Mapping China: Performing Arts - Theatre: Selected Companies and Individuals

Beijing People’s Art Theatre (BPAT): Founded in 1952 by China’s legendary playwright Cao Yu. Its three-theatre venue is housed in the center of Beijing not far from the Forbidden City. Theatre director Lin Zhaohua, known as the “father of experimental theatre in China,” was vice-president of BPAT from 1984-1998 and is still officially employed there.

http://www.bjry.com/bjry/jyjs/jyjsen/2286.shtml

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_People%27s_Art_Theatre

http://english.cntv.cn/2016/03/09/VIDEzAXs7vZ5cp7ED3Ea8oXq160309.shtml

http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/XGICJ

http://www.eif.co.uk/artist/beijing-peoples-art-theatre#.VvbSouJ96Yk

National Theatre Company of China: Founded in 2001 when the China National Youth Theatre and China National Experimental Theatre merged. New large venue in southern part of Beijing opened in 2013. Many of China’s best known directors operate independently under the umbrella of NTCC, including Meng Jinghui and Tian Qinxin. Recently completed collaboration with UK’s National Theatre on Chinese-language production of “War Horse.” http://www.ntcc.com.cn/

Meng Jinghui: Arguably the most influential and well-known director of China’s avant-garde stage and experimental theatre. Began his directing career in the early 1990s. His 1998 production of Italian Nobel laureate Dario Fo’s classic “The Accidental Death of an Anarchist” received critical acclaim. His involvement in the annual Beijing Fringe Festival has provided platforms for next-generation directors like Wang Chong to develop their work. He collaborated with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture to bring groups of young theatre and dance artists to the 2011 Avignon Off Festival in France.

In recognition of the popularity of his productions which tour to sold-out houses throughout China each year, the city of Beijing converted an old cinema, Fengchao Theater, into a venue dedicated to his productions which play nightly.

http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1526810/mainland-avant-garde-playwright-meng-jinghui-goes-mainstream

http://www.beijingscene.com/V05I017/feature/feature.htm

http://www.fengchaojuchang.com/

Lin Zhaohua: Renowned for his pioneering experimental work in spoken drama. He was vice president of Beijing People’s Art Theatre (BPAT) from 1984-1998, and a leading figure in the “exploration” theatre movements in the 1980s, introducing a variety of non-representational and non-narrative styles and techniques in defiance of socialist realism. Lin’s experimental productions of Gao Xingjian’s Absolute Signal, Bus Stop, and Wild Man as well as of Jin Yun’s Uncle Doggie’s Nirvana earned him national acclaim. Lin’s production of Absolute Signal was staged in a small rehearsal room at BPAT in 1982 and is credited for initiating the “Little Theatre” movement of the post-Mao era. In 1989, Lin established one of the earliest independent theatre groups, popularly called ‘Lin Zhaohua Studio.’ In 2009 he launched his annual “Lin Zhaohua Theatre Arts Festival.

http://contemporary_chinese_culture.academic.ru/445/Lin_Zhaohua

Tian Qinxin: One of the youngest directors when she entered the National Theatre Company of China. One of the only renowned female directors in China. Her training included gymnastics from a young age and her productions are often noted for their physicality, in contrast to other theatre directors in China. 2016-18 Invited Artistic Director of the Wuzhen International Theatre Festival. Her productions have toured internationally, including to the Kennedy Center International Theatre Festival in 2014.

http://www.womenofchina.cn/womenofchina/html1/people/artists/17/2674-1.htm

http://contemporary_chinese_culture.academic.ru/772/Tian_Qinxin

Liao Yimei: One of China’s leading playwrights. The playwright behind most of Meng Jinghui’s most renowned works, including Rhinoceros in Love.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p028sp8n/p028srng

http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsY/yimei-liao.html

Paper Tiger Studio: Founded in the early 2000s by theatre maker Tian Gebin and collaborators. Create multi-media, cross-disciplinary theatre projects, as well as host workshops and other creative programs. Have collaborated internationally on such projects as “Totally Happy” with Münchner Kammerspiele. http://papertigertheater.weebly.com/about.html

http://www.china-art-management.com/blog/beijing-paper-tiger-theater-studio/

Wang Chong and Théâtre du Rêve Expérimental: Arguably the most interesting and intelligent next-generation avant garde theatre director in China. http://hanenaka.wix.com/theatre-du-reve

San Tuo Qi: Young experimental theatre company combining traditional mask and physical techniques for text-less physical theatre performances.

https://www.facebook.com/Santuoqi-1451176685113939/

http://santuoqi.com/

Liu Zheng: Dancer, choreographer, director. Received his first training in the military dance troupes (traditional Chinese dance) between 2000 and 2005. In 2006 he started his solo career and continued training in modern dance, working with some of the major modern dance companies in China including Beijing Modern Dance Company. Since 2008 he has focused on his theater career, directing and performing in cross-disciplinary dance and dance-theatre productions. Like most young artists in China, he does not yet resources for a website but instead uses an official Wechat account to post information about his performances and productions.
Post one and two about his 2015 production “Night Shift” include:

Grass Stage: Founded in 2005 in Shanghai by theatre director Zhao Chuan. Focused on theatre works that address social issues. Invite non-professionals to participate. In addition to traditional theatre venues, also perform in galleries and other non-traditional public spaces.  https://site.douban.com/126517/

Examples of “World Factory”, one of their more representative political works.

http://v.qq.com/vplus/5820e952f580410367d5bd9617482a49/foldervideos/twk00000166tzk3

Beijing Improv Troupe: Growing interest in alternative theatre training techniques not taught in the Academies, including improvisation, has given rise to collectives like this one. Set up by a mix of professionals and amateurs, these groups meet weekly to practice theatre improvisation games and to give performances for the public. Bilingual English-Chinese. Now starting to organize festivals. http://www.beijingimprov.org/

Central Academy of Drama: Established in 1950, the Central Academy of Drama includes departments in acting, directing, drama literature, stage design, film and television, and arts management. The Vocational School of Film and Television Arts is a subsidiary school of CAD. The Center of International Cultural Exchange is responsible for organizing CAD’s international exchange programs and supervising overseas students programs. CAD has three venues: CAD Experimental Theatre (700 seats); CAD North Theatre (approx. 400 seats); and CAD black box theatre (200 seats). The school is typically referred to by its abbreviation, zhong xi, literally “central drama.” Many famous Chinese actors and directors graduated from CAD, including Zhang Ziyi, Jiang Wen, and Gong Li. http://www.chntheatre.edu.cn and http://www.zhongxi.cn

Beijing Film Academy: Established in 1950. Soon after it added its performing arts program, which, second to the Central Academy of Drama, is considered one of China’s most prestigious institutes for training actors. It offers associate, bachelor and masters degrees. It also has an international program taught in English.

http://www.bfa.edu.cn/eng/EIndex.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Film_Academy

Beijing Film Academy International Program: http://www.bfa-international.com/

Shanghai International Children’s Culture and Art Festival:

http://www.cwi.org.cn/en/etwhyjs/index.aspx

http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/shanghai/node27118/node27386/n32302/n32312/u22ai77439.html

China (Quanzhou) International Puppetry Festival: Founded in 2012 under the Ministry of Culture as well as the government of Fujian Province.

http://www.apac-unima.com/en/hddt/201508/52.html

http://www.chinadailyasia.com/lifeandart/2015-11/17/content_15345557.html

http://english.gov.cn/news/video/2015/11/12/content_281475233486437.htm