00:00 Alright, I'm going to keep the costume.
00:01 Okay.
00:02 I'm going to walk around.
00:04 Hello, welcome to another episode of Asia One Tries,
00:19 where we discover local traditions and cultures.
00:21 I'm Muna, and today we are in what I think is Red Hill.
00:26 I've been really coming here a lot, and I'm totally thrown off,
00:30 because all I see are buildings,
00:31 so I have no idea how it's related to art or culture.
00:34 But please, give me my three hints.
00:37 Okay Muna, here are three hints for you,
00:38 and if you guess the activity correctly,
00:40 it'll help you on the activity challenge later.
00:42 Expressive, bold makeup, music.
00:46 Bold makeup, music.
00:48 I'm performing.
00:50 I'm performing a dance.
00:51 What kind of dance?
00:53 Is there anyone here?
00:54 It's Chinese.
00:55 Oh, it's Chinese!
00:57 Chinese opera!
00:58 Yes Muna, the activity that you'll be trying today is Chinese opera.
01:02 I've never watched a Chinese opera.
01:07 I've seen it in movies,
01:09 but I really have no knowledge whatsoever about it, so...
01:13 Oh my god, I'm going in blind.
01:15 But I'm excited, let's go!
01:18 (Music)
01:26 Hello there!
01:28 Hi, I'm Muna.
01:29 Hi, I'm Nick Shen.
01:30 Hi!
01:31 I'm a Chinese opera actor, and also the founder of Tok Tok Chiang.
01:34 Oh yes, thanks for having me here.
01:36 Everything is so beautiful, and I'm so excited.
01:39 Can you tell me more about what you do here at Tok Tok Chiang?
01:41 I founded Tok Tok Chiang a few years back,
01:43 to promote arts and culture in Singapore.
01:45 I'm also the troupe leader of the oldest
01:47 Teochew opera troupe in Singapore,
01:49 Lao Sai Tao Yuan.
01:50 Yeah, you guess how long has it been in Singapore?
01:53 50 years?
01:54 More than that, it has been around for 159 years.
01:57 So even before Singapore was Singapore?
02:00 Yes.
02:01 Wow, that's really amazing!
02:02 So maybe you can go into what exactly is Chinese opera then?
02:06 Chinese opera is a traditional art form
02:09 that incorporates various art forms such as
02:11 wushu, acrobatics, singing, acting, water sleeves, etc.
02:16 How did it come to Singapore?
02:18 In the 19th century,
02:19 the immigrants brought Chinese opera to Singapore,
02:21 and it was very popular back then.
02:24 But it started 1,000 years ago.
02:26 Yeah, and like you said,
02:27 because there are so many different art forms that come together,
02:30 so to me it's always such a big spectacle,
02:33 and I've never watched it live,
02:35 so I'm getting goosebumps,
02:36 but I've always been interested to know more about it.
02:38 Right.
02:39 How did you get involved in Chinese opera?
02:41 I started when I was a little boy.
02:43 My grandma would carry me to watch Teochew opera
02:46 in the Tanglin Halt area,
02:47 because there were many street operas back then,
02:49 and I was really fascinated by the shining costumes,
02:52 the headgears,
02:54 especially the fighting scenes.
02:55 I was intrigued by the warrior on stage,
02:58 so I actually transformed my living room into a stage,
03:01 and I would imagine my grandma's room as the make-up room backstage,
03:05 and I would use poster colour to paint my face.
03:08 So that was how I started,
03:09 and I forced my grandma and my brother to be my audience.
03:12 How long does it take to pick up and learn Chinese opera?
03:15 Like Munah, there's a saying,
03:16 "One minute on stage takes about 10 years of hard work,
03:19 perseverance and true passion."
03:21 So usually, around 10 years,
03:23 as long as they have the passion and perseverance to learn this art,
03:26 usually about 2-3 years to master the art.
03:29 Ah, okay.
03:29 Well, as always, I don't have 2-3 years,
03:32 but I have the passion and perseverance.
03:34 So, can you take me through Chinese opera?
03:37 Sure.
03:37 Alright, we are in Hair and Make-up.
03:39 Yes, Chinese opera make-up.
03:42 Your first time?
03:42 Yes, my first time.
03:44 So you're going to walk me through it.
03:46 Don't worry.
03:47 We have one of the best make-up artists here.
03:49 Alright, so you're in good hands.
03:51 Okay.
03:51 (Music)
04:11 Oh my goodness, I feel like a totally different person.
04:14 Do you like the look?
04:15 Turn one round.
04:16 (Munah makes a weird noise)
04:18 Wow!
04:19 Munah, let me demonstrate how to ride a horse with a horse whip.
04:22 (Music)
04:48 Munah, you have seen the demonstration now.
04:51 Alright, and since you guessed the activity correctly,
04:53 you have 5 minutes to learn how to ride the horse with a horse whip.
04:57 Are you ready?
04:58 I mean, I thought I would get more time,
05:00 but okay, 5 minutes is good enough.
05:01 3, 2, 1, go.
05:03 This way.
05:04 Alright.
05:05 Then you kick your right leg.
05:07 Kick right leg.
05:07 Yes, go one round.
05:08 One round.
05:09 Alright.
