广东潮剧院二团 洗马桥 Guangdong Teochew Opera Troupe 2

王锐光 王锐光

Do you know who 王锐光 is? It may not be difficult if you are a Teochew opera fan. He is from 广东潮剧院二团, Guangdong Teochew Opera Troupe 2. I must thank Q L for lending me the set of VCDs, 洗马桥. My wife and I love 洗马桥 very much. The plot is very touching, though the reunion segment could be a little unacceptable.

I found out that 广东潮剧院二团 put up 洗马桥 when they came to Singapore in Dec 2005. I could only blame myself for not watching any of their performances.

Found a website which contains quite a few pictures of 王锐光. However, that website had since been inactive. Here are some of the pictures of 王锐光 in the show 洗马桥 which he acted as 刘文龙.

Below is a write-up of 王锐光, adapted from chaoju.com.

王锐光：1978年生，揭阳市渔湖镇人。1994年参加揭阳市渔湖潮剧团，师承汕头戏曲学校曾义藩老师。1998年参加广东潮剧院海声潮剧团（2000年转为广东潮剧院三团）。2004年调广东潮剧院一团。2005年调广东潮剧院二团。

　　 从艺十多年来在众多剧目中担任主要角色。如在 《真假韩廷美》中饰演韩廷美；《血溅三宝袍》中饰演正德皇帝；《洗马桥》中饰演刘文龙；《义女传》中饰演徐谓。曾随团到新加坡、泰国、海南、深圳、广州等地演出，深受海内外潮剧观众好评。期间参加省、市及潮剧院举办的多次演艺比赛获多项奖励。2005年参加广东潮剧中青年演员唱腔比赛荣获“一等奖”；2006年主演《小宴》参加广东省第五届戏剧比赛荣获“金奖”。

The above 3 other photos of 洗马桥 were adapted from an opera fan who contributed many photos in a Teochew opera discussion.

Please share your collections of Teochew opera photos too.

Happy viewing.

香港东山潮剧团 Hong Kong Tan Sua Teochew Opera Troupe
庄雪娟、丁楚翘 长平公主

Have you ever watched Teochew opera movies by 香港东山潮剧团? 庄雪娟 and 丁楚翘 played the role as key leads in many of the movie productions. I have watched some of these movies but had no opportunity to watch 长平公主 by 庄雪娟 and 丁楚翘. This plot is a hot favourite of Cantonese opera called 花女帝. I like the movie 花女帝 by 龍劍笙 and 梅雪詩. I bought this particular set of VCD too.

Although I have not watched 长平公主 by 庄雪娟 and 丁楚翘, I had some old collections of movie pictures and would like to share with bloggers.

There is another movie called 望江亭 by 庄雪娟 and 丁楚翘 which was screened on television Singapore many years ago. Below is one of the movie pictures.

Below is a movie picture of 白扇记 with 庄雪娟 and 方巧玉 as key leads.

广东潮剧院一团
Guangdong Teochew Opera Troupe 1 in Thailand in Dec 2006

Wow! 广东潮剧院一团 will be staging a 18-day performance in Thailand. Unfortuantely, I have already booked a 11-day tour package which coincides with the same period. Otherwise, I may consider making a short trip to Thailand and watch some of their performances at the same time.



广东潮剧院一团 will be putting up quite a few popular peformances including 春草闯堂, 辞郎州、告亲夫 and the latest hit 东吴郡主. When 广东潮剧院一团 came to Singapore in Jul 2006, they put up 东吴郡主 as their first performance and a full house was recorded. Now, I can only wait for 2 more years when they return to perform in Singapore in year 2008.


Not sure if 广东潮剧院一团 will be putting up 武松杀嫂 since one of my favourite actors, 黄映伟, has injured his leg. Hope he has a speedy recovery.

May be 广东潮剧院一团 will stage one of the popular 折子戏, 忆十八. Thanks A C for all these nice photos. Personally, I think 林初发 plays the role as 梁山伯 well.

新加坡的潮剧班和演出的剧目 (Part 3)

Singapore's Teochew Opera Troupes and their Performances (Part 3)

Below is a brief of some of the Teochew Opera troupes and some of their performances. I had watched most of the titles listed below.

