"25 JANUARY 2014 - BANG LUANG, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A performer with the Sing Tong Teochew opera troupe gets into character before a show in a Chinese shrine in the town of Bang Luang, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. The Sing Tong Teochew opera troupe has been together for 60 years and travels through central Thailand and Bangkok performing for mostly ethnic Chinese audiences. Chinese opera was once very popular in Thailand, where it is called ""Ngiew."" It is usually performed in the Teochew language. Millions of Chinese emigrated to Thailand (then Siam) in the 18th and 19th centuries and brought their cultural practices with them. Recently the popularity of ngiew has faded as people turn to performances of opera on DVD or movies. There are still as many 30 Chinese opera troupes left in Bangkok and its environs. They are especially busy during Chinese New Year when travel from Chinese temple to Chinese temple performing on stages they put up in streets near the temple, sometimes sleeping on hammocks they sling under their stage.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ"
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