05:10 Then you're up on the horse.
05:11 Go like this to ride the horse.
05:13 Left over right.
05:14 And then draw one big circle.
05:17 Draw one big circle.
05:18 And we're going to ride the horse.
05:19 Oh.
05:20 So when we turn one full round, right, we go like this.
05:24 Then you're left hand up.
05:25 Catch, alright.
05:26 Throw up.
05:27 Well done, never mind.
05:28 If you drop, never mind.
05:29 If you drop, you just go one round.
05:31 Just keep going, okay.
05:32 Just keep going one round.
05:32 And then you just draw one big circle again.
05:35 Then you strike a pose.
05:37 Your time is up.
05:38 Okay.
05:39 So Munah, are you ready to show us what you've learnt?
05:41 I think so.
05:42 Ah, come on.
05:43 I did a big round of applause to support you.
05:44 Thank you.
05:46 Oh, okay.
05:48 Three, two, one, action.
05:50 Awesome.
06:14 You did it so well.
06:16 I can't believe I'm still...
06:19 I can see Nick looking at me and I was like,
06:21 "Oh my god, am I doing it correctly?"
06:23 I'm giving you positive energy.
06:24 Ah, you are?
06:25 Thank you so much.
06:26 Well done.
06:27 Okay, on a scale of one to ten.
06:29 Because you didn't learn it within five minutes, right,
06:31 I give you nine upon ten.
06:33 Very good.
06:34 Brilliant.
06:35 Yes.
06:36 You know, there's still a little bit room for improvement.
06:38 Practice makes perfect.
06:39 Just practice more.
06:41 Come to our troupe.
06:42 I will sign a contract with you.
06:43 Oh, wow.
06:43 Life long contract.
06:45 This is in video form already.
06:47 It's binding.
06:49 Alright, I'm going to keep the costume.
06:50 Okay.
06:52 I'm going to walk around.
06:54 Alright, so Nick, thank you so much for that session.
06:58 Thank you.
06:59 I want to know,
07:00 what is the significance of Chinese opera in our cultural landscape?
07:04 I think it's a significant traditional art form,
07:08 rich in history.
07:09 But unfortunately, it's a dying art.
07:11 Not just in Singapore, but all around the world.
07:13 And so, how do you think we can preserve Chinese opera?
07:16 When we perform in a theatre,
07:18 it's important to have subtitles.
07:19 So that the younger generation can understand what we are performing.
07:23 Do you think that people from different cultures should also
07:26 get into Chinese opera, learn more about it, even perform it?
07:29 Because, you know, there is the barrier of language, like you said.
07:32 I think Chinese opera is not just a performance.
07:34 It's also about teaching good moral values.
07:37 Like my grandma,
07:38 she taught me good moral values through Chinese opera.
07:41 So I think Chinese opera is for everyone.
07:42 Any people from all walks of life, from different countries,
07:45 can get to appreciate Chinese opera or perform Chinese opera.
07:48 And find their meaning with it, right?
07:50 Yes, that's right.
07:51 Art is really for everybody.
07:53 So it doesn't matter which culture you're from.
07:55 It's about you appreciating something that you learn,
07:58 and that you pick up from.
07:59 Like today, you know?
08:01 Where do you see the future of Chinese opera?
08:04 You see, these days, we have dramas on Chinese opera.
08:07 And even songs, like Jay Chow.
08:10 There are many singers that try to incorporate Chinese opera elements
08:12 into their pop songs.
08:14 More young people will get to know it.
08:16 Thank you for sharing this art form with me.
08:19 I really would have dreamed to be able to do it.
08:23 From makeup, to wardrobe, to movements.
08:26 Next is singing and lines.
08:28 That would be advanced theory.
08:30 Next week.
08:31 Oh, next week?
08:31 Oh, we've already scheduled it.
08:33 Alright.
08:34 Well, thank you very much.
08:35 Thank you.
08:36 Thank you, Munah.
08:37 Thank you.
08:37 Nice meeting you.
08:39 Oh my god, that was one of the coolest things ever.
08:43 I feel like I say that about every activity of this show.
08:46 But this one, I think my favourite part was the transformation.
08:50 I'm a completely different person.
08:52 Munah, who?
08:53 No, okay?
08:54 This is different.
08:55 I've always known about it in films, I read about it.
08:58 But I think it's so different when you're actually on-site,
09:01 learning from the masters.
09:03 And there's so much that really goes into it.
09:05 From putting on makeup, to costumes.
09:08 And I really hope that I get to catch it live one day.
09:11 I do believe that it shouldn't be restricted to people of just the Chinese ethnicity.
09:18 I think art is really for everybody.
09:20 And language shouldn't be a barrier.
09:22 I mean, the fact that you're exposing yourself to someone else's culture,
09:26 learning another language.
09:28 I think a lot more people should find appreciation in Chinese opera,
09:31 like I have today.
09:33 Look at me.
09:35 Oh sorry, I think they're calling me for rehearsal already.
09:38 I'm part of the troupe now.
09:39 Catch our performance soon, guys.
09:41 Bye.
09:42 [laughs]
09:43 [music]
09:47 [music]
09:48 [music]
09:51 [music]
09:54 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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