Cao Zhen

    caozhen0806@126.com

    A STUDY and production base for Kunqu opera, one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera, has been set up at Nanshan Culture and Sports Center in Shenzhen to promote the centuries-old art among locals.

    The base is operated by Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theater from Jiangsu Province and Juooo, a Shenzhen-based performance and ticketing company, to produce Kunqu opera performance and cultivate young artists. Performance workshops will also be occasionally hosted for the public to showcase the beauty of the art.

    Kunqu opera evolved around Kunshan City, East China’s Jiangsu Province, and dominated Chinese theater from the 16th to 18th centuries. Kunqu has influenced many other Chinese theater forms, but by the early 20th century, it had nearly disappeared as Beijing opera grew in popularity. Kunqu was listed as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001.

    There are many Kunqu operas that are well-known today, including “The Peony Pavilion” and “The Peach Blossom Fan,” which were originally written for the Kunqu stage in the 16-17th centuries. In 2004, Taiwanese author Pai Hsien-yung cooperated with Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theater to produce “The Peony Pavilion” to rejuvenate the tradition, hoping that his rendition would attract young people to Kunqu.

    “Since we produced the new version of ‘Peony Pavilion’ in 2004, we have performed it 260 times around the world. We have seen an increase in appreciation of Kunqu and modern audience members have developed an understanding of the traditional art form,” said Zou Jianliang, vice head of Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theater, at the opening ceremony of the base last week.

    “‘The Peony Pavilion’ has been staged in Shenzhen many times during the past 10 years, provoking a fad among the old and young. Kunqu opera’s growing popularity among locals supports the idea that tradition cannot live without an occasional injection of new life. So I believe setting up a Kunqu study and production base in Shenzhen could help expand Kunqu’s realm of influence from eastern China to southern China,” said Pang Liangzhi, Juooo’s theater management chairperson.

    Gao Dawei, vice head of the culture and art division of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, says the popularity of Beijing opera is a good example of why bringing Kunqu opera to Shenzhen can help the art flourish. He said Beijing opera was born when the “Four Great Anhui Troupes” brought Anhui opera in 1790 to Beijing for the 80th birthday of Emperor Qianlong. It was originally staged for the court and only performed for the public later. In 1828, several famous Hubei troupes arrived in Beijing and performed jointly with Anhui troupes. The combination gradually led to the development of Beijing opera.

    “Culture flows with people. The launch of a Kunqu base in Shenzhen will help the tradition meld with modern life. Kunshan art could become an inseparable part of Shenzhen life,” Gao added.