'China Focus' shines at Edinburgh Fringe for second year
Five Chinese theater productions will be staged at the Edinburgh Fringe till August 27, as part of the festival's special program called “China Focus."
This marks the second annual Chinese theater showcase at the famous theater festival since last year.
“China Focus” this year highlights dance show “Tu Tu” by Hou Ying Dance Theater; experimental cross-cultural physical theater “Painted Skin-Return” based on Pu Songling’s “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio;” dance drama “A Life on the Silk Road” by National Theater of China, which features the historical figure Zhang Qian’s adventures westward during the Han Dynasty (221-206 BC); children’s performance “A Chinese Bestiary” and innovative traditional Chinese opera “The Creation Myths of China” by Shanghai Huaiju Opera Troupe.
Key players from the “China Focus” project converged in Edinburgh for the launch ceremony on August 3, along with officials from the Chinese cultural sector, representatives for Fringe and the Scottish government and members of the press.
Pan Xinchun, consul general of Shanghai in Edinburgh, said that effective collaboration between the UK and China has been achieved in fields like culture and tourism.
As one of the biggest international art festivals, Edinburgh Fringe attracts more than 4 million tourists and audience members worldwide every August, with about 1,000 performances going on each day during the season, according to Donald Wilson, convener of the Culture and Communities Committee at Edinburgh City Council.
He said “China Focus” may help more audiences of the Fringe get to know about programs from China. Wilson is also looking forward to more close collaboration, interaction and communication between the UK and China, in culture and art particularly.
Dance drama “A Life on the Silk Road”
Physical theater “Painted Skin-Return”
