Engaging with a genre in decline : Teochew Opera in Western Sydney

Located in the heart of western Sydney, the Australian Chinese Teo Chew Association (ACTCA) is a meeting place for diasporic Chinese who identify as Teochew (Chaozhou), a cultural–linguistic group originating in the locality of Teoswa (Chaoshan), Guangdong province. Since 1988, the Teochew community has gathered to celebrate a common ethno-specific identity through culturally bonding activities such as Teochew opera. Arias and instrumental suites from various operatic classics are regularly rehearsed by a group of elderly musicians. Although a transnational signifier of ‘Teochewness’ that remains popular in most diasporic communities, this art form is steadily losing currency in western Sydney, particularly amongst the younger generation, and might only survive for as long as the current exponents are able to sustain it. This paper draws on fieldwork conducted since 2004 to address issues of music and identity. Possible methods for sustainability are discussed with reference to Sydney Conservatorium’s Chinese Music Ensemble