Bastille's Feature | From Stage to Legend: Historic Exhibits Illuminate the Artistic Life of Leung Sing Por, Hong Kong's King of Comic Roles

Leung Sing Por, Hong Kong's legendary "King of Comic Roles," drew the curtain on his life 45 years ago, yet his artistic legacy endures in the hearts of Hong Kong's audiences. Neither a "handsome young lead" nor a conventional "leading man," he nonetheless became a household name, dominating Hong Kong's film, television, and Cantonese opera stages for over three decades. His comedic style, particularly his signature impromptu "baau tou" (improvisation), has become classic. A renowned Hong Kong scholar of Cantonese opera noted that traces of this very technique can even be found in the performances of contemporary comedy icon Stephen Chow.

The exhibition "'The King of Comic Roles' – Leung Sing Por," Photo by Bastille Post

To mark the 45th anniversary of Leung Sing Por's passing, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum presents "'The King of Comic Roles' – Leung Sing Por," an exhibition retracing the remarkable career transition of Leung, affectionately known as "Uncle Por," from the Cantonese opera stage to film and television. In the interview with Bastille Post, Mr. Cheng Chun Tak, Assistant Curator I (Performing Art) of Hong Kong Heritage Museum, and renowned Cantonese opera scholar Prof. Chan Sau Yan, expressed that the exhibition does more than lead visitors to retrace the classic moments of Leung's career; it also maps the enduring lineage of Hong Kong comedy culture.

A Legacy Unfolded: 70 Exhibits Tell the Story of King of Comic Roles

The exhibition features around 70 selected exhibits, including costumes, playbills, newspapers, and photographs, showcasing Leung Sing Por's achievements across stage, film, and television. Visitors can embark on a captivating journey tracing the charisma of the "King of Comic Roles" and experience the richness of Hong Kong's comedic heritage.

The exhibits on display, Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Leung Sing Por began his career as a "principal male role" (man mou saang). But after World War II, as he gained weight, he had to switch to comic roles in the 1950s. The once stage heartthrob transformed into a witty comedian, delivering countless unforgettable comedic performances.

The exhibited personal photograph of Leung Sing Por, Photo by Bastille Post

With his down-to-earth and effortlessly funny style, Leung stood out in the Hong Kong entertainment world. In 1952, the newspaper Amusement News held a "Three Kings of Cantonese Opera" contest, crowning a "King of Principal Male Roles," a "Queen of Young Female Roles," and a "King of Comic Roles." Leung won the "King of Comic Roles" title by a landslide, a clear testament to his place in the hearts of Hong Kong audiences.

Leung won the "King of Comic Roles" title by a landslide, a clear testament to his place in the hearts of Hong Kong audiences. Photo by Bastille Post

Leung Sing Por's Treasured Costumes: A First Public Debut

Through the thematic exhibition, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has pieced together scattered artifacts from Leung's artistic journey, commemorating his legendary status in Hong Kong's comedy performance. In the interview, Mr. Cheng Chun Tak, Assistant Curator I (Performing Art) of Hong Kong Heritage Museum, shared the stories behind several highlight pieces. The most precious among them are five sets of Leung's costumes, which are on public display for the first time.

Mr. Cheng Chun Tak, Assistant Curator I (Performing Art) of Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Cheng said, "Because Leung Sing Por's costumes are rarely exhibited in Hong Kong, they are exceptionally valuable." Among the five costumes, there is a brown man's python ceremonial robe with gold and silver sequins worn by Leung Sing Por in the 1950s, and also the black grand amour embroidered with gold threads worn by Leung Sing Por during his last public performance in 1980,  capturing the last brilliant light of his stage years.

The brown man's python ceremonial robe with gold and silver sequins worn by Leung Sing Por in the 1950s, Photo by Bastille Post

The black grand amour embroidered with gold threads worn by Leung Sing Por during his last public performance in 1980, Photo by Bastille Post

In addition, the exhibition presents collections documenting Leung Sing Por's film and television career. A poster for the 1959 Cantonese opera film The Lion's Roar evokes audiences' memories of Leung's dual talents in singing and acting. In this film, Leung not only played the leading role, but also performed Cantonese opera songs, offering viewers a multi-sensory experience that delights both sight and sound.

The poster for Cantonese opera film "The Lion’s Roar," Photo by Bastille Post

As for Leung's television career, the cover of a vinyl record from the 1960s TV programme Enjoy Yourself Tonight leads visitors to relive the lively atmosphere of this once-popular Hong Kong show. With his witty performance style, Leung created countless belly-laugh moments in the programme, becoming one of its key members and leaving behind unforgettable scenes of joy for a generation of viewers.

The cover of a vinyl record from the 1960s TV programme "Enjoy Yourself Tonight," Photo by Bastille Post

In addition to the collections on display, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has organized a range of accompanying activities, including film screenings, talks, and interactive experiences. Throughout the exhibition period, the museum theatre will host screenings of classic films starring Leung Sing Por — Siu Po-po Pokes Fun at the King of Blunders (1960) and The Lion's Roar (1959) — accompanied by lectures and guided tours. Furthermore, visitors may scan QR codes on site to access audio recordings of radio hosts reflecting on Leung's artistic life and career.

