Chinese operas perform. Photo provided to China Daily

Extra measures needed

"The lack of supplementary policies to facilitate the reforms, such as introducing measures to protect the interests of senior performers, has made it hard for them to survive in the market."

The private troupe in Beijing has boosted its profits by writing plays for clients, said Yao. This year, it will perform a modern Hebei Bangzi Opera play for Yanqing county in Beijing about the bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

"The 40-minute play will demonstrate the efforts taken to support the bid, such as curbing air pollution," said Yao, "It's a way to make our performances fit the times."

Some county troupes are also writing modern plays about current topics in an effort to attract larger audiences.

Cui, of the Pingshan troupe, said, "To some degree, it has alleviated our shortage of funds."

Before 2012, the county government allocated the troupe 120,000 yuan annually. It started to stage its modern play The White-haired Girl the following year, and went on to perform it at the Great Hall of the People.

"After that, the troupe got 700,000 yuan from the government, and the audience began to know about us," he said.

Jia said governments should provide special subsidies.

"Governments must play a bigger role to support local opera and help it to continue and prosper," he added.