The 2016 Xiqu Black Box Festival

Date: Oct 20 – Dec 4

Address: No 64, Chaoshou Hutong, Xuanwumennei Street, Xicheng district, Beijing

A press conference and launching ceremony of the 2016 Xiqu Black Box Festival was held in the Fanxing Theater on Sept 28. Local artists and opera-goers are offering more than 70 performances of 19 plays from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as academic seminars, art exhibitions and activities during the two month-long festival. 

A group of 19 plays in the nine categories of Peking opera, Kunqu opera, Yueju opera, Cantonese opera, Tibetan opera, Liuzi opera, Pingju opera, children's drama and experimental drama are being staged in turn. Many are popular shows such as Wangzi (Net for Peking Opera), Wanju Xingqiu Qiyuji (The Adventures of Toy Star), Sanchakou 2016 (Dilemma:Three Way Fork in the Road 2016), and Tumi Huakai (The Manjusaka); the rest are all new plays.

Mr Cao Yu, a renowned Chinese playwright, once said that small theater is the birthplace of highly-cultivated drama culture and its audience. As drama has been one of the most influential art forms in the development of human civilization, the small theater plays an irreplaceable role in the development of drama and its cultural effects.

A poster of the 2016 Xiqu Black Box Festival. [Photo/morningpost.com.cn]

Commettee officials are having a round-table meeting with play representatives. [Photo/tencent.com]