Learning the martial arts of Beijing Opera from Kay Choi Fun and Kay Yuk Kun, Ng Kwan Lai had to undergo daily training in the basic gestures and movements to be performed on stage. These included leg stretches – also with hips bent –, kicks, circular strides, splits, hip spins, falling movements, a variety of battle stances, walking elegantly with bound feet as well as riding gestures. Drills like this had to be practised every day if a presentable professional standard was to be maintained.

In 1955, Ng formed her own opera troupe, the Lai Sing Opera Troupe, and immediately made a name for herself in the premiere of How Leung Hung Yuk’s War Drum Caused the Jin Army to Retreat. Starring in the leading role of Leung Hung Yuk opposite Mak Bing Wing, she dazzled the audience with her martial arts – alternate swift spear and double sword play, pre-battle and battle stances, banner waves and army inspections as well as the sword dance of Concubine Yu. The troupe put on a total of sixteen performances at both the Ko Sing Theatre and Prince’s Theatre, all to full houses and rave reviews. It was this production that established Ng’s reputation for playing the principal female role.

It was through her presentation of the dou ma dan roles that Ng impressed audiences in her early career, but in her later performances she gained renown for her martial roles, in particular in Presenting a Sword at Hundred-Flower Pavilion with the Lai Sing Opera Troupe, The Story of Chu Pin’s Loyalty to the Sung Dynasty with the Chung Sun Sing Opera Troupe and the Sun Lai Sing Cantonese Opera Troupe’s A Tragic Story in the Palace.