Executive directors
Life in the Theatre (Opera Warriors) is an exquisite observation of Chinese culture and a new interpretation of classics. The plot is based on the story of three actors in the line of warriors in the Peking Opera; it tells about their lives and deaths, their love and hatred, and about their rivalry and striving for the kingdom of beauty on the stage. The production group attempted to express the spirit of the Chinese opera art and the quintessence of Chinese culture.
The action is taking place in the early 20th century in the North China where three students of one Master play main male roles in an opera company. However, the fate drives them apart: the first one gets wounded defending his junior apprentice; the second was overtaken by a love disaster. The third one, the youngest, had to undergo many deprivations and difficulties but found the true way and succeeded with great determination and insistence. He had created an absolutely new school of actor’s performance: a bright and powerful “School of the King of Monkeys;” now the broad and deep substance of the Peking Opera shines with a greater than ever brilliance. This performance tells about the life as a drama, full of ups and downs, about the changeful world where a loss can unexpectedly turn into an acquisition; about love, friendship, will and the way to the glamorous future.
Six Chinese ministries called the Life in the Theatre performance “the major national cultural touring project in 2011-2012”; it has also been included in the list of the “National Stage Masterpieces”. In October 2013, the performance triumphed with the Wenhua Award; it had received the Grand Prix and awards for choreography, stage design (including light and costumes), and music.