The Moon Opera
Beauty and Memories Fade as the Days
A Lone Shadow Shimmering on Stage
Synopsis
Attainment of fame and recognition on stage as with perfect love are the stuff of dreams. Our protagonist, the Peking Opera actress, Xiao Yanqiu, gained overnight notoriety by her stunning performance as Cháng’é in the play – Ascension to the Moon. Only to, at the height of her fame, was Xiao expelled from the stage and thus descended into ruin. The ruthless battle between dreams and reality rages inside of Xiao throughout the years. It comes to a head at a lustful banquet, where all her desires became nearly within her grasp. Yet, all was for nought, as Xiao falls from grace and ends in the heap of her shattered dreams.
Adapted from the prize-winning novel (Mao Dun Literature Prize), this 90-minute production distils the peaks and troughs of the protagonist’s life story through the spectacle of dance. Its creative process spanned over three years and is the work of the first-time director, the National Class One Dance Artist, Wang Yabin, and a globally-sourced artistic team of top professionals. This piece presents a Peking-opera-filled Chinese story through a minimalistic stage setting and fused with elements from both classical and modern dances.
Production & Artistic Team
Artistic Coordinator：
Yang Yuntao
Director & Choreographer：
Wang Yabin
Based on the novel by ：
Bi Feiyu
Peking Opera Consultant：
Pei Yanling
Playwright ：
Zhuang Yi
Composer：
Olga Wojciechowska
Composer：
Guo Sida
Set Designer：
Matt Deely
Costume Designer ：
Kimie Nakano
Lighting Designer ：
Willy Cessa
Dramatic Consultant & Imager：
Helene Guetary