Taiwan Plays to Debut at Biennial China Drama Festival

Three Taiwan plays will become the first works from the island to be staged at the China Drama Festival, which opens in Xiamen on Nov. 28.

Ji Guoping, secretary-general of the China Dramatists Association, said Monday the Taiwan Peking opera "A Tale of GoldenLocks" based on a novel of writer Eileen Chang would be among the productions.

Performed by the island's Guoguang Opera Company, it features a psychological tale of a woman tormented by desire and greed.

"Lee Heung-Kwan", a Kunqu opera about a legendary courtesan, by National Taiwan College of Performing Arts and the Taipei University of the Arts production, "Na Han Dou E," inspired by the ancient tragedy "The Injustice to Dou E", will also be showcased at the biennial event. Dou E was wrongfully accused of a murder and was proved innocent after her death.

In addition, the Xiamen Gezai Opera Troupe and Taiwan's Tang Meiyun Gezai Opera Troupe will together stage "The Love Affair of the Butterfly."

The four works will compete with 24 plays by mainland theater groups including "Mei Lanfang," a biographical play of the Beijing Opera master, for awards, including best director and best performance.

"They stood out of 127 plays that were submitted for the festival," said Ji.

The 11th China Drama Festival is scheduled to last 16 days. It has been jointly organized by the China Dramatists Association, the China Literature and Arts Association and the Xiamen municipal government.