The actor depicted in this photograph is dressed as a ‘sheng’ or male character, one of the four main roles enacted on the Chinese opera stage. The other roles being 'dan' (the female), 'jing' (the painted face) and 'chou' (the clown). Chinese opera costumes are typically decorated with intricate designs that indicate the age, traits and social status of the character. In this instance, it is clear from the actor’s full regalia, complete with triangular pennants, that the actor is playing the role of a military personnel, or ‘wu sheng’, a subdivision of the main male role. The headdress is another important element of the costume as the ornaments adorning it help to distinguish specific roles. For a period of time, Chinese opera in Singapore went through a difficult phase with the arrival of silent movies in the 1920s, the Japanese Occupation and a depressed economy in the 1950s. Nonetheless, it made a comeback in the decades thereafter, following the influx of fresh ideas from overseas troupes, while opera-themed movies revived interest in the performing art.
