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The Westernization of Chinese Opera
Looking Back to the 100-year history, from formerly "new school drama"of "Spring Willow Drama Club" to the recent "avant-garde drama", from "civilized drama" of late Qing Dynasty and Early Republic of China to modern "large scale scenery play" , Chinese drama, as a unique art form, has experienced its own shake-up and vicissitudes, are displaying a great changes of China´s politics, economy and culture during this 100 years.
After 100-year vicissitudes, Chinese drama is keeping its strong vitality!
Video
Episode 1- Western Fever on the Stage
100 years ago, a drama club founded by Chinese students in Japan, performed two plays in Tokyo: The Lady of the Camellias and Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Episode 2 - Power of Springboard
February the 11th, 1907, was a cold day in Tokyo, Japan, with a highest temperature of 12 degrees. The auditorium of the Chinese Young Men’s Christian Association in Surugadai was crowded.
Episode 3 - Clamour and Commotion
On a gloomy, damp winter’s day in November 1907, the sound of drums and gongs could be heard coming from Yongxi Hall at Shanghai’s Zheshao Assembly Hall.
Episode 4- The New Word of Drama
In 1909, the 1st year of the reign of Emperor Xuantong, the Baihe River in Tianjin was busy as usual. The river was lined by foreign settlements. That year, two people were talk of Tianjin.
Episode 5 - The Nora Storm
In 1914, Minguo Road, built on top of city walls to the south of the Huangpu River in Shanghai, was becoming increasingly full of life.One day in April, something new appeared outside the abandoned Moudeli Theatre.
Episode 6- The Left-wing Trend
In Changsha County, Hunan Province, a light rain started at dawn. Playwright Tian Han, describing the weather "A mild breeze and fine rain".“Heaven is showing many ill omens, but I don’t believe in fate.”
Episode 7- Big-city Drama
On December the 5th, 1925, the temperature in Shanghai fell to minus 5, making it one of the coldest days many people could remember.Several days later, a Chinese man arrived in Shanghai from France
Episode 8- Drama in Wartime I
On July the 8th, 1937, Shanghai was in the midst of the hottest part of the year. After 8 am, the temperature rose relentlessly. By noon, the Oriental Hotel on Tibet Road was becoming noisy.
Episode 9- Drama in Wartime II
It was just before daybreak in Chongqing, on February the 5th, 1941.
At Hong Shen’s home in suburban Gele Hill, his daughter Hong Ling had just woken up.
Episode 10 - A New Era of Chinese Drama
On 1st October, 1949, the founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China was held in Tian’anmen Square. It also marked the beginning of a new era for Chinese drama.
Episode 11 - "Silence"
On September the 23rd, 1978, summer was almost over and the weather was cool in Shanghai. As dusk fell, the Shanghai Workers’ Culture Palace, at No. 120, Middle Tibet Road, came to life.
Episode 12 - Experiments on Stage
On January the 28th, 1990, which was lunar New Year’s Day, the Beijing Workers’ Gymnasium was filled with noise and excitement. The concert was called ‘Start Once More’.
