This photograph shows the Sin Sai Hong Opera Troupe （新赛凤剧团）actresses (from right to left) Mdm Gwee Lay Keng 魏丽卿 , Gwee Lay Fong魏丽芬and Gwee Him Hong魏欣凤. Back then, their instructors were from Shanghai and their age difference was about 10 years apart. Both Gwee Lay Fong魏丽芬and Gwee Soh Wah魏素华 (another actress from the troupe) completed their secondary school education before joining officially. They are dressed for the performance The Mysterious Hero (怪侠一枝梅). It sheds light on how it is common for the cast in an opera troupe to start training for performances at a young age. The troupe was first established in 1910 using another name and was performing gaojiaxi （高甲戏） back then. The troupe changed its name to “Sin Sai Hong” in 1936 and changed to performing gezaixi （歌仔戏） which was gaining popularity in the 1930s. It is the oldest Hokkien Opera Troupe in Singapore. The Sin Sai Hong collection donated to the National Museum also consists of old photographs, certificates and costumes.
