In 1995, the Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) and Fujian TV of China co-produced the television drama series The Teochew Family 《潮州家族》. This critically acclaimed show is now available to watch in full for free on YouTube on this playlist.
A major TCS production, The Teochew Family achieved impressive viewership ratings during its original run. Spanning 30 episodes, the series traces the dramatic fortunes of a Teochew rice merchant family over half a century, following their flight from China to Singapore during the Chinese Civil War of the 1940s.
Although its dialogue was primarily in Mandarin, The Teochew Family was widely praised for its careful and authentic portrayal of traditional Teochew culture and values. The production’s commitment to authenticity extended to on-location filming across various parts of Teochew, China. Viewers can catch rare footage of the Eng Go Bhu (英歌舞) as it was performed in the 1990s, as well as a glimpse of the historic Xiangzi Bridge (湘子橋, Siang-ze kie) in its earlier beam-bridge form, before its reconstruction into the landmark seen today.
Interestingly, the series also featured several Singapore actors of Teochew heritage, including Chen Shucheng, Chew Chor Meng, Zoe Tay and Hong Huifang.
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