The actress shown here is dressed as a ‘dan’ or female character, one of the four main roles enacted on the Chinese opera stage; the others being 'sheng' (the male), 'jing' (the painted face) and 'chou' (the clown). Chinese opera costumes, as depicted in this photograph, are typically decorated with intricate designs that indicate the age, traits and social status of the character. The headdress is also 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. Also known by the Malay term ‘wayang’, which means ‘performance’, Chinese opera in Singapore can be traced back to the 19th century with the arrival of Chinese immigrants. Up until the 1930s, wayang was a popular performing art, both as a platform for religious worship and as a cheap form of entertainment.
