5) _ SHIUKIM | £3 OPERA TROUPE |TABLE OF CONTENT 1-About oP ANieLtey Peed estan oo erences se Sener 8-Audience & 4-Music sary 5-Makeup 9-Postcards 10-ConclusionShiu Kim opera troupe hails from Taiwan, Tainan. Consisting of 20 to 23 people aged from 3 onwards are a bonded troupe that usually visits Singapore on different occasions to perform. They usually perform Fujian acts and stories that talk about family, love, loyalty, filial piety and on Chinese values. The age group aged from 3 onwards, even teenagers aged from 17 onwards join the troupe to perform during their holidays. Most of the performers there perform out of interest, hobby and even passion. To them Chinese opera is an interesting and fun culture. With their detailed makeup and costumes it is indeed a troupe that dazzles the audiences. The performance usually last for about 2 hours and 30 minutes to 45 minutes. It will showcase different stories about many different charactors. However at the end, everyone will come together to do a proper closing. The troupe is rather united and bonded as they often travel as group performing for people from young to old. People enjoy watching them as they perform with exquisitive costumes to their alluring headwears and to their detailed gestures. It is indeed an art culture full of richness, values and expressions, an art not to be forgotten but remembered. About Shiu Kim Opera Troupe Se escnia aig 4 HY BEFORE PERFORMANCE$F & 3+ STAGE DESIGN Colored spot Ladder for people lights that will be to climb to change _ lighted during Troupe logo usually the back drop. performance. located in the center at the top of the stage. Dragon icons that Rectangle stage for performers. Square windows symbolize luck, Ample space to perform and do for the mus IS propitious and status stunts. to see the stage that are usually seen on and when to play opera stages. the music.Column design details, they are arranged in a way where people can easily walk to and from from the stage to the backstage. Stage Structure Breakdown4&% BACKSTAGE Curtain to block the Hanging mirrors and hanging messy view from the clothes can be often seen at outside, the backstage. Props and accessories Long walkway for people to walk Performers can be seen lying to and fro. usually do their around at the makeup by the backstage. long side tables.Make up tables are usually pushed to the side so as not to block the way. Long walkways can be commonly seen. This is to allow people and performers to be able to move around easily. Backstage is where the performers can rest, do their own things , before or after the performance,4738 MUSIC Various drums to produce different sounds. Big flat gong. Score sheet stand for Electric piano. Big flat cymbals. the musician to be able to see the score.Music instruments are usually found at the side, at two corners of the stage. They are usually hidden and have small windows by the wall to be able to see the stage. Various instruments can be found backstage. A mix of traditional Chinese instruments and modern instruments.Ati MAKEUP Mirror Comb and pins. Face cream for the performer —_ Eye makeup tools. Makeup kit set to apply as a base. brushes, pencils,crayons.The faces of the performers would be lost without the benefit of makeup. The enhanced visage has long been a tradition in both daily life and performance in China, and consequently, makeup designs have evolved into elaborate expressions of the countenance, from the epitome of beauty to the amplification of character through vibrant color and intricate patterns. the stage image, converts the actors from mere mortals into the theatrical ideal. With their stylized movement and altered voicesM42 ATTIRE Head wear are usually detailed and are decorared with small, big jewels and flowers. Props like banners, fans, Costume for the performer are baskets can be commonly usually eleborate and detailed. seen being carried by They are usually designed in performers who will need flowers and patterns. it to potray their charactor.Attire: Costume The performers costumely depends on the charactors that they are potraying that day. Some costumes are more elaborate than others. However each costume is still designed with details.Attire: Weapons Weapons mainly like swords, arrows, are commonly used during Chinese opera fight scenes in which a female warrior (usually called the wu dan, 3X2) or a male warrior (Wusheng 3X4), will perform stunts with the weapons.Attire: Headwear Heaters that are in details can be commonly seen around backstages. ~~ Beautiful sequins designed head wear ona performer’ s head. Detailed accessories design with jewels that are designed in the shape of flowers.Ai PERFORMANCEi te. he jt ‘ Ps ae (QP rel“| myself really enjoy watching opera, the stage is gorgeous and so are the performers. It is really a worth watching show. RAAB SRAPON, HGRA, ABA AMER, AML RHA.” - Mrs Tan “ Treally enjoy watching it together with my husband, it is really a nice show to watch and spend quality time together. RAB Ae RADHA BUR, BUNA REA RAHA REURAR ” - Mrs Lee2%] INTERVIEWS“usually join the troupe during my school holidays as a part time to perform. I really enjoy it and i feel that it is also important to preserve this culture.” Ms Huang (20 years old) “Thave been doing this for 25 + years already. As my parents have been doing this hence i decided to continue this as well. It is something i really enjoy and i really love it, full of passion towards this. and i feel a need to preserve it too.” Ms Chen (40 years old) “T do this as a hobby as i am currently also studying Chinese opera as a subject. Chinese opera is getting interesting this days as it has infused modernity into it, for example the music instruments and the choice of songs. I have been doing this since i was young and i really love it.” Ms Chen (17 years old) “have been acting and performing in Chinese opera since i was 19 years old. It has been really long. I perform as a hobby and as something i enjoy doing. Chinese opera teaches many about the basic values of Chinese like filial piety, loyalty, courage and many more which i feel is really important especially to the young.” Ms Xu (47 years old) “Thave been doing this since young and it is something i really like. It is also common for girl actors to be acting and performing as guys. To me, i feel it is really important for the young to be more aware about this culture. Chinese opera is really interesting.” Ms Lin (18 years old) “ [have been performing since i was 20. it has been about 8 years. I do it as an interest as i find it really interesting and fun. It is good if this culture can be carried on to future generations too as this art culture is something very dear to the Chinese.” Ms Chen (28 years old)CONCLUSION After visiting and experiencing a day with Shiu Kim opera troupe i have indeed learned alot from it. From the prepping to the getting ready to the costumes and everything else is something new that i got to experience. I have better understood how Chinese opera works and what happens behind the stage. Like they say 10 minutes on stage is 10 years of work. I have noticed that their backstage layouts are usually rectangular and long, with the makeup tables pushed along the walls or by the sides so as not to block the center passage way for people to walk. This is something that i should take note when designing a backstage space for the performers in my personal project. Mirrors and lightbulbs are usually hung from the ceiling down so as not to take up space. Another interesting fact that i have observed. Their backstage are usually just right behind the stage, hence when performing it is easy to just run behind to change and then run out to perform again. A point that i can take away would be how the things are arranged behind are all quite accessibie and easy to take. Design and details are also so highlighted in Chinese opera in which i feel i can take note and also apply it into spaces of my personal project. Choice of colors play another vital role like the color red in which is auspicious to the Chinese. In conclusion, it was indeed a memorable and fun experience there. I have learned alot that i can use and apply to my personal project. It is an interesting culture that i personally feel should be more well known in Singapore especially to the teens. It teaches about Chinese basic values and all the important factors of life. All the effort and work put in to make a show such a memorable one, which i find is truly amazing.POSTCARDSSpecial thanks to: Sheng Hong Temple ERERER Shiu Kim Opera Troupe FEETHE END