Bastille's Story: Sticking to the Dream of Inheriting Traditional Hand Puppet Cantonese Opera Culture in Modern Times

At the site of the Kam Tin Ten-Yearly Thanksgiving Festival, a group of "actors and actresses" dressed in splendid costumes are making gestures and moving nimbly to portray the joys and sorrows of the protagonists in the play. If you step closer, you will find the actors on the stage are not real people, but hand puppets instead. Behind the stage of this impressive performance is the only remaining hand puppet Cantonese opera troupe in Hong Kong - "Waa Saan Traditional Puppet Cantonese Opera Troupe".

The stage performance of "Waa Saan Traditional Puppet Cantonese Opera Troupe", Photo by Bastille Post

With the passage of time, puppet Cantonese opera has gradually been replaced by one acted by real people, putting this traditional art form at risk of disappearing. Nevertheless, Mr. Chan Kam To, the nearly 80-year-old troupe leader, and his elderly troupe fellows are still striving to preserve the glory of this traditional folk culture in modern times.

The poster of the troupe's performance at the Kam Tin Ten-Yearly Thanksgiving Festival, Photo source: Kam Tin Rural Committee

Giving up the Stable Job of Public Servant to Pursue the Dream of Inheriting Puppet Opera Culture

Mr. Chan Kam To has performed puppet Cantonese opera for over 60 years. Recalling his decision to choose this art form as his life career at a young age, Mr. Chan said that he had never regretted this choice.

In the interview, Mr. Chan said that he had developed a strong interest in hand-held puppets and Cantonese opera under the influence of his father. With his love for traditional art forms, he actively learned various performance skills after becoming an apprentice of the puppet Cantonese opera performance. "You need to learn different kinds of performance skills from your mentor." Whether it's manipulating puppets, singing, playing musical instruments, or even writing scripts and composing, he is well-versed in all the above aspects.

Although he once had the chance of choosing to work as a public servant, who can earn a stable salary and a decent position, when entering the workforce, the words that a friend told him finally made him decide to follow his inner voice and choose puppet Cantonese opera as his life career. "Kam To, if you want to become a public servant, you still have the chance of making such a choice in the future. But there aren't many professionals engaged in puppet Cantonese opera performance in Hong Kong. Since you are an all-around artist in this field, you should really try to do more of what you like at a young age. Why not consider setting up your own puppet Cantonese opera troupe in Hong Kong?"

Under the suggestion of his friend, Mr. Chan gathered some enthusiasts who were also passionate about puppet Cantonese opera and established the "Waa Saan Traditional Puppet Cantonese Opera Troupe", kicking off the artistic pursuit of the troupe members.

Mr. Chan Kam To (fifth from the left, front row) and the troupe members, Photo by Bastille Post

Keeping Striving for Excellence, Aiming to Provide High-Quality Puppet Cantonese Opera to the Audience

As an important performance event at the worship ceremonies for Gods, puppet Cantonese opera has always played a role in thanking deities for their blessings and entertaining spirits. Although the Cantonese opera performed by real people have gradually replaced the puppet performance at the religious occasions of worship ceremonies, temple consecration, etc. with the development of Hong Kong society, there have still been some local villagers who believe in the exorcism power of puppets and keep the tradition of performing puppet Cantonese opera before the start of real people performance at the worship ceremonies. Nevertheless, such opportunities have been decreasing in modern times, making puppet Cantonese opera gradually become a sunset industry.

Though facing such a difficult situation, the "Waa Saan Traditional Puppet Cantonese Opera hasn't given up the passion of inheriting this traditional art form. The troupe members choose to keep striving for excellence day after day on this niche artistic path, seizing the few performance opportunities to present high-quality puppet Cantonese opera to the audience.

The puppeteers behind the stage, Photo by Bastille Post

The vocalists behind the stage, Photo by Bastille Post

The instrumental performers behind the stage, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chan mentioned that the troupe has participated in the Kam Tin Ten-Yearly Thanksgiving Festival four times, and this year marks his fifth time to take part in the performance of the festival. In order to meticulously prepare for this year's performance, everyone in the troupe has made tremendous efforts. At the performance site, although Mr. Chan had to stay in bed behind the stage due to his recent physical discomfort, he still kept a close eye on the troupe members and promptly offered specific suggestions for improvement on their performance effects.

As for the troupe members, they have also devoted themselves wholeheartedly during the festival performance. No matter it's the break of each performance, or the leisure time for lunch and dinner, they would seize every second to actively discuss how to better convey the plots and the protagonist's emotions of the play to the audience via manipulating puppets, singing and playing musical instruments, allowing them to feel the artistic charm of puppet Cantonese opera.

