Xiqu Centre presented “Experimental Chinese Opera Festival 2020” – Blending Tradition and Innovation, Converging Opera Styles across Regions
The Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District presented Experimental Chinese Opera Festival 2020 from 10 October to 15 November 2020, highlighting original productions and new perspectives on the possibilities of Chinese opera. The festival showcased two award-winning productions which blended traditional Cantonese opera techniques with contemporary stage design, and a specially curated series of Creative Sharing Sessions to encourage local and overseas creators, performers and audiences to exchange ideas online.
The two award-winning Xiqu Centre experimental Cantonese opera productions are Wenguang Explores the Valley and Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation). Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation) has received rave reviews for performances in Mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore. The production was recognised with the Best Experimental Xiqu Award at the China (Beijing) Performing Arts Expo 2018, and the Honorary Credential awards at the 2018 and 2019 Xiqu Opera Black Box Festival (Beijing). Wenguang Explores the Valley was honoured with Best Play and Best Actor in the Contemporary Small Theatre – Xiqu category at the 2019 Beijing New Arts and Culture Outstanding Theatre Showcase series and had its Hong Kong premiere in Xiqu Centre in October 2020. Thanks to popular demand, the production will rerun in The Box of Freespace in January 2021.
The festival also offered a series of Creative Sharing Sessions featuring representatives of troupes in Mainland China and Taiwan, including Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, Shanghai Yue Opera House, Jin Liansheng Gaojia Opera Troupe of Xiamen City, and Contemporary Legend Theatre and Hsing Legend Youth Theatre. Each conversation explored different aspects of experimental Chinese opera and offered insight into some of the different genres’ creative productions. Creators and performers participated in sessions via live streaming, sharing creatives choices and performance styles. The sessions presented video excerpts from highlighted works and offered audiences the chance to exchange questions and ideas with the artists and experts.
Naomi Chung, Head of Xiqu, Performing Arts of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA), said, ‘The vision of the Experimental Chinese Opera Festival is to preserve tradition, foster creativity and extend the reach of a heritage art form. Through this brand-new platform, we aim to encourage discussion amongst practitioners and engage new audiences. We hope audiences will get a taste of experimental productions across different regions created and performed by young artists.’
Photo credit: West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
Photo credit: West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
Photo credit: West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
Photo credit: West Kowloon Cultural District Authority