Mitche Choi

Biography

Chuen Shan (born around 1991), originally named Choi Wai Shan, is a Hong Kong Cantonese opera actress who specializes in the sheng (male) role. Born into a wealthy family that ran a Japanese language school, she attended international schools and was more exposed to English and Chinese. At age 12, during a visit to an elderly home, she noticed the seniors enjoyed Cantonese opera and began learning it with her sister. Initially studying the dan (female) role, teachers soon found her voice, build, and features better suited for sheng roles. She became the first female student of renowned artisten Chuen Hin Sui in decades. She earned a BA in Linguistics from University College London (2013), a BA in Cantonese Opera from HKAPA (2017), and an MA in Arts and Cultural Enterprise from Central Saint Martins (2020). She co-founded two performance troupes and was elected to the council of the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong in 2023. A former dean of HKAPA's School of Chinese Opera praised her as a potential successor to legendary actress Yam Kim Fai in the "female male lead" tradition.