The troupe members would seize every second to actively discuss how to better convey the plots and the protagonist's emotions of the play, Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

The Difficult Road Ahead for the Sunset Industry: Hard to Earn a Stable Salary and Find Young Apprentices

Puppet Cantonese opera once occupied an important position in the worship ceremonies to the gods. However, with the development of society, the puppet opera has gradually become marginalized under the popularization of the Cantonese opera performance by real actors and actresses.

The puppets of the troupe, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Lau Mou Yee, the vocalist of the troupe, mentioned, "It's hard to make a living in our industry." With only few performances available each year, it has become extremely difficult for the troupe members to earn a stable salary. She said, "If you can't make a living, it would be very difficult to attract young people to enter this industry."

Nowadays, this group of young people, who once bravely pursued the dream of inheriting puppet Cantonese opera, have all become elderly. As for them, the youngest member has already turned over forty, while most of them are in their seventies or eighties. Facing the predicament of a lack of successors, Mr. Chan Kam To couldn't help but sigh, "The puppet Cantonese opera would disappear in the future." Indeed, this heavy prophecy not only reveals the difficulty of puppet Cantonese opera, but also expresses the feelings of all the artists of traditional art forms.

Most of the troupe members are in their seventies or eighties, Photo by Bastille Post

The Persistence of Inheriting Traditional Culture Even in the Twilight Years

Although facing the dilemma of future development, the troupe members have still persisted in pursuing their artistic passion. In addition to seizing each precious performance opportunity, they have also been more actively promoting the culture of puppet Cantonese opera to the schools in Hong Kong in recent years. For them, perhaps they will no longer be able to perform on the stage at the next Kam Tin Ten-Yearly Thanksgiving Festival, but as long as they can plant one more seed in the hearts of the young generation and let the youth discover the glamour of this traditional art form, there will be more hope for the continuation of this disappearing art in the future.

"Do our best to pass on this traditional art." At the site of the Kam Tin festival, the troupe members have not only performed the stories of traditional Cantonese opera, but also a life anthem about love and perseverance. Persisting in inheriting puppet Cantonese opera to awaken more people to appreciate the beauty of traditional folk culture, such a sincere wish would be the motivation for these elderly to stick to their artistic dream even in their twilight years and such an industry predicament.

The troupe members still persist in inheriting puppet Cantonese opera culture even in their twilight years, Photo by Bastille Post

A giant bamboo altar, standing over 30 meters tall, was constructed for the Kam Tin Ten-Yearly Thanksgiving Festival and certified by Guinness World Records as the "world's largest temporary bamboo altar." As the festival drew to a close, the altar was transformed into a bamboo theater to host performances of Cantonese Opera for Deities during the Kam Tin Thanksgiving Celebration Carnival. The structure was meticulously brought to life by a team of scaffolding craftsmen led by Mr. Lai Zi Ming, who turned an empty space into a magnificent architectural marvel.

The world's largest temporary bamboo altar built in Kam Tin, Photo by Bastille Post

The bamboo theater to host performances of Cantonese Opera for Deities during the Kam Tin Thanksgiving Celebration Carnival, Photo by Bastille Post

Even After Achieving the Guinness World Record, the Craftsmen still Remain Dedicated to Their Craft Humbly

As the head of the team responsible for building the bamboo structure, Mr. Lai said that a total of 17 bamboo scaffolders spent 60 days bringing the magnificent structure to life. Looking back at the whole construction process, even though the team members have gone through the mill, the outcome has made all their efforts worthwhile. "Previously, such a giant bamboo structure in Hong Kong could merely exist in dreams, but now, we've made it come true," he said with a smile.

Mr. Lai Zi Ming, holding a silk banner written "Excellent Craftsmanship", Photo by Bastille Post

He mentioned that achieving the Guinness World Record this time did bring a certain degree of enhancement to the team’s fame, leading to increased work. Nevertheless, facing the influx of praise from the public, the team took it in stride and continued focusing on their work with the spirit of strict and professional craftsmanship. "In fact, whether we achieve the recognition from Guinness or not, our team members will all try our best to uphold the highest standards in every project we undertake." In Mr. Lai's view, awards and records were merely external things. Only the love and attachment to the bamboo structure building in the heart can support the craft stand the test of time.

Following in His Father's Footsteps, Mr. Lai Finds Fulfillment in Creating Something from Nothing

Recalling the journey of building the giant bamboo structure in Kam Tin, Mr. Lai also reminisced about his formative years learning the craft under the mentorship of his father. Since his father was also a bamboo scaffolder, there's no doubt that he followed in his father's footsteps and took over the craft at a young age. During the learning process, he gradually discovered the unique charm of bamboo scaffolding construction.

