Liyuan Opera “Zhu Wen” (The Only Extant Version)
09.09.2017
- Liyuan Opera “Zhu Wen” (The Only Extant Version)
- Liyuan Opera “Zhu Wen” (The Only Extant Version)
- Liyuan Opera “Zhu Wen” (The Only Extant Version)
- Liyuan Opera “Zhu Wen” (The Only Extant Version)
- Liyuan Opera “Zhu Wen” (The Only Extant Version)
- Liyuan Opera “Zhu Wen” (The Only Extant Version)
Produced by the Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian
Synopsis
Travelling in search of a relative, scholar Zhu Wen takes a room at an inn. During the night, a young woman comes to his room and refuses to leave. Calling herself Yi Li Jin (A Grain of Gold), she tells Zhu that she is the daughter of the innkeeper and presents him with an embroidered purse full of coins as a pledge that they will become husband and wife. The next day, when Zhu Wen takes out the purse to pay for a meal, the innkeeper and his wife recognise it as the one they had placed in their deceased daughter’s grave.
The archaic language of this script, the only extant version passed down from the Song and Yuan dynasties, illustrates how Liyuan opera has preserved the qualities of its ancient origins.
Actor |
Character |
Zhu wen |
|
Yi Lijin |
|
Lin Fufu |
Wang Xingshou |
Wu Youqing |
Wang’s wife |
Programme Details
Date:
9 September 2017 (Saturday)
Time:
7:45pm
Venue:
HKRep Black Box
Ticket price:
$180
Half price for people with disabilities and the accompany minders and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients
10% discount for HKRep Pals
Tickets available at URBTIX now
Online booking:
www.urbtix.hk
Telephone credit card booking:
2111 5999
With Chinese and English surtitles
Cast
Zhang Chunji
Zhang Chunji, currently the Associate Director of the Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian, is a National Class Two Performer who specialises in
sheng
(male) roles and was trained under Yao Suqin and Wu Mingsen. His repertoire includes
Chen San, Zhu Wen, Li Yaxian
,
Guo Hua, Jiang Shilong
and
A Widow’s Lament
. Zhang is the winner of a number of awards, including the Outstanding Performer Award at the Theatre Showcase of Fujian Province, the Silver Award at the Young to Middle-aged Performers’ Competition of Fujian Province, and various other prizes in provincial theatre showcases.
Zheng Yasi
Zheng Yasi, currently the Associate Director of the Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian, is a National Class Two Performer who specialises in
tie
(young female) roles and was trained under Zeng Jingping. Her repertoire includes
Chen San, Zhu Wen, Guo Hua
and
The Scholar and the Widow
. Zheng is the winner of a number of awards, including a Gold Award at the Narcissus Awards of Fujian Province, and various recognitions at the Young to Middle-aged Performers’ Competition of Fujian Province.
Company Director,
Experimental Theatre of
Liyuan Opera
of Fujian
Zeng Jingping
Zheng Jingping specialises in
dan
(female) roles. She received training on the Liyuan Course at the Fujian Arts School and the Advanced Directing Studies Course at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. She is currently the Company Director of the Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian; a National Class One Performer; Vice Chairman of the Fujian Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Fujian Dramatists’ Association; a National Bearer of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Liyuan Opera in China; deputy to the 10th, 11th and 12th National People’s Congress; National Model Worker; an Outstanding Expert in the ‘Four Groups Talent’ Project under the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; an Outstanding Expert of the Ministry of Culture; an Advanced Cultural Worker in the Cultural System under the Ministry of Culture; and holder of the accolade ‘Artist of Integrity and Artistic Excellence’ presented by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.
Zeng has received a number of major awards, including the Wenhua Award for Performance at the Government Awards for Culture and the Arts; the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre (twice); the Shanghai Magnolia Award for Theatre and the Performing Arts – Lead Actor; and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Award for Transmission of Heritage presented by the Ministry of Culture. She was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons and Ten Outstanding Women, and was recognised with the Culture Icon Award of Fujian, and as the Best Female Performer in the first Narcissus Awards.
The Scholar and the Widow
, a new original play in the Liyuan Opera repertoire that features Zeng as lead actor, was named one of the Ten National Fine Stage Arts Projects for the season 2003–2004. Another Liyuan Opera production featuring Zeng as lead actor and stage director,
A Widow’s Lament
, was shortlisted in the first round of selection for the National Fine Stage Arts Projects. The Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian has been selected as a key troupe for the creation and staging of regional opera in China. Over the forty years of her career, Zeng has preserved, passed on and created a number of well-known Liyuan Opera productions, including
Chen San and Wuniang
,
Zhu Wen
,
Lu Mengzheng
,
Zhu Maichen,
The Scholar and the Widow
,
A Widow’s Lament,
The Prison Guard and the Woman Gangster
and
The Pavilion of the Imperial Monument
. She has led the troupe on overseas tours to over thirty countries and regions, including France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Singapore and Japan. Zeng has also passed on her skills and knowledge, training two batches of around one hundred budding artists in the arts of the Liyuan Opera and related fields in 1997 and 2007.
Zeng is renowned for her performances in traditional Liyuan Opera productions such as
Chen San, Zhu Wen, Lu Mengzheng, Zhu Bian
,
Guo Hua
and
Zhu Maichen
, as well as in the new original plays
A Widow’s Lament
,
The Prison Guard and the Woman Gangster
and
The Pavilion of the Imperial Monument
.
Production Team
Script: Manuscript fragment of Qing Dynasty
Company Director/ Successor: Zeng Jingping
Lighting Designer: Su Zhiqiang
Sound Designer: Chi Duguan
Stage Manager: Chen Junjun, Lin Dongdong
Set Production: Shu Hualai
Props Production: Chen Huanhusang
Wardrobe Mistress: Zhang Wanling
Makeup: Guo Pingping
Surtitles: Chen Zhihui
Marketing and Administration: Chen Junjun, Zeng Long
String and Percussion Ensemble
Percussion Leader: You Yubin
Percussion: Zhao Yihui
Erhu: Ren Zhanhong
Sanxian: Wu Yingying
Erxian: Huang Yufeng
Suona: Xu Peikun
Nanpa: Li Zhen
Xiao and Dizi: Li Zhihuang
Vocal Accompaniment: Zeng Yukun, Zhang Ni