Mr. Cheng expressed his hope that the exhibition will serve not merely as a retrospective of Leung's performing career, but as a vibrant and engaging performing arts education initiative. He wished for the public to "experience Leung's profound Cantonese opera skills and sense of humor, and to appreciate how he infused his classic roles with the joys and sorrows of life." By revisiting the legacy of the "King of Comic Roles," the exhibition aims to deepen public appreciation of Cantonese opera's comic role traditions and to inspire interest and exploration of Hong Kong's Cantonese opera heritage.

The exhibits on display, Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Off-the-Cuff Mastery, Onstage Legacy: How Leung Inspires the New Comedy Crop

The renowned Cantonese opera scholar, Prof. Chan Sau Yan, shared his excitement over a meticulously curated thematic exhibition in Hong Kong, one that lets the public experience Leung Sing Por's comedic charm firsthand, rather than simply "looking at the history of Cantonese opera."

Reflecting on Leung Sing Por's comedic career, Prof. Chan believed that two key factors underpinned his extraordinary achievements: the historical context of his time and his masterful command of "baau tou" (improvisation).

Renowned Cantonese opera scholar, Prof. Chan Sau Yan, Photo by Bastille Post

As for the historical context, Prof. Chan pointed out that the golden age of Cantonese opera unfolded in the years following World War II. At the time, the economy was struggling, and the social atmosphere was bleak. Cantonese opera, with its accessible and widely appealing nature, became an affordable form of entertainment for the public as an escape from the hardships of daily life. Leung Sing Por, who entered the Cantonese opera scene during this period, quickly drew considerable attention.

However, Prof. Chan stressed that the favorable timing alone was not enough to forge a legendary comedian. Leung's success was also inseparable from his relentless drive to refine his craft. According to Prof. Chan, Leung was a true master of improvisation, designing his own off-the-cuff scenes based on a deep understanding of his characters. Moreover, he brought a fresh interpretation to every performance, offering audiences a sense of novelty that never seemed to wear thin.

The playbill for the classic Cantonese opera "The Legend of Purple Hairpin," Photo by Bastille Post

Prof. Chan cited the classic Cantonese opera The Legend of Purple Hairpin as an example. In the role of Chui Wan Ming, Leung sought to enrich the character's dimensionality by improvising a scene in which Chui, unwilling to betray a friend by arranging a marriage on his behalf, is beaten to death by Marshal Lou. In each stage performance, Leung would improvise subtle gestures or dying laments, drawing laughter from the audience even amid the tragic atmosphere. Prof. Chan recalled that Leung would sometimes rise abruptly from the ground, mustering one last burst of energy before collapsing; sometimes he would deliver a comical, struggling death; and sometimes he would improvise entirely new final words from performance to performance, giving each rendition a unique comedic flavor– in his words, "ten performances, ten different comic experiences."

Humorous stage stills of Leung Sing Por, Photo by Bastille Post

In Prof. Chan's view, Leung's improvisational style has served as a valuable reference for character portrayals among later generations of Hong Kong comedians. He noted that the "mo lei tau" (nonsensical humour) comic style of contemporary star Stephen Chow can be regarded as a direct descendant of Leung's improvisation technique. On set, Chow, much like Leung, would improvise lines or actions based on his character's personality in scenes he felt could use an extra comedic touch, resulting in unexpectedly hilarious moments. Whether in Flirting Scholar or Kung Fu Hustle, Chow's signature films clearly show the influence of Leung's technique.

The stage stills of Leung Sing Por on display, Photo by Bastille Post

Although Cantonese opera may no longer be the public's first choice of entertainment, Prof. Chan believed that the essence of Leung's craft can still be passed down as a guiding light for future generations of Hong Kong comedians. He emphasized that Leung's improvisations were never haphazard; they were always grounded in a deep understanding of the script and characters. Prof. Chan hoped that this respect for the source material and this rigorous approach to performance would be carried forward. Only by rooting oneself in the original work and interpreting the plot in depth, he said, can an actor fully unlock their potential to create classic characters that resonate with audiences.

The exhibition "'The King of Comic Roles' – Leung Sing Por", Photo by Bastille Post

“The King of Comic Roles” – Leung Sing Por

Gallery: 1/F Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall, Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Exhibition Period: Until 24 April 2028

Free Admission

Every Chinese New Year, the innovative Cantonese opera Trump on Show debuts. Loong Koon-tin, a well-known local Cantonese opera actor who plays Trump in the play, has incorporated his years of experience in stage and television drama performances into his interpretation of the role "Trump".

