Kreta Ayer Community Club
Along Kreta Ayer road was once a settlement area for early Chinese immigrants to Singapore thus became famous for cultural arts scene including Chinese Opera troupes and music scene that took place here. I have been watched Chinese Opera and puppet shows in my area since 1970s till 2000s and my mum was once an artist opera/performer (Sin Sai Hong troupe) in her younger days and she still love to watch it on TV when there is one. Those were the good old days.
The community where it stands along the Kreta Ayer road - Kreta Ayer Community Club is holding a official ceremony on the 14th July 2019, featuring a new Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery in its premise to focus its rich cultural history.
Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery
The Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery showcase which is slated to open to public on Sunday 14th July and will feature its five intangible cultural heritage elements: Chinese Opera, Nanyin instruments, Chinese puppetry, Chinese painting & calligraphy and Chinese tea ceremony.
A Cantonese Opera Male Kao (armor) costume
A Cantonese Opera Female Kao (armor) costume
This is a typical costume worn by an actor/actress playing a male/female general during battle scenes in a Chinese opera performance. The body of the costume is usually covered in scale-like motifs, which are modelled after ancient Chinese armor. Compared to the male general's costume, female kao costumes tend to incorporate a shoulder cape and more feminine touches such tassels. The Four-triangular flags attached to the back of the costume are a reference to pennants of command awarded to generals in the past. They also symbolise preparedness for war, and heightens the costume's dramatic effect. The flags can be removed after the battle scene is completed.
Chinese Opera Shoe (female)
Embroidered motifs worn by a "wu sheng" in a Chinese opera
Many of the cultural arts and traditional instruments were brought here by migrants from southern China which is linked to Kreta Ayer's rich culture history. There will be performing shows including puppet shows and lots of programmes.
Typical make-up set
A make-up set containing black, white and rouge colours, a powder puff and a make-up brushes were used by opera performers. The colours and style in Chinese opera make-up are used to enhance the facial characteristics personality of a character. Different colours of make-up connote different meanings.
A wooden make-up box (loan by Part Woh Wui Koon)
This e-up box was typically used by the performers playing hua dan (young female) characters before WWII.
Puppet Theater
Puppet Doll
Puppet accessories
Puppetry is an ancient form of artistic expression that is a variation on storytelling or human theatrical production. In puppetry, a drama unfolds that is entrirly or primarily acted out by specialized representational objects, which are manipulated by a puppeteer. The human animator may or may not be visible to the audience. Cultural variations of puppetry developed independently in many parts of the world, with distinctive types still carried on today.
Marionettes on strings or wire
A marionette is a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings depending on regional variations. A marionette's puppeteer is called a marionettist.
Marionette on strings
Marionettes were usually carved from pieces of wood and the assembled parts are hung on strings. Chinese marionette plays are mostly performed in the open air without a curtain to conceal the puppeteers.
Visitors may try their hand at the calligraphy, puppet shows, tea refreshment ceremony and more programmes that will held inside the gallery.
Nanyin music Instruments
Bamboo Flute (Dong Xiao)
Some of the traditional instruments were donated by Siong Leng Musical Association for public viewing and education. These cultural practices still exists to this day. The gallery features showcase more than 170 photographs and artefacts contributions from cultural practitioners and former residents.
Chat Thye Poh's notebook
courtesy of Cindy Chat
This notebook used by Chat Thye Poh to record Cantonese opera lyrics. It was written on the first page are the actor's lines from a scene in a Cantonese opera entitled Li Qi Ran Jian ("Li Qi's cries from the Prison Cell" in Mandarin).
Membership Pass for Part Woh Wui Koon
(Cantonese Opera Artistes Guild)
courtesy of Cindy Chat
This Membership Pass was issed in 1956, belongs to Chat Thye Poh who joined Part Woh Wui Koon in 1934. The Guild that establilished for member of the Cantonese opera, was founded in 1857 and still operated in Keong Saik Road.
Vinyl records of Cantonese opera
Other contributors include: Ms Joanna Wong, a Cultural medallion winner and veteran Cantonese opera artist; Mr Yong Cheong Thye, an award-winning calligraphy artist; and Nanyin Musical group Siong Leng Musical Association.
Old Photographs of yesteryears
Notable items on display such as old photographs dating back to the 1970s that set the scene of the popularity and dynamism of Chinese Opera. In the late 1960s, Kreta Ayer's People Theatre used to host performances by international opera troupes in 1970s.
Gong Che Pu score book
There is one of a set of 3 Gong Che Pu score books containing around 300 original compositions, the music notes are created by the late Teng Mah Seng.
This is the first such gallery co-curated by National Heritage Board (NHB), community centre and key stakeholders to focus on intangible cultural heritage.
Admission to the Heritage Gallery is FREE. Operating hours from 12pm-8pm daily. It is located at the newly upgraded Kreta Ayer Community Club along Kreta Ayer road in Chinatown.
NHB Alvin Tan and friends(by invitation) at Kreta Ayer CC
Note: National Heritage Board (NHB) organises a special preview of the new Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery on the 13th July and its official opening on Sunday (14th July) with tea ceremony and other programmes.
Exhibition wall panel
In addition, there is an exhibition wall panel just outside the Kreta Ayer People's Theatre. It was officially reopened in July 14th 2019 by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry, and Deputy Chairman of People's Assocication.Below is a short video taken inside the Heritage Gallery.
