Go South policy Before 1930, when Singaporeans were still in the dark about ko-tzai-hsi, what was popular was gaojia opera, based on traditional Nankuan music. Then an opera group from Taiwan, the Phoenix Troupe, visited Singapore and Malaysia after giving some shows in Xiamen, and became an instant sell-out hit. The Phoenix Troupe continued working in Singapore for several years before returning to Taiwan in triumph.
一九三○年以前，新加坡人還不知道歌仔戲是什麼，當時流行的傳統戲曲是唱南管曲調的「高甲戲」，台灣的歌仔戲班「鳳凰班」，到廈門演出後轉往馬來西亞及新加坡，一下子風靡了星馬地帶，場場爆滿，鳳凰班於是在新加坡連演了數年才凱旋歸國。