Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Cantonese opera Sunbeam Theatre seems to face a closure crisis every few years
when its lease expires. The most recent crisis, in February 2012, was averted only when a
group of private benefactors intervened at the last minute.
Chinese Opera
Chinese opera
(hei kuk)
, one of the three oldest dramatic art forms in the world, is a colour-
ful, cacophonous spectacle featuring music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics and acting. Ad-
mittedly, it can take some getting used to. Female characters, whether played by men or wo-
men, sing in falsetto. The instrumental accompaniment often takes the form of drumming,
gonging and other nonmelodic punctuation. And the whole affair can last four to six hours.
But the costumes are splendid and the plots are adapted from legends and historical tales
with universal themes. If you happen to attend a performance by a leading Cantonese opera
troupe such as Chor Fung Ming, you'll experience some of the best moments of Chinese op-
era.
Cantonese opera
(yuet-kek)
is a regional variety of Chinese opera that flourished in Hong
Kong, particularly in the 1950s when opera virtuosi fleeing China composed and performed
a spate of original works in the territory. But eventually the limelight shifted to the sleek,
leather-clad kid on the block - cinema - and things have been going downhill for Cantonese
opera since. A shortage of performance venues is a problem. At present there are only two
venues, Sunbeam Theatre in North Point and the recently restored Yau Ma Tei Theatre, ded-
icated to the promotion and development of Chinese opera.
The best way to experience Cantonese opera is by attending a 'performance for the gods'
(sun kung hei)
in a temporary theatre. During major Chinese festivals, such as the Lunar
New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival and Tin Hau Festival, rural communities invite troupes to
perform. The performances usually take place on a makeshift stage set up in a temple or a
bamboo shed, and it is a jovial, laid-back event for the whole family that lasts several days.
For a more formal experience, try the Hong Kong Arts Festival in February/March.
Ko
Shan Theatre
(
www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/KST
) also has Cantonese opera offer-
ings. But the most reliable venue for opera performances year-round is Sunbeam Theatre,
while Yau Ma Tei Theatre is expected to also develop an active show calendar on the other
side of the harbour. At other times, you might stumble upon a performance at the Temple
Street Night Market nearby.
You can also check out the enlightening Cantonese-opera display at the Hong Kong Herit-
age Museum, where the Hong Kong Tourist Board (HKTB) offers a Chinese-opera appreci-
ation course every Saturday from 2.30pm to 3.45pm.
