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Esplanade Presents
31 Oct 2025, Fri, 7.30pm
1 Nov 2025, Sat, 2.30pm
(Intermission: 1 x 20mins)
Esplanade Theatre
This event is over.
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
Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group
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.
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.
Standard Ticket
Concession Ticket
Esplanade&Me Specials
Early Bird (17 – 24 Aug 2025, limited tickets)
Black: 20% savings
White: 15% savings
Discover: 15% savings (Min. 2 tickets)
JOYears: 20% savings
From 25 Aug 2025, 10am
Black: 15% savings
White: 10% savings (Limited tickets)
Discover: 10% savings (Min. 2 tickets, limited tickets)
JOYears: 15% savings
Applicable to Standard Cat 1 and Cat 2 tickets only. Terms and Conditions apply.
Theatre Bundle
(Available from 17 Jul – 9 Nov 2025)
Enjoy 15% savings when you purchase min. 4 tickets across two or more of the theatre productions listed below! Limited availability.
Yusof: Portrait of a President (17–19, 23 & 24 Oct 2025, Cat 1 only)
Final Bow (31 Oct & 1 Nov 2025, Cat 1 & 2)
Twelve Angry Men (7–9 Nov 2025, Cat 1 only)
The Cherry Orchard 벚꽃동산 (7–9 Nov 2025, Cat 1 & 2)
Tote Board Arts Grant
All Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges/ Centralised Institute & ITEs may use the Tote Board Arts Grant to subsidise up to 50% of the programme cost.
For more details, please contact Esplanade Box Office at 6828 8389 or email boxoffice@esplanade.com.
$60 Vouchers for Just $50 – While stocks last!
Only 200 vouchers available on a first-come, first-served basis! Voucher codes can be used until 31 Dec 2025 only.
Terms and conditions apply. An exclusive promotion from Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in celebration of SG60.
Promo fully redeemed
Great arts experiences begin with Esplanade&Me. Join this membership to enjoy ticket specials on shows at Esplanade, early bird specials, promotions at Esplanade Mall, unlimited access to Offstage and more.
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