Cantonese opera troupe sets the stage for new generation to cherish the art in Hong Kong

That’s why Vong and his troupe, the Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Troupe, are working to make the art more approachable for young people.

Known for its elaborate costumes and make-up, Cantonese opera originated in Guangdong province and combines singing, acrobatics and martial arts to tell a story.

Founded in May of 2023, the Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Troupe aims to preserve the traditional elements of this art while adding an updated twist to appeal to modern audiences.

“[We’re] getting new ideas from different fields such as dramas and operas to modernise the Cantonese opera,” explained the group’s promotion and events manager, Yam Yuen-yam.

“[We are] upgrading and redesigning the scenography and the stage lighting while preserving the original essence of Cantonese opera, which creates more variety on the stage.”

These upgrades include animated projections during transitions between scenes as well as new designs, lighting and music accompaniments for more eye-catching performances. During shows, they also provide subtitles to help the audience follow along with the lyrics of traditional songs.

Since its inception, the troupe has put on four major productions, the most recent being The Butterfly and the Red Pear Blossoms in August. Vong has been a key actor in three of them.

Why this Hong Kong performer wants you to get a taste of Cantonese opera

However, preserving the historic art is an uphill battle. In September, it was announced that the Sunbeam Theatre in North Point – Hong Kong’s only private Cantonese opera theatre – will close after 52 years of operation.

The venue was at risk of closing in 2005 due to plans to turn it into a shopping mall, a bid that was later tossed out. But after two decades of trying to stay afloat, the theatre will officially close next February.

But Vong and Yam were not too concerned about this news.

“It’s a really old theatre in Hong Kong ... and we have new venues, like East Kowloon Cultural Centre,” Yam said, referring to an arts complex that opened its first venue last month.

“There will be new venues for different performances. So I think that’s not worrying.”

While Vong and Yam did not think Sunbeam Theatre’s closure was indicative of Cantonese opera’s future, they agreed that the art was lost among most young people.

“Nowadays, the teenagers don’t really know this kind of art; it’s mostly the elderly who are more familiar with it,” Vong said. “The students don’t have any path to get in touch with this art form.”

Thus, there are efforts across various sectors to make Cantonese opera more accessible for the next generation, such as the government-funded Xiqu Centre’s Tea House Theatre Experience, which is tailored for new audiences.

To cultivate young interest and talent in this art, the Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Troupe visits schools to conduct interactive workshops. The actors discuss props and even demonstrate some of the basic skills required for this art form.

Child actors show there’s no role too small in preserving Cantonese opera

Vong, who has joined some of these events, said he was happy to see the students’ interest in Cantonese opera grow after learning more about it.

“[These] are great if the children are going to learn Cantonese opera in the future,” Vong said.

“In addition to conserving and inheriting traditional arts, it also enables students to further understand Chinese culture [and] enhance their Chinese cultural identity.”

Yam added: “After the visits, I think it gives students a basic understanding of Cantonese opera ... [which] has a long history, and its culture and heritage have to be protected.”

Vong, who was born in Macau, grew up in an “atmosphere [that] surrounds Chinese opera”.

“My first impression was that the costumes are very beautiful and the Cantonese opera [actors’] voices are really good, so it was really attractive for me to pursue,” he recalled.

At the age of nine, Vong convinced his parents to sign him up for lessons at a local community centre.

After nearly a decade of learning the craft, he decided to forgo the traditional university route and instead try to make a career as an actor. He set his eyes on Hong Kong, where “the market of Cantonese opera is larger and more people would watch it”.

“The Cantonese opera scene in Macau is different from Hong Kong,” he said, adding that in Macau they stuck to traditional performances with ordinary scenography, in contrast with the modernised performances of his troupe.

Everyday slang in Hong Kong, inspired by Cantonese opera

Now, as a full-time actor, Vong shares his passion for Cantonese opera with crowds across Hong Kong, and he hopes to see more young people get involved.

Interest starts with exposure, so he encourages youngsters to watch the shows, adding that they might particularly enjoy the dynamic fight scenes.

“Even if they do not understand the songs or dances, they can feel the emotions on stage, like when they fight or when they cry ... You can see the whole story on the stage,” he noted.

“[It] will feel more impressive because it’s different from any other drama or opera.”

Stop and think: What is the Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Troupe doing to appeal to younger audiences?

Why this story matters: With hundreds of years of history, Cantonese opera has been recognised by Unesco as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Modern actors are finding innovative ways to pass this rich tradition to the next generation.