Zhong Zhenzhen, who has been the director of performing arts (Xiqu) and producer of the West Kowloon Cultural District since 2011, has witnessed the re-entry of Cantonese opera into young audiences for just ten years, and successfully organized and produced two small theater plays. Beijing successively won awards and toured everywhere.
She is constantly trying to innovate the image of Cantonese opera. From Shiwan to Cantonese opera, she discovered that the behind-the-scenes staff were unemployed during social movements and the epidemic. She humbled her hope that every staff member in the Cantonese opera circle would "get home with food," and emphasized " Try to eliminate all difficulties as much as possible to make things happen, and don’t give up if you are unhappy, 𠵱 is my responsibility first.”
Zhong Zhenzhen (right) loves food, talks and laughs, and plays with actors again.
(Photo by Lin Langtian)
In and out of the theater, favorite food and play
"When I was a teenager, I went to Xinguang Theater (Hebei Bangzi Opera National Treasure) with my classmates in school uniforms to watch Pei Yanling play Zhong Kui. At that time, the six mosquito fried ghosts at the entrance of the theater were very big. You can watch and eat all the way." Chung Zhenzhen, born in Hong Kong, has Malaysian family members. She does not come from an opera family, but the origin of Cantonese opera is related to food and play.
"The seniors at home like to watch the (New Territories) studio theater. I didn’t know how to watch the theater alone. It’s like temple fairs where there is food, purchases, and pot choi. The purpose of my visit is not to watch the theater but to play. There are so many dramas, so Cantonese opera continues to circulate in my mind every day."
She became acquainted with many famous Cantonese opera actors since she was a child. Luo Jiaying was introduced to her by her elders when she was in her teens, and her singing and opera teacher was also recommended by Luo. , Has no direct relationship with traditional Cantonese opera.
"At that time, someone asked me if I was interested in singing or not. The people in the housing company told me that I had to read books... (I returned to Hong Kong after graduating). I have worked in the Chinese Orchestra, Ballet and Film Festival. I started with the Xiqu Center first, otherwise I might not get in touch with 𠵱-like.”
Today, Cantonese opera can be updated like an app, so it’s changeable first. As for the 𠵱 family, they are also engaged in small theaters and tea houses. In fact, change the form and taste it. I hope you will not be happy. Surprised, I hope you know that our (Cantonese opera) is so modern, not through the ancient times, it makes everyone comfortable.
Director of Performing Arts (Xiqu) and Producer of West Kowloon Cultural District Zhong Zhenzhen
Organize different types of Cantonese opera to make it easier for the audience
In October 2011, she was invited to join the West Kowloon Cultural District. At that time, her job title was Performing Arts Manager (Programme and Education). There were only a few colleagues. She was composed of ideas, program planning, preparation, inviting mainland performing groups to perform in Hong Kong, and promotion and promotion. She had to do it herself, and she began to plan for performances beyond the framework of Cantonese opera. The teahouse theater of the West Kowloon Theatre, the newly-edited Nanyin and selected excerpts for performances, and the Cantonese opera "Farewell My Concubine", a small theater that has toured in Xingtai and across the country in recent years. And "Exploring the Valley of Literature and Art", and even the organizer invited school students to the Xiqu Center to watch performances and learn operas. She tried different changes to open up new audiences with an easier-to-access model. It is also an old stereotype that the outside world regards Cantonese opera. Rehabilitation "Cantonese opera can be updated as if the App is constantly being updated, so it is changeable first. As for the 𠵱 family who also engages in small theaters and teahouses, in fact, change the form, you taste it, I hope you don’t It’s so shocking. I hope you know that our (Cantonese opera) is so modern. It doesn’t travel through ancient times. It makes everyone comfortable.”
Although removing the external framework of Cantonese opera and trying to present it to the audience with a new look, Zhenzhen emphasized that it does not mean that the essence of Cantonese opera has disappeared.
"Suppose you ask me what is the difference between the barbecued pork buns in the 1960s and 1970s and the char siu buns of the 𠵱 family? The barbecued pork buns used to be the same size, but has the shape changed? Has the filling changed? In fact, it may be really the same. Snow Mountain Barbecued Pork Buns, Pineapple Barbecued Pork Buns, but you still think it’s the char siu buns. It hasn’t changed in the middle. The changes are only related to the times and the environment (go).” A small theater that she has partly organized. The new Cantonese opera "Farewell My Concubine" and the enhanced stage lighting special effects "Wenguang Exploring Valley" successively won awards such as the best small theater opera, best actor and best opera in Beijing, proving the success of Cantonese opera's transformation.
The crew without food touches the deepest part: 𠵱I always remember
Looking back over the past ten years, the Xiqu Center has developed from a large and ruined piece of land into a large-scale Cantonese opera landmark.
In the social movement in 2019 and the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia last year, Zhenzhen has repeatedly faced the postponement of performances or the suspension of performances, especially the ten performances of Farewell My Concubine the year before. Due to the fact that foreign teams could not come to Hong Kong, two of them were almost required. postpone.
"I walked through the corridor one day, and heard that there were two'suitcases', that is, a costume designer from the theater. Two of them said, "Oh, there is no food available this month, so what's the food for West Kowloon!" "
"Suddenly, I was very touched. It turned out to be nothing to do with Gu's meticulousness, that is, I didn't do enough...no, I will do ten games, at least I have to accept the food, 𠵱 I always remember Zhenzhen, who always loves to laugh and talk, was silent for dozens of seconds and was unable to speak for a long time.
I am not one of my own, the tea house is a team, and the small theater is another team. As a leader, I must be responsible to him.
Director of Performing Arts (Xiqu) and Producer of West Kowloon Cultural District Zhong Zhenzhen
Reopened after the epidemic
The more difficult it is, the more we have to find a way to deal with it. For the ten performances the year before, she deployed part of the performance and added an additional 9:30 to complete the evening. During the repeated suspension of the epidemic since last year, she arranged for everyone to rehearse in the museum, claiming that the performance would not be suspended. Stop training and try to make everyone feel at ease. When the Tea House Theater reopened in March this year, the two plays of the small theater will be performed again in recent months, finally ushering in the dawn.
"Try to eliminate all difficulties and make things happen, and don’t give up if you are unhappy. This is my responsibility first. I am not my own, the teahouse is a team, and the small theater is a team. Leadership Responsible to him."
She mentioned Liming, who played the leading role in the movie "Mei Lanfang," in order to prevent the Japanese army from inviting a pre-screen performance. She didn’t know the scene in which the typhoid injections and Shubei made herself ill. It’s a little bit, but I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s a metaphor in the line of dramas, you can’t lie to you (do not appear)." Dramas are like life, but Zhenzhen is not like "Wenguang Exploring Valley" "Yang Jiajiang" Yang Wenguang Walking on the stage to save her father and kill the enemy with a gun, but the little Nizi who was sitting in the seat of the Xinguang Theater and biting the fried ghost watching the show has long since turned into the chief foreman who stayed silently at Hudumen to the end.
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