The Rise of Cantonese Opera: Pre-World War II Stages in Hong Kong, the Provinces, and Overseas

This groundbreaking work explores the rise, development, and spread of Cantonese opera from the vantage points of social, business, and cultural history. Drawing on extensive Chinese and English sources, including recently discovered archives, the author delves into the early 20th century until the Pacific War, examining Cantonese opera's evolution in three parts. The book highlights the influence of merchant capital, theatre emergence, and changes in opera troupes, stage performances, star singers, and guild structures. It also explores the opera's impact on Guangdong's traditional local opera, its expansion through immigrant networks in Southeast Asia and America, and its integration into overseas Chinese culture and community activities.