老一枝香潮剧团 龙潭称霸, 一门三进士, 百岁挂帅, 三驸马, 浪子妖姬

老三正顺潮剧团 包公探荫山, 七子救驾, 铁面巡案

织云潮剧团 乘龙快婿(春草闯堂), 胭脂魂, 夫人城, 神雕侠侣, 云中落绣鞋, 三看御妹刘金定, 刘海遇仙，一门三进士, 王宝钏, 穆桂英招亲, 佘赛花, 斩韩信, 雪飞王子, 仁义公主, 柴房会, 告亲夫, 唐宫秘史, 慈云走国, 假王真后, 三娶相国女, 包公斩陈世美， 大唐英烈传，

老正天香潮剧团 雷峰塔, 刘璋下山， 火烧摘星楼

老中正顺潮剧团 若兰救国, 包公赔情

老玉春香潮剧团 姜通上京, 双枪陆文龙

新荣和兴剧团 辞郎州, 张廷芳, 告亲夫, 五子挂帅, 女巡按，刘明珠, 救洪州, 赵氏孤儿, 杨令婆辩十本, 赵少卿, 张春郎, 春草闯堂, 姐妹皇后, 秦德避雨

新荣艺潮剧团 矿龙山, 双龙争凤, 井边会，萧湘秋雨

金鹰潮剧团 斩十八翰林, 杀猪状元 , 一门三进士, 柴房会, 大脚夫人，粉庄楼，狄青解征衣，皇亲国戚，假婿盗方，刘明珠，红楼夜审, 刘璋下山

老赛桃源潮剧团 红鬃烈马, 柴房会, 逼走长安，铁面海瑞

老玉梨春潮剧团 绿牡丹

中源和兴潮剧团 刘璋下山

正天香潮剧团 碧玉簪

新新荣和潮剧团 洛水仙姬

新一天彩潮剧团 包公三勘蝴蝶梦, 借剑, 秦原闯道，趙少卿

新怡梨兴潮剧团 怒斩杨廷芳， 一门三进士

新加坡的潮剧班和演出的剧目 (Part 2)

Singapore's Teochew Opera Troupes and their Performances (Part 2)

New Local Teochew Opera Troupes In 1970s/1980s

I recalled the hottest time of Teochew street opera in Singapore was in the late 1970s to early 1980s. In the late 1970s, new local Teochew street opera troupes like 中源和兴潮剧团 and 老玉梨春潮剧团 were formed. The actresses who played the male in each of the two troupes were from 织云潮剧团. I could tell because I watched their performance before. During that time, 织云潮剧团 had too many 小生 and I supposed they did not get enough opportunities to perform. At that time, the demand for Teochew opera troupes was fantastic. 中源和兴潮剧团 put up a very respectable maiden appearance, 锦绣山河 or commonly known as 刘璋下山 and 老玉梨春潮剧团 performed 绿牡丹. In 1980, another new Teochew opera troupe called 金鹰潮剧团 was formed. The main leads were from 新荣和兴潮剧团. They were 邓道兰 and 陈珍珠. They performed 斩十八翰林 and 屠夫状元 as part of their maiden appearance at Hong Lim Park where the Chinese opera festival was held. 织云潮剧团 also staged a 2-episode performance called 仁义公主. I traveled from Toa Payoh to Hong Lim Park by bus just to watch the performances.

In the early 80’s, another opera troupe 新一天彩潮剧团 got some financial backings and strengthen their pool of actors and actresses including inviting 细妹 who had quitted from 新荣和兴潮剧团 to come back on stage. They put up two performances, 借剑 and 秦原闯道. At that time, 细妹 was indeed quite embarrassing. She had the habit of forgetting the lyrics and had to depend on the co-actors to help her with the singing. Some audience said they would not mind as 细妹 had not been performing for many years.

In the 90’s, there were two sub-standards opera troupes that were invited to perform mostly during the hungry ghost festival. 正天香潮剧团 would perform 碧玉簪 (The Jade Hairpin) every now and then. That 小生 was actually the actress who played the role as 花旦 in 新荣艺潮剧团 previously. She was called 庄玉花. My mum said she was trained as a child-artiste in the 60’s by 新荣和兴 and later became one of the 4 beauties. Another troupe, 老富贵春潮剧团 only emerged in the 90’s I had little patience to watch their performance. Many of the actors and actresses were either too old or overweight.

In the 90's, I traveled to temples in Ang Mo Kio, the Tua Peh Kong temple at Balestier and Whompoa market quite often in 1994/5. That was the time 细妹 performed male lead at 金鹰潮剧团. The two popular shows, 柴房会 and 一门三进士 attracted at least two to three hundred people. I must confess that the standards at that time were on par with 织云潮剧团. 细妹 had also made significant improvements in her acting skills. 柴房会 is a popular 折子戏 amongst China Troupes.