Loong Koon-tin, a well-known local Cantonese opera actor who plays Trump in the play, has incorporated his years of experience in stage and television drama performances into his interpretation of the role "Trump". Photo source: offered by Loong Koon-tin

In the interview with Bastille Post, when asked about how to embody the character and delve into the interpretation methods of bringing Trump to life on stage, Loong Koon-tin mentioned that since Donald Trump likes to make exaggerated gestures normally, he would specially combine these highly recognizable body features with the traditional performance movements of Cantonese opera to allow audience to appreciate the vivid portrayal of the characters up close and perceive the inclusiveness of Cantonese opera towards modern performance elements.

Offering Audience with Innovative Performance by Combining Hot News with Traditional Cantonese Opera

“(The Cantonese opera Trump on Show) is still performed via our traditional Cantonese opera performance style. Nevertheless, we would contain innovative elements. We would keep changing the content according to the current hot news to attract the Gen Z audience, making them wonder: How will you perform the current affairs on stage?” said Loong Koon-tin.

Loong Koon-tin stated that during his process of brainstorming the script, he hoped to attract more audiences, especially the young generation, to enhance their interest in Cantonese opera performances by incorporating the element of "social hot spots", namely, the daily issues concerned by the masses.

"Current Affairs Cantonese Opera" has triggered widespread discussion since the premiere of Trump on Show in 2019. Led by the playwright Mr. Li Kui Ming, the production team of the play would keep abreast of the changing international issues in time to ensure the plot's freshness. Loong Koon-tin said that the script of Trump on Show would never remain unchanged, but would be adjusted and supplemented according to the global current events. Like the news of the arrest of the Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, a while ago, the team immediately began to conceive of how to integrate it into the plot as soon as they heard about it, aiming to enable the ever-changing global current affairs to be performed via the singing and performance skills of Cantonese opera.

By Playing Diverse Roles, Loong Koon-tin Strives to Spread the Charm of Cantonese Opera to a Wider Audience

Loong Koon-tin has played the role of Donald Trump and other major characters in Trump on Show from its initial version until the present 4.0 version. For the performance this year, he would not only act the roles of Mao Zedong and Donald Trump, but also Nicolás Maduro and the fictional Trump's twin brother. Four roles for him to act vividly on stage at the same time.

In Loong Koon-tin's eyes, innovation is an indispensable driving force for the inheritance and development of Cantonese opera in the contemporary situation. "There must be innovation! Innovation plus tradition inheritance would be the key elements for retaining the audience and leading young people to learn about the glamour of traditional art." He thought that, if we still set in our ways of performing Cantonese opera, such a traditional art form would only dissipate in the wave of the times under the challenge of increasingly diverse aesthetic views.

Besides innovative Cantonese opera performance, Loong Koon-tin would perform in traditional Cantonese opera, Sun Kung Hei, which is performed for the deities. On the site of the "Kam Tin Thanksgiving Celebration Carnival", he was the leading civil and martial actor in the performance of Sun Kung Hei. In Loong Koon-tin's view, the Cantonese Opera for Deities is a precious stage for young Cantonese opera actors to improve their performance skills. He mentioned that young actors have little experience when they first enter the industry and are prone to making mistakes. "If people buy tickets to see them at a professional performance in the theater, once the young actors make mistakes or do something wrong on the stage, the audience will regard them as unqualified performers, making them lose opportunities to accumulate acting experience and inherit the Cantonese opera performance."

Loong Koon-tin has brought Trump to life on stage via his superb acting skills. Photo source: offered by Loong Koon-tin

The Cantonese Opera for Deities is a Precious Platform for the Inheritance of Traditional Culture

Since the audience of the Cantonese Opera for Deities is mostly the neighbors and fellow villagers who come to repay their vows and show gratitude to the deities, they tend to have a more tolerant and supportive attitude towards the actors' performance. Consequently, the young actors can interact with the audience in a more relaxed state and gradually build up their stage confidence. In addition, most of the performances for Cantonese Opera for Deities are staged for consecutive days, letting young actors have opportunities to accumulate experience and constantly adjust in subsequent performances to improve their performance level.

Besides innovative Cantonese opera performance, Loong Koon-tin would perform in traditional Cantonese opera, Sun Kung Hei, which is performed for the deities. Photo by Bastille Post

Moreover, Loong Koon-tin also hoped that the Cantonese opera industry could have more opportunities to build communication and collaboration with bamboo theatre scaffolders, making the two sides "join hands" together to preserve the culture of Cantonese Opera for Deities.

When tracing back to his previous experience of starting Cantonese opera performance, Loong Koon-tin recalled that he resolutely gave up his stable job as a bank clerk and was willing to endure the arduous experience of wearing heavy costumes and wigs that would strain his head. In his eyes, all the hard work for inheriting the culture of Cantonese opera is worthwhile. Through countless rehearsals and performances, he insisted on constantly elevating acting standards and conveying his deep love for Cantonese opera to the audience through every performance opportunity. "You must truly love the things you stick to, so that you can enjoy yourself no matter how hard the dream-chasing journey would be," he said.

The Cantonese Opera for Deities is a precious platform for the inheritance of traditional culture. Photo by Bastille Post

Loong Koon-tin, Photo source: offered by Loong Koon-tin