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HOME Celebrating 30 years if intercultural understanding through the arts |
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CASE STUDIES National Beijing Opera Company of China One of China’s most respected opera companies made its UK debut in May 2005 following a Visiting Arts initiative to take UK producers to China. The National Beijing Opera Company of China visited Salford, London, Edinburgh and Salisbury International Arts Festival, with performances of their renowned works Forest of the Wild Boars, Suicide with a Golden Brick, and The Legend of the White Snake. With a history of more than 200 years, Beijing Opera is widely regarded as the highest expression of Chinese culture, and the National Beijing Opera Company of China as its finest exponent. It is led by Chinese cultural icon, Yu Kuizhi, and leading female star Li Shengsu, and accompanied by a 50 strong troupe of actors and musicians. The company has performed regularly in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and has toured to over 50 countries. The repertoire is made up of tales of previous dynasties, important historical events, emperors, ministers, geniuses and great beauties. Unlike Western forms of opera, Beijing Opera uses a synthesis of stylised action, singing, dialogue, mime, acrobatic fighting and dancing to tell traditional and modern stories. The costumes are magnificent with bright colours, handcrafted embroidery and presented with elaborate make-up. The large-scale venue tour arose from a series of Visiting Arts mentored development visits to China in 1999 (the first officially sponsored trip by UK promoters to China), in 2000 (at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture) and in 2003 when Robert Robson (Artistic Director, The Lowry) made a follow-up visit to facilitate the 2005 presentations on behalf of The Lowry and Sadler’s Wells. The National Beijing Opera Company of China will make a return trip to the UK in 2009. China - UK Connections through Culture - Needs Analysis Report In 2006, Visiting Arts undertook a major research project commissioned by British Council, the DCMS, FCO and Scottish Executive that analysed current attitudes and links between UK and China cultural communities and examined the requirements needed to deepen exchange. The Needs Analysis Report can be downloaded from British Council China’s Connections-through-Culture website: http://ctc.britishcouncil.org.cn/en/info/index.jsp?cat_id=1&nwsid=289
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Related links British Council Our work Arts Managers' Placement Programmes China - UK, celebrating common approaches and ideas
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