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Rare opportunity to see Peking Opera

CULTURAL TREAT: A scene from a play to be staged by the Peking Opera.

Thrissur: Staging of the Peking Opera will be one of the highlights of an Asian theatre festival to be held in Thrissur by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi from December 22 to 31.

“It will be a rare opportunity to watch this traditional form of Chinese theatre,” says J. Shailaja, director of the festival.

The Zhejiang Province Opera Troupe, known for its internationally-acclaimed productions such as ‘Red Lantern’, ‘Sha Jia Bang’ and ‘The Harbour’, will stage the opera under the direction of Weng Guosheng. The plays to be staged in Thrissur are ‘Lotus Lantern’ and ‘Monkey King’.

“The Akademi worked overtime to get the opera included in the festival,” says Akademi chairman Murali.

The opera combines music, mime, dance and acrobatics developed in eastern China’s Zhejiang province in the late 18th century. It was banned during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), but revived later.

Peking Opera was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court. It is regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China. Performers follow stylistic conventions and this helps viewers understand the plot.

A perfomer’s skill is judged on the basis of the beauty of his movements. The movements are symbolic and suggestive.

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