The 12th China-ASEAN (Nanning) Theater Week kicked off in Nanning, Guangxi on October 28. The Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe made a stunning appearance with their classic play “The Flooding of Jinshan Temple” as the opening act, which directly ignited the enthusiasm of the present audience.

As one of the important supporting activities of the third China-ASEAN (Nanning) Cultural Month, the theater week brought together outstanding theater troupes and artists from China and ASEAN countries. 11 art groups from 8 ASEAN countries including Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore, as well as 29 outstanding theater troupes from 13 provinces in China, gathered in Nanning to showcase the diverse charm and contemporary styles of the theatrical art.

At the opening ceremony, the Hunan Kunqu opera actors immediately grabbed the attention of audience with their graceful singing and movements, showcasing the profound heritage of Kunqu opera.

This well-known “The Flooding of Jinshan Temple” tells the story of Bai Suzhen joining hands with Xiao Qing to launch an army of aquatic creatures and engage in a confrontation with Fa Hai in order to save Xu Xian. Under the interpretation of Hunan Kunqu Opera, it is more than a story, but a stunning audio-visual feast.

Liu Jie, a first-class actress who plays Bai Suzhen and the deputy director of Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe, revealed that this performance is not simple: “We have completely changed some traditional ways, and adpoted technological ways like sound, light and electricity to create such a play. Especially as Chenzhou is currently building a world tourist destination, Kunqu Opera, as a world intangible cultural heritage project, is undoubtedly a cultural business card. I think as Kunqu opera artists, we have the responsibility to make it more well-known.”

This performance is not only a visual and auditory feast, but also a cultural exchange. Dramatists and audiences from ASEAN countries are deeply attracted by the unique charm of Hunan Kunqu Opera.

A performer of the Vietnamese Liyu Theatre Company exclaimed, “It's rare to see such wonderful plays in Vietnam. Especially the martial arts and music are so impressive.”

Veravati Chearlius, a visitor from Indonesia, said, “We have heard the story of the Legend of the White Snake in Indonesia, but there are no such details. Today, we witnessed Bai Suzhen flooding the temple for love, and truly felt the power of this story. It turns out that Kunqu Opera can portray a legend so vividly, and martial arts can be so elegant and powerful.”

Zhou Siyu, a local visitor from Guangxi, also expressed her amazement: “The Hunan Kunqu Opera tonight really took my breath away! It's not just a wonderful performance, but also serves as a window that allows me to feel the blend and growth of Chinese traditional culture here. I'm particularly touched and proud!”

Chinese source: hunantoday