新荣和兴潮剧团 at one time was on the verge of being closed down, then, Tan Kar Luang, the manager of the troupe came into the rescue scene. She was a very talented actress but think people commented that she was a bit proud. She played the role as 杨令婆 in 杨令婆辩十本 very well. The original performance was put up by 洪妙, a male actor from China, who disguised himself as 杨令婆. I also watched her performed in 赵少卿, 张春郎, 春草闯堂, etc. Unfortunately, despite all the assistance and supported rendered, the troop folded up in 2001 as Kar Luang claimed that the income was not enough to defray the expenses. It performed the last show, 万古流芳 [An Everlasting Legacy], in Yishun after a solid 174 years of history in performing Teochew opera. I must applaud 新荣和兴潮剧团 for choosing 万古流芳 [An Everlasting Legacy] as their final performance in Yishun. It was indeed an everlasting legacy as it was reported that there were 400 people watching their final performance.

Before the troupe folded up, 新荣和兴潮剧团 staged a popular show 刘明珠 with the help of the Singapore Chinese Opera Society during the 1998 Chinese Cultural Festival. 新荣和兴潮剧团 scored a three full-house, outdoor performance at Bras Basah Park. It marked a significant chapter in the history of Singapore’s Chinese opera. Today, you can find some of the donations by 新荣和兴潮剧团 at the Singapore History Museum.

To be continued....

新加坡的潮剧班和演出的剧目 (Part 1)

Singapore's Teochew Opera Troupes and their Performances (Part 1)

When I was young, I stayed in Lorong 2 Toa Payoh. During the lunar 7th month hungry ghost festival, my family would go to watch opera performance if we were aware that there were Teochew opera troupes performing in the neighbouring blocks. How did we get to know the details? You wondered. During that time, the organisers would paste a red A1 size red flyer/poster stating the dates, the name of troupe and the location. We would definitely go out if the performances took place over the weekends. You could still find such A1 poster nowadays but is confined to areas in the market place.

There was a wet market located at Lorong 4 Toa Payoh between Block 92 and Block 95. It was a regular place for street opera. We went there very often as it was very near our flat. I remembered watching 刘璋下山 and 雷峰塔 (Madam White Snake) by 老正天香潮剧团. For 刘璋下山, we waited patiently till close to 10 pm to see the actress who played the male lead 刘璋. My eldest sister was with us and she knew the plot very well. The first two hours featured how the Han Emperor struggled to retain power and how 刘璋 escaped from death when he was a small boy. Then 刘璋 grew up and was trained by his mater to be a very skillful swordsman. Unfortunately, he was inexperienced and saved his enemies instead and later had to behead his father to gain trust from the Empress. 陈楚蕙 also performed the role as 刘璋 in the movie 刘璋下山 with 曾珊凤.

In the 70's to 90's, many Teochew opera troupes like 老玉春香潮剧团, 新一天彩潮剧团, 新荣和兴潮剧团 also performed at the market place at Lorong 4 Toa Payoh. When there were opera performances, the place would be very packed and one could hardly move. There was one day when 老玉春香潮剧团 was performing there, and I stood at the back of the opera stage to admire the actor/actresses painting their faces. I was so happy when one of the actresses asked me to buy her a packet of 'Chez Hee'. She spoke in Teochew and I did not know what the hell was ‘Chez Hee’ 七喜 as I did not have the luxury of having extra pocket money for soft drinks. I went to the nearby coffee shop and repeated what she told me. Then I realised it was actually 7-UP. She invited me to go on stage but I was too shy and declined. In Teochew opera, during the first day of the show, the troupe will perform 六国大封相 and followed by 京城会. These are standard ceremonial pieces of performance that are performed by every opera troupe on the first day of the 2-day performance. Some troupes choose to perform the Ten Fairies Celebrating Birthday instead of 六国大封相. In the evening, all Teochew opera troupes will commence their show with a shorter version of 京城会.

During the 1970s, over at Lorong 5 Toa Payoh, 新荣和兴潮剧团 was the only troupe invited to perform at 修德善堂, during very lunar eight month. It was a very popular troupe during that time and it was my mum’s favourite troupe. Now that 新荣和兴潮剧团 had folded up, I am not sure which Teochew opera troupe has taken over the slot.