"Starting from an empty space and gradually bringing a giant structure to life—that journey is what truly drives me and fills me with a lasting sense of fulfillment." In Mr. Lai's eyes, this spiritual reward far outweighs any material gain, be it wealth or reputation. It is this very belief that has sustained his dedication to bamboo scaffolding construction for over a quarter of a century.

Building bamboo scaffolding is a journey starting from an empty space and gradually bringing a giant structure to life. Photo by Bastille Post

It's Difficult for Metal Scaffolds to Replace Bamboo Scaffolding Based on the Bamboo's Unique Advantages

Although the construction of bamboo scaffolding opened up a lifelong career and deep spiritual fulfillment for Mr. Lai, as the construction industry keeps advancing in the times, the metal scaffolding, prized for its standardization, high efficiency, and durability, has posed a formidable challenge to the traditional craft of bamboo scaffolding construction.

In his eyes, in terms of building construction, it is indeed difficult to guarantee the domination position of bamboo scaffolding as before, but in terms of the construction of temporary bamboo altar and theatre, "I would think it would be a little difficult for metal scaffolding to replace bamboo scaffolds." he said.

He emphasized that bamboo altars and theaters embody far more than physical structures—they are living cultural spaces where traditional folk activities and rituals unfold. Consequently, their design and construction entail distinct considerations that diverge from conventional building practices, spanning functional requirements, venue atmosphere, and construction logic, etc.

According to Mr. Lai, by leveraging the dimensional flexibility of bamboo, the giant structure built in Kam Tin successfully achieved a triple breakthrough in height, load-bearing capacity, and spatial span.

It's difficult for metal scaffolds to replace bamboo scaffolding based on the bamboo's unique advantages. Photo by Bastille Post

Given the limited space in Hong Kong, Mr. Lai noted that bamboo's advantages—particularly in cost, construction flexibility, and adaptability to varied landforms—would be key to sustaining the vitality of bamboo structures in the future.

In terms of cost, bamboo can save at least 30% to 50%. As for the construction flexibility, bamboo poles used for scaffolding can be adjusted—lengthened or shortened—to suit the specific needs of each project. By binding and splicing them to follow the curve requirement, craftsmen can achieve a tailor-made effect that feels almost seamless. When it comes to adaptability to varied landforms, bamboo scaffolding can thrive in environments where metal scaffolding struggles—whether on muddy ground, sloping terrain, or highlands—since metal structures typically require a flat and stable foundation. Moreover, given Hong Kong's narrow roads and confined spaces, bamboo scaffolding's inherent adaptability allows it to be erected efficiently even in the most challenging urban settings.

Given Hong Kong's narrow roads and confined spaces, bamboo scaffolding's inherent adaptability allows it to be erected efficiently even in the most challenging urban settings. Photo by Bastille Post

Inheriting the Craft of Bamboo Scaffolding, Hoping to Preserve Tradition Through Dedication

Looking to the future of bamboo scaffolding construction, Mr. Lai reflected that his team members have aged over the years. They all hope that newcomers could enter the industry to carry the craft forward.

He said that he would regularly follow news from the Scaffolders Association and stay updated on industry trends. Whenever he meets young people with a genuine curiosity about bamboo scaffolding, he gladly shares the lessons and reflections he has gathered over the years. He warmly welcomes any motivated young person to join his team and learn the craft. "I truly believe in the power of inheritance through personal commitment. If young people want to enter this field, I will be happy to guide them step by step, letting them learn through real hands-on experience," he said.

He also expressed his willingness to serve as an advisor or even teach in person if workshops or courses on the preservation and inheritance of bamboo scaffolding techniques could be offered in the future. He hopes to introduce the public to the beauty of this traditional craft. "My teaching principle is to set no barriers," he said. In his view, enabling more interested people to take the first step of exploration and building an emotional connection with bamboo scaffolding would be the key to ensuring the industry's continued vitality.

Mr. Lai was awarded a silk banner written "Excellent Craftsmanship" by the Kam Tin Rural Committee, recognizing his outstanding achievements in bamboo scaffolding construction. Photo by Bastille Post

For Mr. Lai, bamboo scaffolding was once simply a means of making a living. Nowadays, however, it has become something far greater—a vital stage for the inheritance of Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage. In his eyes, preserving this craft is no longer just about safeguarding a set of skills; it is about sustaining the very force that will carry Hong Kong's folk culture into the future.