One Love, A Legacy: Celebrating Joanna & Leslie Wong and Chinese Theatre Circle

Interweaving dramatic storytelling, multimedia art and Cantonese opera excerpts, this theatrical production celebrates the extraordinary four-decade journey of Chinese Theatre Circle and its founders, pioneering Cantonese opera couple Joanna Wong and the late Leslie Wong.

After decades of preserving and promoting the art of Cantonese opera, Singapore traditional arts organisation Chinese Theatre Circle (CTC) celebrates their 45th anniversary in 2026. Spearheaded by pioneering Cantonese opera couple Joanna Wong and the late Leslie Wong, CTC has played a significant role keeping traditional arts alive in Singapore and shaping our multicultural identity while establishing standards for artistic achievement in Chinese opera. Joanna is Singapore’s best-known Cantonese opera artist, known globally for her skills and as a teacher. Her husband Leslie was a lyricist and opera composer who was learned in Chinese classics, and whose work has been performed by CTC around the world.

In commemoration of this anniversary milestone, the company is thrilled to present an original English and Cantonese theatrical production One Love, A Legacy.

Following CTC’s spirit of cultural innovation, One Love, A Legacy deviates from previous Chinese opera productions and is created through artistic collaboration between Joanna Wong, homegrown Cantonese opera artists Christopher Choo and Jaron Leong, plus award-winning artist Ming Wong. Heartfelt, earnest and celebratory in nature, this contemporary production intertwines Joanna and Leslie’s love story with the evolution and achievements of CTC, featuring a cast comprising CTC’s artists, Joanna’s former students as well as guest artists from China’s Hong Dou Cantonese Opera Troupe. Skillfully blending theatre, Cantonese opera and multimedia, One Love, A Legacy reflects on the personal sacrifices, collective aspirations, and enduring passion of traditional opera artists in Singapore.

The show is presented in collaboration with the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, with support from the National Arts Council, the Sustain the Arts (stART) Fund, and the Cultural Matching Fund.

For enquiries, please contact: corporate@esplanade.com | 6828 8377