Over at Block 126 at Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, the wet market has been inviting the same Teochew opera troupe to perform on the 26th and 27th day of the lunar 7th month every year. It is none other than the well known 织云潮剧团. I recalled watching 胭脂魂, a typical Chinese movie by 长城 Movie production. There was a scene where the actress hung herself and 织云潮剧团 did it by rope and pulley system. They also controlled the lightings very well and the whole stage looked eerie. Wow! The market place was packed with some 1,000 people. How thrilling and exciting to watch Teochew opera during that time.

During the 70's to 90's, 织云潮剧团 and 新荣和兴潮剧团 were the heavenly kings of the Teochew street opera troupes. They were like NIKE and SWATCH. All the old and young fans knew them. I would usually stand in front of the opera stage and had the opportunity to hear old uncles and aunties telling stories about the show, about these heavenly kings personal life, etc. They had many supporters. There is no doubt that the number of supporters for artistes in the early days is comparable to those who supported Superstar Search or Singapore Idol. I watched 张廷芳 by 九妹 in the day, and 辞郎州 in the evening. I appreciated the plot of 辞郎州 much later after having watched it many times.

There was an open space outside Block 68 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh where I went there quite often too. I remembered 织云潮剧团 performed that classic opera 三看御妹刘金定. There was another popular place for opera performance at a car park outside Block 102 (It is now very different as new blocks had been rebuilt. Just outside the Yellow Page building.) Lorong 2 Toa Payoh. I watched 老三正顺潮剧团 performed 七子救驾 (literally means 7 sons saved emperor, a story about the Yang’s warriors in the Sung Dynasty). 老中正顺潮剧团 also performed there. 新荣艺潮剧团 performed 双龙争凤 (the plot is about Two Dragons Competing for a Phoenix) there and my mum and I watched that performance together. I could remember that the main leads were not that fantastic because the female lead was not slim enough and the actress who played the male lead had very small eyes. 老玉春香潮剧团 also performed 双枪陆文龙 at the same place. By the way, this 小生 who acted as 陆文龙 later moved to 老一枝香潮剧团 and played male lead in a few shows including 三驸马 and subsequently to 织云潮剧团 which I loved her role as 李太白 in 唐宫秘史. In 2004, I saw her performing in 老赛桃源潮剧团 as male lead in the show called 铁 面 海 瑞 or better known as 怒 斩 玉 面 狼 in China.

To be continued...

New URL from 潮汕

Found a new URL (http://www.ichaoshan.com/Movie/ShowClass.asp?ClassID=204) which has lots of news and information on the following:
首页 资讯 潮风 潮音 潮人 旅游 美食 生活 图像 名人 潮团
汽车 房产 招聘 求职 供求 生活服务 同城交友 房产信息 论坛

Posted one short article on 8 Nov 2006 and I would like to share the article in this blog.

60年代到90 年代的新加坡潮剧班

早期的新加坡有好多水准相当高的潮剧班。
1）新荣和兴潮剧团 （解散）
2) 老赛桃源潮剧团
3) 老一枝香潮剧团 （解散）
4）老玉楼春潮剧团 （解散）
5）新荣艺潮剧团 （解散）
6）老玉春香潮剧团 （解散）
7）老三正顺潮剧团 （解散)
8）老中正顺潮剧团 (解散）
9）织云潮剧团
10）新一天彩潮剧团 （解散）

记忆中，在70年代到80年代初演出的新剧班有：
11）老玉楼春潮剧团 （解散）
12）中源和兴潮剧团 （解散）
13）老富贵春潮剧团 （偶尔有演出，但很久没看到该班演出。）
14）正天香潮剧团 （偶尔有演出，但很久没看到该班演出。）
15）金鹰潮剧团 （将在明年，即2007年2月， 解散.)

在2000年前后的新剧班有：
16）新怡梨兴潮剧团
17）新新荣和剧团 （从潮音班成立的,勇气可嘉。）
在50年代，可能还有多几班潮剧班。
现在，我和其他潮剧戏迷唯有看海外的潮剧戏班和VCD了。

Oh yes, I missed out one more troupe called 驼江潮剧团. Recalled this troupe had a short life span too.

A Collection of Teochew Opera Photos from China, Hong Kong and Singapore

Keen to see more Teochew Opera photos. Please visit the following URLs.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/teochew/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/santuan3/

You can find photos of performances by 广东潮剧院一团, 广东潮剧院三团, 织云潮剧团, 新新荣和剧团, 金鹰潮剧团, 新天彩潮剧团, 升艺潮剧团, 东山潮剧团, etc