IF YOU THINK that only middle-aged people enjoy Cantonese opera, you are wrong. Children as young as four are finding this traditional art form - which dates back more than 200 years - good entertainment.
'It's a matter of promotion,' said Stella Ma Man-har, organiser of the Sha Tin Arts Association's Cantonese opera courses for children.
'In Hong Kong, Cantonese operas are targeted at adults with serious stories about love, patriotism and death, which fail to connect with the younger generations. However, the great response to my first children's script told me that kids love it once they have the chance to learn,' she said.
Ms Ma has taken 30 young students under her wing since she launched the course last July.
But what makes the four- to 10-year-olds obedient enough to sit still for an hour putting on make-up, tolerating layers of heavy costumes and head ornaments, plus ignoring the pain of stretching and even bruising?
'I love it because I like the painted faces and beautiful costumes. And my mother sings Princess Cheung Ping [a famous Cantonese opera] at home, too,' said eight-year-old Tanya Kong.
'Once I had a terribly painful experience when the teacher lifted up my leg to touch my head and I couldn't stop crying. But most of the time, I'm used to the pain and feel no more than a bit of muscle ache at night,' confessed the frail-looking girl.
