This book adopts a refreshing approach by examining Hokkien theatre in a region connected by maritime networks, notably southern Fujian, Taiwan, Kinmen and Singapore. It considers how regional theatre is shaped by broader socio-cultural and political contexts and the motivation to stay relevant in an era of modernisation and secularisation. Political domains are often marked out by land boundaries, but the sea concept denotes fluidity, allowing theatrical forms to spread across these land-bounded societies and share a common language and culture.

"This is an insightful theatrical study on the web of Chinese cultural networks in southern China and Singapore, and by extension, between China and Southeast Asia in the twentieth century and beyond. Using diverse sources in multiple languages and extensive field ethnography, this is a ground-breaking study which is both didactic and inspiring."

- Lee Tong Soon, author of Chinese Street Opera in Singapore (University of Illinois, 2009).

"Focusing on Hokkien theatre, this book offers new insights into how Chinese performing art responds to geographical, temporal, and social changes. Historical sources in different languages are widely used to give access to the cultural characteristics of Hokkien theatre, offering valuable ethnographic reports on the contemporary practices of Hokkien theatre in Taiwan, Kinmen, and Singapore. The book comments on the changing ritualistic significance of Hokkien theatre, and help us understand how societies remember the past of a performing tradition, and shape its present."

- Luo Ai Mei, Co-Editor of A Preliminary Survey of the Cantonese Eight Song Cycles in South China: History and Sources (2016)

Dr. Caroline Chia's research areas include studies on Chinese regional theatre, culture, orality, literacy and Chinese diaspora communities. She has been conducting research on traditional Chinese theatre since 2004. With her key interest in little known theatrical forms, she hopes to increase awareness about these theatrical forms through her research. Dr. Chia has published various book chapters, journal articles and media write-ups on this area of research. 

Chapter One: Introduction.-Chapter Two: Historical development of Hokkien theatre in southern Fujian.- Chapter Three: Transnational flow of Hokkien theatre from southern Fujian to Singapore.- Chapter Four: Transmission and Localization of Hokkien theatre in Taiwan and Singapore.- Chapter Five: Orality-inclined performance traditions in practice.- Chapter Six: Mulian performance in southern Fujian, Taiwan and Singapore.- Chapter Seven: Conclusion.