, music.
00:48 I'm performing.
00:50 I'm performing a dance.
00:51 What kind of dance?
00:53 Is there anyone here?
00:54 It's Chinese.
00:55 Oh, it's Chinese!
00:57 Chinese opera!
00:58 Yes Muna, the activity that you'll be trying today is Chinese opera.
01:02 I've never watched a Chinese opera.
01:07 I've seen it in movies,
01:09 but I really have no knowledge whatsoever about it, so...
01:13 Oh my god, I'm going in blind.
01:15 But I'm excited, let's go!
01:18 (Music)
01:26 Hello there!
01:28 Hi, I'm Muna.
01:29 Hi, I'm Nick Shen.
01:30 Hi!
01:31 I'm a Chinese opera actor, and also the founder of Tok Tok Chiang.
01:34 Oh yes, thanks for having me here.
01:36 Everything is so beautiful, and I'm so excited.
01:39 Can you tell me more about what you do here at Tok Tok Chiang?
01:41 I founded Tok Tok Chiang a few years back,
01:43 to promote arts and culture in Singapore.
01:45 I'm also the troupe leader of the oldest
01:47 Teochew opera troupe in Singapore,
01:49 Lao Sai Tao Yuan.
01:50 Yeah, you guess how long has it been in Singapore?
01:53 50 years?
01:54 More than that, it has been around for 159 years.
01:57 So even before Singapore was Singapore?
02:00 Yes.
02:01 Wow, that's really amazing!
02:02 So maybe you can go into what exactly is Chinese opera then?
02:06 Chinese opera is a traditional art form
02:09 that incorporates various art forms such as
02:11 wushu, acrobatics, singing, acting, water sleeves, etc.
02:16 How did it come to Singapore?
02:18 In the 19th century,
02:19 the immigrants brought Chinese opera to Singapore,
02:21 and it was very popular back then.
02:24 But it started 1,000 years ago.
02:26 Yeah, and like you said,
02:27 because there are so many different art forms that come together,
02:30 so to me it's always such a big spectacle,
02:33 and I've never watched it live,
02:35 so I'm getting goosebumps,
02:36 but I've always been interested to know more about it.
02:38 Right.
02:39 How did you get involved in Chinese opera?
02:41 I started when I was a little boy.
02:43 My grandma would carry me to watch Teochew opera
02:46 in the Tanglin Halt area,
02:47 because there were many street operas back then,
02:49 and I was really fascinated by the shining costumes,
02:52 the headgears,
02:54 especially the fighting scenes.
02:55 I was intrigued by the warrior on stage,
02:58 so I actually transformed my living room into a stage,
03:01 and I would imagine my grandma's room as the make-up room backstage,
03:05 and I would use poster colour to paint my face.
03:08 So that was how I started,
03:09 and I forced my grandma and my brother to be my audience.
03:12 How long does it take to pick up and learn Chinese opera?
03:15 Like Munah, there's a saying,
03:16 "One minute on stage takes about 10 years of hard work,
03:19 perseverance and true passion."
03:21 So usually, around 10 years,
03:23 as long as they have the passion and perseverance to learn this art,
03:26 usually about 2-3 years to master the art.
03:29 Ah, okay.
03:29 Well, as always, I don't have 2-3 years,
03:32 but I have the passion and perseverance.
03:34 So, can you take me through Chinese opera?
03:37 Sure.
03:37 Alright, we are in Hair and Make-up.
03:39 Yes, Chinese opera make-up.
03:42 Your first time?
03:42 Yes, my first time.
03:44 So you're going to walk me through it.
03:46 Don't worry.
03:47 We have one of the best make-up artists here.
03:49 Alright, so you're in good hands.
03:51 Okay.
03:51 (Music)
04:11 Oh my goodness, I feel like a totally different person.
04:14 Do you like the look?
04:15 Turn one round.
04:16 (Munah makes a weird noise)
04:18 Wow!
04:19 Munah, let me demonstrate how to ride a horse with a horse whip.
04:22 (Music)
04:48 Munah, you have seen the demonstration now.
04:51 Alright, and since you guessed the activity correctly,
04:53 you have 5 minutes to learn how to ride the horse with a horse whip.
04:57 Are you ready?
04:58 I mean, I thought I would get more time,
05:00 but okay, 5 minutes is good enough.
05:01 3, 2, 1, go.
05:03 This way.
05:04 Alright.
05:05 Then you kick your right leg.
05:07 Kick right leg.
05:07 Yes, go one round.
05:08 One round.
05:09 Alright.
05:10 Then you're up on the horse.
05:11 Go like this to ride the horse.
05:13 Left over right.
05:14 And then draw one big circle.
05:17 Draw one big circle.
05:18 And we're going to ride the horse.
05:19 Oh.
05:20 So when we turn one full round, right, we go like this.
05:24 Then you're left hand up.
05:25 Catch, alright.
