More than face-changing, Sichuan opera proves a hit with UK audiences

Chongqing Sichuan Opera House stages a performance as part of Chinese New Year celebrations in Trafalgar Square, London, Feb 14, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Touring players from Chongqing Sichuan Opera House staged two performances over the weekend in London, astounding audiences with lavish costumes, elaborate makeup, high-speed acrobatics and high-pitched singing in addition to the famous secret "face-changing" routine.

"When some people think of Sichuan opera, they only think of face-changing, and others even regard it a stunt show, which is not correct," Shen Tiemei, director of the Chongqing Sichuan Opera House, and an award winning actress told China Daily.

"It actually combines singing, dancing, and acting," explained Shen while pointing out the difference from western opera which focuses on singing.

Sichuan opera, known as Chuanju in Chinese, is an exquisite theatre form that dates back 300 years, and is one of the renowned opera schools of Chinese opera.

Face-changing and fire spitting are the most eye-catching artistic techniques that shape a character's personality in Sichuan opera.

In the opera house's Sunday show in London's Trafalgar Square, where the annual celebration of Chinese New Year was held, face-changing was not performed as a solo show but was part of a play.

An evil spirit in The Legend of the White Snake performs face-changing in Trafalgar Square, London, Feb 14, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Jin-shan Temple, an excerpt from The Legend of the White Snake, tells of a woman who is reincarnated from a white snake and goes to the temple to meet her lover who is in dispute with a monk. The white snake gets furious and they fight with tricks.

Face-changing was demonstrated by an evil-spirit male character, while dancing, singing, kung fu and acrobatics were also used.

Face-changing is a closely-kept secret movement where a character, by quick manipulation of a mask, literally changes the face they show to the audience in a split-second.

Shen Tiemei (right) introduces a male character in Sichuan opera to the audiences at the Museum of London Docklands in London, Feb 13, 2016. [Photo by Song Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

On Saturday, the troupe dropped in to the Museum of London Docklands, offering visitors, most of whom were children, a close-up look at the opera and first-hand experience on how to be a star on a stage through a workshop.

From simple steps and gestures, to how to tell different characters apart by costume and makeup, director Shen gave the audience a clear walkthrough, demonstrating by herself and with her troupe.

Sichuan opera comic A Roller with Oil Lamp on Head is performed at the Museum of London Docklands in London, Feb 13, 2016. [Photo by Song Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

The museum audience was then treated to a comic turn entitle A Roller with Oil Lamp on Head, a highly skilled performance played by a clown, who has a lighted oil-lamp on his head and rolls like an acrobat.

The story tells of a gambling-addict being punished by his wife after coming home late one day. She makes him carry out various moves whilst balancing a lamp on his head.

A performer shows his acrobatic skills by squeezing beneath two stools with an oil lamp on his head at the Museum of London Docklands in London, Feb 13, 2016. [Photo by Song Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

Juliet Masterson, who took her three children to watch the opera said even though they couldn't understand every bit of the story, they still got the gist of it.

"Thomas (the eldest child aged 9) especially loves the clown guy, and we were all wowed by the costumes and makeup," said Masterson. "It is a really amazing experience and we are really happy we came."

Children learn steps and gestures from a Sichuan opera performer while his two sisters look on at the Museum of London Docklands in London, Feb 13, 2016. [Photo by Song Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

Alex Werner, head of history collections of the Museum of London Docklands, told China Daily that Londoners are excited to discover more about the rich tradition of Chinese opera in its many forms.

"I am sure that the spectacle of the performance will make up for any lack of understanding of the content of the opera," said Werner.

The 31-member troupe started a 16-day visit to Britain on February 10, with only a 48-hour stay in London over the weekend after making its debut in Preston. The team next heads to Belfast and Scotland.

To contact the reporter: songwei@chinadaily.com.cn