Founded in 1864, Lao Sai Tao Yuan Teochew Opera Troupe (老赛桃源潮剧团) is among the oldest and one of the few remaining iconic Chinese opera troupes in Singapore. 

 

This unique art form was brought to Singapore by the Chinese immigrants during the 19th century in which music, song, dance, speech and acrobatics are woven together by stories drawn from historical records, popular legends and folklores. 

 

In the 1920s, when there were over a hundred professional troupes in Singapore, Lao Sai Tao Yuan wielded a strong influence among the Chinese community, boasting hundreds of performers and attracting enormous crowds at its street performances. It was – and still is - not only a feast to the senses but also an accessible form of entertainment for the migrant community Singapore once was. 

 

To this day, Lao Sai Tao Yuan, with its 30 performing artistes and musicians, prides itself in keeping this Singaporean cultural heritage alive by preserving the traditions and practice so unique to this art form, giving both Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans alike a glimpse into the history of a country so rich in tradition and culture.