The Research Centre for Transmission of Cantonese Opera (RCTCO) at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held a seminar today (20 April) to release the survey results of audiences’ views on Cantonese Opera Performances in Hong Kong. They hope to propose relevant suggestions for the industry to comprehensively expand the audience and increase the rate of attendance of Cantonese Opera performances so that this precious local art and culture can be inherited from generation to generation.
Supported by UGC’s Research Matching Grant Scheme, RCTCO conducted “A Survey of Audiences’ View on Cantonese Opera Performances in Hong Kong” in early 2022. This research surveyed more than 3,000 citizens in Hong Kong and aimed to investigate their motivations and incentives for attending Cantonese opera performances, as well as their preferences for it. It is found that elder people, females, and non-working people are the main audiences for Cantonese opera. 57% of the respondents have no habit of watching Cantonese operas; 33% of them watch 1 to 3 times a month, and about 10% of them watch 4 times or above every month.
Respondents were invited to rate 9 different factors on a scale of 1 to 7, with higher scores representing more important considerations for them. It is found that the top four motivations for them to pay to watch Cantonese opera are performance quality, performance content, personal factors, and environment. Divided by age group, respondents aged 30 or below prioritized performance content; while respondents aged 31 to 59 and those over 60 both prioritized performance quality. In addition, the audiences are more concerned about the environment of the performance venue and the performance duration.
Professor Leung Bo-wah, Director of RCTCO, believes that most audiences hope to support the development of Hong Kong Cantonese opera. However, for the transmission of Cantonese opera and open up new audiences in the future, Professor Leung suggested that “Artists and troupe hosts should focus on improving the quality of performances, as well as considering shortening the performance duration; relevant authorities should focus on optimizing the performance environment to attract audiences.”.
-ENDS-
Tables:
Respondents: | 3,447 |
Age groups: | |
Below 30： | 29% |
31 to 59: | 34.8% |
60 or above: | 36% |
Factors for considering watching Cantonese opera by age (score 1 to 7):
Personal | Promotion | Venue | Performance quality | Performance content | Environment | Duration | Ticket price | Social | |
Below 30 | 3.78 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.09 | 4.52 | 4.06 | 3.93 | 4.09 | 3.05 |
31 to 59 | 4.38 | 3.98 | 4.3 | 5.05 | 4.65 | 4.42 | 4.08 | 4.17 | 3.12 |
60 or above | 5.16 | 4.07 | 4.51 | 5.73 | 4.74 | 4.58 | 4.46 | 4.43 | 2.87 |
For more details, please visit EdUHK Press Release.
