Slide

Coriolanus and Du Liniang
寇流蘭與杜麗娘

寇流蘭與杜麗娘

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William Shakespeare-Tang Xianzu 400 Year Commemoration

2015 was an important year for UK-China relations as it saw the launch of the first UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange. It provided an opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and build new links between individuals and organisations in the arts and creative industries as well as between governments.

When visiting the UK in October 2015, the Chinese President Xi Jinping reminded a packed London audience of a playwright, Tang Xianzu, whom he called Shakespeare’s Chinese counterpart.

Separated by 5,000 miles, Tang and Shakespeare lived and worked in the same century writing some of the greatest plays for their respective audiences.

In 1616 the two playwrights died, leaving behind an incredible body of work for future generations to enjoy. The President noted that as 2016 will mark the 400th year anniversary of their deaths, our two countries should work together to make it a year in which the playwrights’ lives and legacies are celebrated. The significance of this year has provided us with the perfect opportunity to continue the memorable work of the UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange.

This year in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Edinburgh as part of the William Shakespeare-Tang Xianzu 400 Year Commemoration, a diverse range of professional and student companies will perform the playwrights’ works in different theatrical forms.

 

Coriolanus and Du Liniang

One of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays is the tragedy Coriolanus. The story of a Roman general who runs a campaign for political office but is later banished by his own people. Enraged by this, Coriolanus decides to switch sides and joins the enemies of Rome. In the final moments of the play, he chooses to save his former city from destruction rather than watch it burn – a decision which ultimately costs him his life.

Du Liniang is the central character of Tang Xianzu’s play: The Peony Pavilion. She is the daughter of an important Chinese official, who one day falls asleep in her garden and dreams that she encounters a handsome scholar. Upon awakening, Du Liniang discovers that the love of her life was no more than a figment of her dream. She grows lovesick until she dies of a broken heart. Years later, a scholar by the name of Liu Mengmei travels to the temple where Du Liniang’s spirit rests. When he pays his respects to the beautiful girl’s portrait, it becomes apparent that he was the man in her dreams and miraculously her spirit is resurrected to be with her love once more.

If Coriolanus’ death means finality, then Du Liniang’s means immortality.

Separated by numerous rivers and mountains and 400 years on from both playwrights’ deaths, these two characters will meet on stage through a “dream” in the form of this Yue opera. The story will focus on the nature of life and death.

China’s most well-known performing artist of Yue opera and head of the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe, Mao Weitao, portrays both Coriolanus and Liu Mengmei.

 

 

 

紀念莎士比亞與湯顯祖逝世四百周年

2015年是中英兩國文化關系史上具有裏程碑意義的一年。這一年是中英兩國間首個文化交流年,在此框架下一系列高水平的文化和創意活動在兩國集中展示。這為兩國政府和人民、文化創意產業相關企業和組織,鞏固並加強現有聯系,建立新的交流與合作,提供了絕佳的機會。

2015年十月,習近平主席在訪英期間向英國觀眾介紹了一位著名的中國劇作家——湯顯祖,他被人們稱為是中國的莎士比亞。莎士比亞和湯顯祖,這兩位同時代的劇作家,分處東西半球,相隔5000公裏,為各自的觀眾寫下了不朽的戲劇作品。公元1616年,兩位劇作家相繼去世,留下大量作品傳世。習近平主席提議中英兩國在2016年莎士比亞與湯顯祖逝世四百周年之際共同紀念這兩位文學巨匠,將他們的遺產發揚光大。並以此為契機,鞏固中英兩國在文化交流年中取得的不菲成績。作為莎士比亞與湯顯祖逝世四百周年紀念的一部分,一系列專業劇團和學生團體將在倫敦、斯特拉福和愛丁堡以各種戲劇形式演出他們的作品,享譽盛名的浙江小百花越劇團將於7月23日與24日攜新作《寇流蘭與杜麗娘》登上倫敦孔雀劇場,為這一系列紀念演出活動拉開序幕。

寇流蘭與杜麗娘

《大將軍寇流蘭》是莎士比亞著名悲劇之一。戰功赫赫的羅馬將軍寇流蘭在競選執政官之時因不容於人民而被放逐。他在一怒之下投向敵方,卻不忍見家國破碎,最終重歸故營,慘遭殺害。

杜麗娘是湯顯祖名作《牡丹亭》的女主人公,是一個書香世宦之家的千金小姐。一日她興起遊園,誰知竟在園中睡著,夢遇一名年輕書生,與之相愛。夢醒之後尋夢中所愛而不得,竟至一病不起,郁郁而終。經年之後,書生柳夢梅赴京趕考,借宿道觀,拾得一美人畫像。原來此處正是杜麗娘魂安之所,畫中美人乃是其遺像,而柳夢梅恰是她夢中所遇的書生。杜麗娘重逢愛人,情深之至以致起死回生,二人終成眷屬。

若說寇流蘭之死意味著終結,那杜麗娘之死則意味著永生。

這兩個相隔千山萬水,距今悠悠百年的人物將在越劇舞臺上通過“夢境”相遇,一同探討生與死的意義。
中國最負盛名的越劇表演藝術家、浙江小百花越劇團團長茅威濤,將在此劇中一人分飾兩角,扮演寇流蘭與柳夢梅。更令人期待的是,這一中西文化在越劇舞臺上的戲劇化演繹將全部由女性演員完成。風華正茂訓練有素的演員在舞臺上演繹不同的角色,或是曼妙婉約,或是飄逸俊秀,將傳統中國文化的謙謙君子與窈窕佳人,同赫赫戰功英姿颯爽的戎馬大將以越劇特有的腔調,首次在英倫舞臺上淋漓展現。

浙江小百花越劇團
“小百花”,中國著名專業女子越劇表演團體,作為一個歷經三十余年提煉的文化品牌,在海內外演藝界享有盛名。浙江小百花越劇團前身為1982年組建的“浙江省越劇赴港演出團”,建團至今,以全女團演繹海內外名作改編、原創作品為特色,建立將中國古典音樂與西方輕歌劇兼容並蓄的音樂體系,以現代又古意盎然的舞臺美術,華麗飄逸的服飾與高雅素樸的任務造型,受到海內外觀眾的熱情追捧,同時也獲得業界學者和評論家的一致首肯,在當代中國享有獨一無二的文化地位。
在藝術創新的影響力之外,“小百花”也為當代戲劇界的演出模式、人才培養、企劃營銷樹立了行業標桿。《人民日報》曾盛譽“小百花”為中國地方戲劇的一塊瑰寶,更是國家戲劇院團的一面旗幟。而“小百花”在國內外演出市場的活躍度和影響力證明了其實至名歸的實力,被媒體譽為“中國越劇界的北京人藝”,“美麗民間外交家”。

寇流蘭與杜麗娘

演出信息
寇流蘭與杜麗娘
浙江小百花越劇團
演出地點:倫敦孔雀劇場
地址:Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, London, WC2A 2HT
演出時間:19.00pm—22.30pm, 7月23日星期六與7月24日星期天
http://www.coriolanusandduliniang.com/
票價:£10.00-36.00
訂票信息: https://secure.sadlerswells.com/production/44828

越劇交流研討會
莎湯邂逅:戲劇文化的軸心時代
時間:7月25日,17:30開始
地點:China Exchange – 32A Gerrard Street, London, W1D 6JA

越劇電影放映信息
梁山伯與祝英臺(浙江小百花越劇團)
時間:7月26日,18:00開始
地點:Lecture Theatre 2, New Hunts House, Guys Campus King’s College, London SE1 1UL

                   

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