Behind the scenes at Chinese Opera

I am not partilularly fond of the Chinese opera in itself. I cannot understand it, I often think it sounds very shrill, and the stories are unfamiliar to me, but still it has something fascinating.
Especially when I am in the fortunate position of being allowed to go behind the scenes.
That has happened twice now. Both times in a theatre built out of bamboo and tarpaulins with a strangely squishy-and-yet-professional atmosphere behind the scenes.

A coming and going of people who all seem to know exactly what their job is. Carefully, performers apply their colourful make-up, drape themselves in the most magnificent robes and adorn themselves in enormous wigs. Musicians quickly practising tricky parts on instruments I had never seen outside Hong Kong. Assistants standing around quickly ironing or putting something in order.
And between all the make-up tables and clothes cases (which are more like portable cupboards) there is even a small altar, where one after the other quickly burns some incense and says a quick prayer.
Wonderful to see this opera singer next to all that hustle and bustle, make-up already done, quietly enjoying a cigarette before he puts on his wig and shrouds himself in his stage garb for his first scene.

This picture has hung in the 'My Hong Kong Neighbourhood' exhibition at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, where it was awarded third place by the audience jury (August 2023)