A new cultural milestone is on the horizon as the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) and National Arts Council (NAC) unveil the first-ever Chinese Opera Festival 2025, set to run from 21 June to 26 July 2025. This inaugural event will spotlight the rich diversity of Chinese opera traditions across five weekends, uniting dialect troupes from across the island in a celebration of heritage and artistry.
Each Saturday will showcase a different dialect opera performed by a local troupe, including:
- Chinese Opera Studio (Teochew)
- Chinese Opera Ensemble (Hainanese)
- OperaWorks (Singapore) (Cantonese)
- Tian Yun Beijing Opera Society (Peking)
- Tang Renaissance (Yue)
These performances aim to bring this centuries-old art form to wider audiences, offering a rare chance to experience the vibrant storytelling, elaborate costumes, and musical mastery of Chinese opera in its many forms. Bilingual surtitles will be available for all shows, ensuring accessibility for all.
Beyond the stage, the Festival extends its reach through a lively series of fringe activities at SCCC. Audiences can engage in interactive Chinese opera movement workshops suitable for all ages, and attend practitioner talks led by seasoned performers—including Cultural Medallion recipient Joanna Wong and Cai Bixia, who has been honoured with the Stewards of Intangible Cultural Heritage Award and the Young Artist Award.
Tickets are priced at $30 per show, with a bundle offer of $120 for all five performances. Early birds can enjoy a 30% discount at $21 per ticket from 4 to 10 June 2025. Fringe activities are free with registration via SISTIC.
