The actress depicted in this photograph is dressed as a ‘dan’ or female character, one of the four main roles enacted on the Chinese opera stage. Wielding a sword in each hand, this actress is playing the sub-role of a ‘dao ma dan’, a female warrior who is skilled in fighting and horse riding. The other characters are namely 'sheng' (the male), 'jing' (the painted face) and 'chou' (the clown), each with its own sub-roles. The headdress – as worn by the actress in the photograph – is an important element of the Chinese opera costume. Adorned with sequins, pearls and other ornaments, the headdress helps to distinguish specific roles; the more important the character, the more elaborate the headdress. 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.
