戏台幕后的小小世界

戏台的背后

戏班，旧称戏曲剧团指的是以表演戏剧为目的组成的团体。在马来西亚，一般上只有在神明的千秋宝诞时才能看到戏班演出。通常，这些戏班都会演潮州剧或闽南剧。

中秋节的隔一天，农历八月十六是广泽尊王的宝诞。我和我的民俗专家朋友，董詠祥以及两位同事来到了供奉广泽尊王为主神的凤山宫。凤山宫邀请了泰国的戏班来为广泽尊王贺寿。我们到达时，戏班的演员们正在为待会儿的演出作准备。在我的其中一位同事的努力协调下，我们得到了上后台参观的许可。

Chinese opera is a team that performs the traditional Chinese drama on stage. In Malaysia, these Chinese opera team normally will perform during a deity's birthday. Usually, they will be performing the Teochew drama or the Hokkien drama.

The next day of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the birthday of Guang Ze Zun Wang. Me and a folklore expert, Fear and two other colleagues have went to the Chinese temple that serve Guang Ze Zun Wang as their main deity. This Chinese temple has invited the opera team from Thailand. When we reached there, the opera team was preparing for their performance later. One of my colleagues has asked the permission for us to visit the backstage and the permission is granted.

这是我第二次到戏台的幕后，不过上一次是因为工作而上的。所以，这次我很把握这个机会拍了很多张属于自己的照片。可惜的是，我和戏班的人们有语言障碍，无法询问更多的资料。

This is the second time I have been to the backstage, but last time was for my job. Therefore, I treasure this precious chance very much and I have took many photos which I own the ownership. Due to the language barrier of me and the opera team, I didn't asked for more information.

低角度看戏台幕后的小小世界。

Low angle view of the backstage's little world.

认真的表情。

The expression of seriousness.

演员们正在为自己化妆，为待会儿的戏剧演出做准备。我超喜欢这后台的灯光，超有感觉的。

The performers were makeup at the backstage and get ready for the drama performance later. I like the lighting of the backstage very much, it brings a unique feeling to my photos.

一般戏班都会供奉此神明（没问到这是什么神明）。通常在戏剧开始前都会请此神明到台下与当天宝诞的神明敬礼然后再请回台上。

Normally the Chinese opera will serve this deity (didn't manage to ask the name of this deity). Usually before the performance starts, they will invite the deity to the temple to greet the birthday's deity. After the greeting, they will invite the deity back to the backstage again.

这是演员的化妆箱。每个演员都有他们自己的化妆箱哦。

This is the makeup box of the performers. Each and everyone of them has their own makeup box.

这些是喜剧里的角色的帽子。

These are the hats of the drama's characters.

这是戏剧里的角色的服装。

These are the cloths for the drama's characters.

这是道具箱。

This is the items box.

这是他们的戏台。这个泰国戏班的班名是“光赛宝丰”。

This is their performing stage.

他们当晚演出的戏剧是“包青天”。

They were performing 'Bao Qing Tian' drama for that night.

戏班的乐手。他会扬琴也会唢呐哦。

The musician of the opera team. He can play dulcimer and suona.

等待着上场的演员们。

Waiting for their chance to perform.

上演“包青天”戏剧。

Performing 'Bao Qing Tian' drama.

虽然戏班在槟城是很常见，可是现实究竟是残酷的。现今的社会，已经是很少人会观赏戏剧了，就连我也是。最主要的原因是无法明白戏剧的内容。希望在不遥远的一天，戏班会有突破，吸引更多年轻人的关注。

Even though Chinese opera is quite common in Pennag, but still the number of people enjoying it is very little and this including me as well. The main reason is that I cant understand the content of the drama. I hope that in the near future there will be a breakthrough of the Chinese opera to attract more youngster's attention.

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