The Smiling, Proud Wanderer

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The production showcases various traditional xiqu styles, including Jingju (Peking opera) Kunqu (Kun opera) and Naamyam, accentuating the four major elements, namely singing, recital, action, and martial arts, ushering in a new way of presenting Chinese traditional performing arts. The repertoire includes Read Sing The Smiling, Proud Wanderer performed by the naamyam artist Yeung Kin-ping, who will tell wuxia stories of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer in naamyam also known as “narrative songs” using the “storyteller” approach of Cantonese opera; Dongfang Bubai starring Kong Aiping, National Class One Performer of the PRC, who plays sheng (male) then, for the very first time, metamorphose into dan (female) on stage; Nine Swords of Dugu, written and directed by Zhou Long, a renowned Xiqu/theatre artist, featuring Linghu Chong, played by a young performer Ren Jia-le, who was disciplined for making acquaintances with the evil schools and later met

Feng Qingyang, a senior at Mount Hua School who taught Linghu the all-powerful swordplay; Linghu Chong: Flee by Night, personally directed by Ke Jun, a National Class One Performer of China in wusheng (martial arts), starring his pupil Yang Yang. Weeks of performances will culminate in the most emblematic The Song of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, directed by Kong Aiping, bringing the retired pair, Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying played by emerging artists Song Bo-fan and He Xin-yue, back from their recluse and the tempest from Jianghu to the theatre.

Local artists paired with a xiqu artist will guide you through an excerpted performance of Nine Swords of Dugu in Cantonese, presenting Xiqu 101 – introducing typical gestures and techniques in Chinese opera, namely, singing, recital, action, and martial arts. Brimming with the beauty of traditional performing arts, it invites all to relish Xiqu, delve into the literary world of Jin Yong, and experience Chinese culture and Arts Tech in the theatre!