The Teochew Store Blog / drums

Ling Goh was born into a Teochew opera family. For more than thirty years, she has committed herself to preserving and developing Teochew opera and Teochew iron‑rod puppetry. Ling Goh also established the first cultural arts space in Malaysia dedicated to Teochew opera — the Teochew Puppet & Opera House.

Throughout her journey of preserving and promoting Teochew performance arts, Ling Goh has boldly embraced innovation, incorporating elements of modern theatre and musicals into traditional performances, thus attracting greater attention and participation of the young. At the same time, she has actively promoted Teochew opera and iron‑rod puppetry beyond the Teochew community, enabling people of other ethnicities to understand and appreciate their unique charms.

Recently, the Teochew Store spoke with Ling Goh in Penang to learn about her experience in passing on Teochew opera and iron‑rod puppetry, and managing the Teochew Puppet and Opera House.

For half a century, Sin Ee Lye Heng Teochew Opera Troupe (Iron-Rod Puppet Troupe) has dedicated itself to preserving and evolving Teochew street opera. It is the last and only remaining Teochew iron rod puppet troupe in Singapore.

In an interview with The Teochew Store, Christine Ang, the third-generation successor of Sin Ee Lye Heng, shares how her family has carried on the troupe's legacy with love across three generations.

A masterful display of puppetry, live music and opera singing by Sin Ee Lye Heng Puppet Troupe 新加坡新怡梨興潮剧团（铁枝木偶剧团), which thoroughly entertained and mesmerised a healthy crowd of children and adults at the ACM (Asian Civilisations Museum).

The last remaining performers of the unique Teochew metal-rod puppetry in Singapore, Sin Ee Lye Heng keeps alive a performing art that has been part of the country’s heritage for at least a century. Hope our Teochew community will support them!

Have you ever watched a Teochew musical movie? Check out this rare classic that showcases a variety of Teochew art forms, including cross talk (相聲), bamboo clapper singing (竹板歌), Teochew classical music (潮州音樂), Teochew opera (潮劇),  Teochew narrative songbooks (潮州歌冊), ballads (歌謠), etc.

Music expresses the soul of a people. Since the Song dynasty (960-1279), the Teochew people have had our own music tradition that is distinct from other  Chinese regional music. Shaped by Teochew folk sensibilities, it is characterised by an intense concern with melodic variation. There are seven main genres of traditional Teochew music...