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Reflections of an actress preparing for a Chinese opera performance by Thailand's Sai Bo Hong troupe on a makeshift stage at a street festival in Bangkok. An ancient world of swords, warriors and folklore roars to life on the darkened street, offering a momentary escape from the modern-day bustle of Bangkok's unstoppable development.
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On stage the Sai Bo Hong Chinese opera troupe act out dramatic tales centred around themes of loyalty, honesty and family to the sound of clashing cymbals and flutes.
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For centuries, troupes like this have performed throughout Thailand, where 14 percent of the population are ethnic Chinese.
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But the number of shows has dwindled in the era of smartphones, cinemas and Netflix, a vanishing art in a city of high-rises and mega-malls.
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"Chinese opera in Thailand has seen a sharp drop in terms of both audience attendance and performances," said one of the costume designers.
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When the Thai troupe plays upcountry mostly elderly ethnic Chinese come to see them while in Bangkok it's a mix of tourists and local residents.
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Sai Bo Hong has been around for decades and like other troupes - only about 20 are left in Thailand - normally plays for-hire gigs.
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On Saturday they took part in a festival celebrating former King Taksin on the western bank of the Chao Phraya river which cuts through Bangkok.
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Taksin ruled in the late 18th century and was believed to have Chinese-Thai heritage.
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A Chinese opera performance by Thailand's Sai Bo Hong troupe on a makeshift stage at a street festival in Bangkok.
Image Credit: AFP