Purple Star Culture & Communication Co., Ltd.
Adapted from Cao Yu
Directed by Jin Xing
WHEN:
October 22, 2021, 19:30
October 23, 2021, 19:30
WHERE: Wuzhen Grand Theatre
Duration: 180 minutes (including one intermission)
Performed in Chinese, with English subtitles
Reviews
"The sun comes out and the darkness stays behind, but the sun does not belong to us. We are going to sleep." ……Jin Xing not only plays the contrasting roles of Chen Bailu and Cuixi in the play, but also brings new ideas to Cao Yu's classic work with rich artistic means, unique contemporary stage language, and deep understanding and control of the characters in the play.
– Wang Run, Beijing Daily
In Sunrise, Jin Xing is not only the leading actress, but also the director and playwright. "I am a stage person. When it comes to the stage, my eyes are bright." As for her reason for choosing to adapt Sunrise, Jin Xing said, "This is a story that all the Chinese people know. The key is how to present and express it. The charm of the stage is that the stage is a space for creators to express themselves and communicate with the audience."
– Shi Chenlu, Shanghai Observer
About Sunrise
Sunrise is the second play by Cao Yu, the greatest playwright of the modern Chinese theatre. This play was first published in 1936, and aroused heated discussion in the society of that time even before it opened on the stage. The writer Ba Jin once called it "the best harvest of the New Culture Movement." Since its debut in 1937, Sunrise has not lost its charm with the passage of time; the story of Sunrise still resonates with audiences.
Sunrise, in four acts—Dawn, Dusk, Midnight and Sunrise—describes powerful feelings, of love and hatred for real life, and of eager expectation of the red sun's rise in the east.
Credits
Original Play by Cao Yu
Director: Jin Xing
Cast:
Jin Xing as Chen Bailu, Cuixi
He Minghai as Fang Dasheng
Luo Xi as Pan Yueting
Liu Shuwen as The Little Girl
Liu Mu as George Zhang
Shi Yijie as Wang Fusheng
Zhou Mujie as Huang Xingsan
Zu Yongchen as Li Shiqing
Dai Ye as Mrs. Gu
Yang Zenghao as Hu Si
Li Songbai as Xiaoshunzi
Wang Jinxuan/Qie Yi as Hei San
Special Performance: Jin Xing Dance Theatre
Executive Director: Shi Yijun
Dramaturgy: Wu Min
Scenic Design: Wang Yu
Lighting Design: Wang Peng
Choreography: Wang Tao
Costume Design: Liu Jiaqian
Music Design: Wu Sida
Sound Design: Shi Ernuo
Style Design: Han Zhuoyan
Performance Manger: Yao Qi
Stage Manager: Li Yazhong
Stage Assistant/Props: Guan Honghui
Lighting Engineer: Li Hongrun
Sound Engineer: Liu Sha
Costume & Makeup Team: Sendi Modeling
Publicist: Wang Lan
Makeup Photography: Yassen Muhammad
Stage Photography: Yin Xuefeng
Scenic Production & Technology: Shanghai Shenfu Industrial Co., Ltd.
Lighting/Sound Equipment & Technology: Shanghai Jiexin Performing Arts Equipment Co., Ltd.
Presenter: Hans
General Production Executives: Lei Wen, Zhang Chaohui
General Producer: Zhou Bin
Co-productions: Purple Star Culture & Communication Co., Ltd.. Shanghai, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Poly Theatre Management Co., Ltd., Shanghai Fresh Vogur Culture Communication Co., Ltd.
About Cao Yu
Cao Yu, Playwright
Cao Yu (1910—96) is often regarded as China's most important playwright of the 20th century, who promoted the naturalistic form of modern Chinese "spoken theatre." His best-known works are Thunderstorm (1933), Sunrise (1936), Wilderness (1937) and Peking Man (1940), all pioneering works of the fledgling Chinese modern theatre, which showed influences from Ibsen and Chekhov. They received high popularity as works that portrayed the realities of modern social ills and the decay of the feudal way of Chinese life.
After the revolution, Cao Yu helped establish the Beijing People's Art Theatre in 1952, and became the Vice President of the Central Academy of Drama and the first Head of the Beijing Theatre Association. His works are often revived in new interpretations by theatre artists today.
About Jin Xing
In Jin Xing's first time directing a stage play, she surpasses herself and becomes the most anticipated "Chen Bailu." Jin Xing is famed in China as a modern dancer, with an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Dartington College of Arts, University of Plymouth, and an Honorary Doctorate of Dance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She is a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of the French Government. She is also host of The Jin Xing Show, her TV variety talk show, and the chief judge for a number of variety shows, such as Shine! Super Brothers, China’s Got Talent Season 6, The Greatest Dancer, So You Think You Can Dance, Super Diva, U Can U BB, and Super Speaker. Her plays include Duan Wan,Awkwardness, Ambiguousness, Sylvia, The Father, and more.
About Purple Star Culture & Communication Co., Ltd.
Purple Star is a privately owned Chinese cultural agency based in Shanghai. Its activities are centered around the performing arts with a special focus on contemporary dance. The company was established in 2005 by its founder and president, Ms. Jin Xing. Since 2006, Purple Star has organized and hosted the Shanghai Dance Festival, an umbrella organization for dance-related cultural activities in Shanghai. Purple Star continuously widens its range of activities. The company acts as the executive producer of new choreographic works for Chinese dance companies and music bands. In addition, Purple Star develops itself as a service provider for commercial projects with an expansive portfolio of tailormade solutions for the performing arts. Since its foundation in 2005, Purple Star has always fulfilled its core mission in all cultural and commercial activities: to successfully build a bridge between Chinese culture and other cultures with the purpose of fostering the exchange of global artists.