Editorial | Show must go on for Cantonese opera after Sunbeam curtain falls in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has lost a dear old friend – an iconic stage for Cantonese opera. The final curtain at the Sunbeam Theatre had always been expected, after repeated last-minute deals to save the 52-year-old “grand palace” from redevelopment over the past two decades. But when the spotlight finally went out for the last time on March 3, the loss was more than just a beloved performance venue.

Conveniently located next to the railway station in North Point, the Sunbeam was the Broadway for Cantonese opera. Branded the “ultimate local Cantonese opera experience” by the Tourism Board, the landmark with its dazzling red neon sign, colourful billboards and decades of full-house performances attended by generations of audiences rightfully made Sunbeam a collective memory. The outpouring of emotions and nostalgia by followers on the final night of performance underscored the importance of the historic theatre. Its casual atmosphere, accessibility and cultural significance will be sorely missed.

Unlike the relatively narrow appeal of Western opera, the ancient performing art in Southern China was essentially pop culture enjoyed by people of all ages, until the past few decades when it was overtaken by Cantopop. Thankfully, the increasingly marginalised art form was given a new lease of life following the inscription onto the first national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2006, and the Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. The government’s Cantonese Opera Development Fund, established in 2005, has since granted about HK$200 million to support more than 1,200 related projects.

Promising as it seems, preservation and sustainability remain a work in progress. Figures showed the total audience numbers at Cantonese opera presentations by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department rose from 121,880 in 2001-02 to 177,334 in 2005-06. We trust the audience growth has become even more remarkable in recent years, thanks to the success of the purpose-built Xiqu Centre at the West Kowloon Cultural District and other initiatives, such as more school outreach activities.

But the spectrum of opera fans remains narrow. According to a survey of 3,000 people by the Education University of Hong Kong in 2022, the audience was mainly elders, women and those not in employment, with 57 per cent saying they did not have the habit of watching such performances. Better efforts are needed to promote wider attendance and appreciation.

To many loyal fans, the Sunbeam theatre is irreplaceable. But a new chapter awaits as other venues step up and fill the void. It is to be hoped that the Cantonese opera scene will continue to beam like the sun under the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.