05:26 Throw up.
05:27 Well done, never mind.
05:28 If you drop, never mind.
05:29 If you drop, you just go one round.
05:31 Just keep going, okay.
05:32 Just keep going one round.
05:32 And then you just draw one big circle again.
05:35 Then you strike a pose.
05:37 Your time is up.
05:38 Okay.
05:39 So Munah, are you ready to show us what you've learnt?
05:41 I think so.
05:42 Ah, come on.
05:43 I did a big round of applause to support you.
05:44 Thank you.
05:46 Oh, okay.
05:48 Three, two, one, action.
05:50 Awesome.
06:14 You did it so well.
06:16 I can't believe I'm still...
06:19 I can see Nick looking at me and I was like,
06:21 "Oh my god, am I doing it correctly?"
06:23 I'm giving you positive energy.
06:24 Ah, you are?
06:25 Thank you so much.
06:26 Well done.
06:27 Okay, on a scale of one to ten.
06:29 Because you didn't learn it within five minutes, right,
06:31 I give you nine upon ten.
06:33 Very good.
06:34 Brilliant.
06:35 Yes.
06:36 You know, there's still a little bit room for improvement.
06:38 Practice makes perfect.
06:39 Just practice more.
06:41 Come to our troupe.
06:42 I will sign a contract with you.
06:43 Oh, wow.
06:43 Life long contract.
06:45 This is in video form already.
06:47 It's binding.
06:49 Alright, I'm going to keep the costume.
06:50 Okay.
06:52 I'm going to walk around.
06:54 Alright, so Nick, thank you so much for that session.
06:58 Thank you.
06:59 I want to know,
07:00 what is the significance of Chinese opera in our cultural landscape?
07:04 I think it's a significant traditional art form,
07:08 rich in history.
07:09 But unfortunately, it's a dying art.
07:11 Not just in Singapore, but all around the world.
07:13 And so, how do you think we can preserve Chinese opera?
07:16 When we perform in a theatre,
07:18 it's important to have subtitles.
07:19 So that the younger generation can understand what we are performing.
07:23 Do you think that people from different cultures should also
07:26 get into Chinese opera, learn more about it, even perform it?
07:29 Because, you know, there is the barrier of language, like you said.
07:32 I think Chinese opera is not just a performance.
07:34 It's also about teaching good moral values.
07:37 Like my grandma,
07:38 she taught me good moral values through Chinese opera.
07:41 So I think Chinese opera is for everyone.
07:42 Any people from all walks of life, from different countries,
07:45 can get to appreciate Chinese opera or perform Chinese opera.
07:48 And find their meaning with it, right?
07:50 Yes, that's right.
07:51 Art is really for everybody.
07:53 So it doesn't matter which culture you're from.
07:55 It's about you appreciating something that you learn,
07:58 and that you pick up from.
07:59 Like today, you know?
08:01 Where do you see the future of Chinese opera?
08:04 You see, these days, we have dramas on Chinese opera.
08:07 And even songs, like Jay Chow.
08:10 There are many singers that try to incorporate Chinese opera elements
08:12 into their pop songs.
08:14 More young people will get to know it.
08:16 Thank you for sharing this art form with me.
08:19 I really would have dreamed to be able to do it.
08:23 From makeup, to wardrobe, to movements.
08:26 Next is singing and lines.
08:28 That would be advanced theory.
08:30 Next week.
08:31 Oh, next week?
08:31 Oh, we've already scheduled it.
08:33 Alright.
08:34 Well, thank you very much.
08:35 Thank you.
08:36 Thank you, Munah.
08:37 Thank you.
08:37 Nice meeting you.
08:39 Oh my god, that was one of the coolest things ever.
08:43 I feel like I say that about every activity of this show.
08:46 But this one, I think my favourite part was the transformation.
08:50 I'm a completely different person.
08:52 Munah, who?
08:53 No, okay?
08:54 This is different.
08:55 I've always known about it in films, I read about it.
08:58 But I think it's so different when you're actually on-site,
09:01 learning from the masters.
09:03 And there's so much that really goes into it.
09:05 From putting on makeup, to costumes.
09:08 And I really hope that I get to catch it live one day.
09:11 I do believe that it shouldn't be restricted to people of just the Chinese ethnicity.
09:18 I think art is really for everybody.
09:20 And language shouldn't be a barrier.
09:22 I mean, the fact that you're exposing yourself to someone else's culture,
09:26 learning another language.
09:28 I think a lot more people should find appreciation in Chinese opera,
09:31 like I have today.
09:33 Look at me.
09:35 Oh sorry, I think they're calling me for rehearsal already.
09:38 I'm part of the troupe now.
09:39 Catch our performance soon, guys.
09:41 Bye.
09:42 [laughs]
09:43 [music]
09:47 [music]
09:48 [music]
09:51 [music]
09:54 [BLANK_AUDIO]