With coronavirus cases currently ebbing and restrictions lessened, Singapore’s wayang performers are making a comeback.
These people belong to a dying breed of Chinese opera actors whose artistic lineage spans more than 2,000 years. The words are in Teochew, a southern Chinese dialect, their voices shrill yet loud even as they break into the occasional song. Their faces are painted white and shades of red, with patterns that match their carefully rendered facial expressions. They move elegantly on a nearby stage, their elaborate headgear glittering in the spotlights as they re-enact legends from Chinese history, or tales of lost love, heroic deeds, and filial piety.
But these are merely accompaniments to a group of performers clad in colorful Ming Dynasty–era costumes. Cymbals and gongs crash incessantly, accompanied by the melodic notes of string instruments like the guzheng and erhu.
Over the course of several evenings, the normally quiet confines of the Sheng Hong Temple, on the city’s east side, are woken by the sound of ancient music. In our new series, Disappearing Traditions, we cover cultural moments and makers that may have suffered a blow during COVID, but found a way to continue to shine.
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