Esplanade Presents

Music | Theatre

Final Bow

Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group
Playwright and Director: Huang Chih-Kai (Taiwan)

31 Oct 2025, Fri, 7.30pm

1 Nov 2025, Sat, 2.30pm

2hrs 50mins

(Intermission: 1 x 20mins)

Esplanade Theatre

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Synopsis

Famed Taiwanese Hokkien opera troupe Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group joins forces with acclaimed playwright and director Huang Chih-kai in a cross-disciplinary collaboration that's bound to bring you laughter and tears!

 

Set against the sweeping cultural shifts of 1960s and ’70s Taiwan, Final Bow captures a turning point in history—when the burgeoning film industry upheaves traditional Taiwanese opera troupes from their grand indoor theatres to open-air stages, forcing them to take their final bows.

 

Beloved gezaixi (Taiwanese opera) troupe Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group (Ming Hwa Yuan) returns to Esplanade after seven years with Final Bow, a hilarious yet heartfelt homage to the golden years of traditional Taiwanese opera. Adapted from the award-winning short story by Hung Hsing Fu, this critically acclaimed production was first staged in 2016 and now embarks on its next tour in celebration of Ming Hwa Yuan’s 96th anniversary.

 

In collaboration with director Huang Chih-kai, known for The Way of Zhuang Zi and The Long Goodbye, both presented as part of Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2019 and 2020 respectively, the production blends modern stage play with traditional theatre performance.

 

Huang reimagines a once-tragic tale through comedic elements, cleverly shifting between the onstage performance and backstage lives of the fictional Yushan Opera Troupe. This playful yet poignant play-within-a-play features a progressively absurd retelling of the classic love opera of Chen Shimei and Qin Xianglian, unfolding alongside the troupe’s struggles to adapt to the decline of gezaixi.

 

Don’t miss this masterful blend of humour and heart—as reality and performance collide in a tribute to the resilience of Taiwanese opera predecessors, and relish in a tapestry of emotions woven over a century of gezaixi

 

Production credits

Playwright & Director: Huang Chih-kai 

Main Cast: Sun Tsui-feng, Chen Chao-ting, Fiona Huang, Li Yu-chen, Chen Tzu-hao, Chiu Yi-fen, Kao Yu-shan, Su Yun-he 

Admission Age:
6 and above.
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien
Surtitle Language: English, Chinese
Things to Note:
Accessibility: All our venues are wheelchair-accessible. We offer various services to support patrons with access needs. For assistance, please contact Esplanade Customer Experience at 6828 8377. Concessions are available for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and one accompanying companion. To learn more, read our accessibility guide.
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Artist Information

Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group

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Established in 1929 by Chen Ming-chi, Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group (Ming Hwa Yuan) has survived the turbulent history of gezaixi. Under the stewardship of 2nd generation troupe leader, Chen Sheng-Fu, Ming Hwa Yuan was able to remain strong as a family and turn the sunsetting industry around. Their performances exude a sense of magical surrealism and contain clear moral messages embedded within its plots, all while staying true to the traditions of gezaixi. They successfully fuse folk-arts, drama, poetry, music, dance, acrobatics, visual arts, and theatre technique, expanding the boundaries of the traditional art form with the goal of creating a “Musical of the Orient”. 

Huang Chih-Kai, Playwright and Director

Huang Chih-Kai is the founder and artistic director of Story Works, and a graduate of the inaugural class from National Taiwan University's Department of Drama. His works are diverse in style, often exploring social phenomena by weaving comedic elements into serious topics, creating a multi-layered emotional experience for audiences. In addition to his original works, Huang has experimented extensively with adaptations and cross-disciplinary collaborations. 

Date & Time

31 Oct 2025, Fri

7.30pm

Esplanade Theatre

1 Nov 2025, Sat

2.30pm

Esplanade Theatre
Tickets & Prices
Standard

Students, NSFs & Seniors
(Limited)

PWD
(Limited)
Cat 1 $98 - $30
Cat 2 $78 - $30
Cat 3 $58 $46 $30
Cat 4 $38 $30 $30

Meet & Greet (post-show) with Cat 1 ticket + autographed poster: $128


Meet & Greet ticket holders are entitled to an autographed poster and an exclusive meet & greet with the main cast after the show.

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  • Concession Ticket 

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