International Theatre Conference: Directing and Authorship in Western Drama

Panel Three
Friday, October 24th, 2-3:45pm

Dr. Wenwei Du, Vassar College
Shakespeare in Chinese Xiqu Forms--Focusing on Two Beijing Opera Productions of "King Lear"

The paper begins with a brief introduction to the adaptations of Shakespeare's plays in the forms of traditional Chinese theatre (xiqu) with Chinese settings and theatrical conventions. Then it focuses on two different productions of King Lear by the Shanghai Beijing Opera Troupe under the Chinese title of Qi Wang Meng (The Dream of King Qi) in 1995, one casting King Lear in the role type of hualian (painted face) and the other in the laosheng (old male lead) role. Based on the interviews with authors of the adapted scripts and directors/actors of the productions, the paper examines aspects of both written and theatrical texts to chart a complete process of this East-West convergence and transformation. It also explores the cultural, thematic and theatrical implications of such adaptations.