Details

Three traditional Peking Opera tales performed by Guizhou Peking Opera Theatre - The Monkey King, Farewell My Concubine and The Romance on the Rainbow Bridge.This triple bill of classic tales which follow the magical, mysterious and mischievious characters from ancient Chinese myth and folklore. The Monkey King is adapted from the classical Chinese novel ?Journey To The West' Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is creating havoc in the Heavenly Place with his mischievous tricks . He is captured and thrown into the Eight Trigram Furnace. Instead of cremation, his body is tempered by the flames and he emerges transformed and stronger than before. His eyes are now fiery with Golden Pupils. Sun Wukong breaks out of the furnace and fights his way out of the palace. The Jade Emperor, the ruler of the Celestial Realm, appeals to the Buddha for help. The Buddha leads his eighteen warrior-disciples against Sun Wukong. The climax of the story is a spectacular acrobatic battle. Farewell My Concubine tells the story of Xian Yu and Liu Ban - two kings competing for control of the Empire during the last years of the Qin Dynasty (221 to 207 B.C.E) After years of constant fighting Xian Yu is defeated by Liu Ban. Alone in his tent with his concubine Yu Ji, Xian Yu tries t drown his sorrows whilst Yu Ji attempts to cheer him by performing a Sword-Dance. Eventually Xian Yu commits suicide to preserve the last of his dignity. The Romance on the Rainbow Bridge tells the story of the romance between the celestial Lin Bo and the mortal prince Bai Yong. Together they must fight for the freedom to marry, facing opposition from Heaven itself.

Creatives/Company

Company: Guizhou Peking Opera Theatre