Different type of performances
Yesterday I went to see Naiba's performance at Boon Keng. Suddenly I got the idea that I must blog about the different type of performances that his troupe or all the other street opera troupes do in Singapore. This is to benefit my overseas friends who didn't know about the Singapore opera culture.
Naiba provided many types of performances depending on the temple requirements. Yesterday, his troupe put up this small scale performance which we call the 七艺班. From the name we can see the magical number 7. It simply means that this is a small scale show with only 7 actors. However, nowdays the 七艺班 will sometimes have more than 7 actors if th show requires more people.
The 七艺班 will put up a small and simple stage as per below:
There will not be any changing of backdrops or any neat props. The performance will be kept simple and the show lasted for 2.5 hours. Some temples have limited budget or they didn't have enough space to put up for a big stage so they will got for this 七艺班.
The other type which I oftenly took part in is the 大班 or sometimes they call it 大戏。大班 will have a more elaborate stage with changing backdrops. The stage will be much wider to provide more space for the actors. More neat props will be used and nicer costumes will be put on.
Example of a 大班:
You can see even the lighting is different. More lamps and microphones will be used in this case.
Most audience only watch 大班. We normally don't get many audiences for the other small scale performances. If a temple requires an even smaller scale performance, we have the 掌中班.
From the name you can tell that it's a very small scale performance. Yes de, it is actually the puppet show. Because puppets are held in hands, we name the performance as 掌中班. I don't have any photos of it though because I normall do not visit the troupe if they are doing 掌中班. LOL... Nobody watches it in Singapore. Sometimes I will go see it but I don't take pictures.
The last one will be the 清唱班 which is simply just sitting down and sing. This is the simplest form of performance. I have never took part in this before but I think mum did. She once brought her script and just recite everything from it. You don't have to memorise anything or think of song lyrics.
LOL, so basicaly these are the few performances that Naiba's troupe provides as well as all the other street opera troupe in Singapore provides. Please not that this is only for Street Opera troupe. The other associations or opera clubs don't do such performances though.
Naiba provided many types of performances depending on the temple requirements. Yesterday, his troupe put up this small scale performance which we call the 七艺班. From the name we can see the magical number 7. It simply means that this is a small scale show with only 7 actors. However, nowdays the 七艺班 will sometimes have more than 7 actors if th show requires more people.
The 七艺班 will put up a small and simple stage as per below:
There will not be any changing of backdrops or any neat props. The performance will be kept simple and the show lasted for 2.5 hours. Some temples have limited budget or they didn't have enough space to put up for a big stage so they will got for this 七艺班.The other type which I oftenly took part in is the 大班 or sometimes they call it 大戏。大班 will have a more elaborate stage with changing backdrops. The stage will be much wider to provide more space for the actors. More neat props will be used and nicer costumes will be put on.
Example of a 大班:
You can see even the lighting is different. More lamps and microphones will be used in this case.Most audience only watch 大班. We normally don't get many audiences for the other small scale performances. If a temple requires an even smaller scale performance, we have the 掌中班.
From the name you can tell that it's a very small scale performance. Yes de, it is actually the puppet show. Because puppets are held in hands, we name the performance as 掌中班. I don't have any photos of it though because I normall do not visit the troupe if they are doing 掌中班. LOL... Nobody watches it in Singapore. Sometimes I will go see it but I don't take pictures.
The last one will be the 清唱班 which is simply just sitting down and sing. This is the simplest form of performance. I have never took part in this before but I think mum did. She once brought her script and just recite everything from it. You don't have to memorise anything or think of song lyrics.
LOL, so basicaly these are the few performances that Naiba's troupe provides as well as all the other street opera troupe in Singapore provides. Please not that this is only for Street Opera troupe. The other associations or opera clubs don't do such performances though.
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Comments
Another kind of puppet, there are sticks connecting the arms and legs of the body of the puppets and the human move the sticks to control the puppet.
My "favorite" is shadow puppet.
皮影偶, made of leather buffed into thin layers, thin enough that the light can see thru. I think it's very interesting. I am in love with 皮影偶 when I first saw it in da-ming-gong-ci.