Chinese Opera in Singapore, 1840s-1960s

The history of Chinese opera in Singapore intersects with broader social development in Singapore, particularly with its political and demographic changes since the nineteenth century. An understanding of how Chinese opera developed in mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth century Singapore offers insights into the complex processes that marked its colonial history before its dependence in 1965. The 1960s marked the beginning of a general decline in Chinese opera performance as a form of social entertainment, followed by a revival after Singapore's independence in 1965. In other words, the development of Chinese opera before and after the 1960s in Singapore reflects two distinctive historical periods. In this essay, I explore different facets of colonial Singapore with a particular focus on its Chinese community. I examine the ways in which Chinese opera was used for social, religious, and political purposes, and how its social meanings and values changed in response to changing contexts.