※ Q&A Session: 5/6(Sun) 18:00

Korean audiences have a precious opportunity to experience Sichuan opera!
XiuRuJi combines oriental Sichuan opera and the Tang Era love story:
The Tale of Li Wa!
XiuRuJi helps BIPAF’s audiences rediscover Asian theatre’s prospects and power!

The grand opening performance is <XiuRuJi> from Sichuan, China. This most recent presentation of the tradition story, the Tale of Li Wa, tells of Li Yaxian. Li Yaxian is a dancer, intelligent, and has a pure love for her husband. Using the medium of Sichuan opera; <XiuRuJi> brings Li Wa’s themes of love and dedication to contemporary audiences.

Established in 1960s, the Sichuan Opera Theatre is a renowned local opera mainly prevailing in Southwestern China. Sichuan opera is characterized by unique solos, refined acting, rich percussion, and talented comedians, whose skills are unparalleled the world.

Presenting BIPAF’s 2012 theme: Hello Asia, <XiuRuJi>is Chinese traditional theatre introducing BIPAF’s international audiences to Asian theatre’s prospects and power!

※Sichuan Opera, a most famous Chinese traditional theatre, as well as Peking Opera, originated in Sichuan Province.

Synopsis

<XiuRuJi> tells of the tragedies and triumphs in Zheng Yuanhe’s marriage Li Yaxian. Yaxian is an intelligent dancer, and Yuanhe, with his own promising future ahead of him, is on his way to the capital for the national exam.
Unbeknownst to Yaxian, Yuanhe is thrown out of Yaxian’s house by her mother and becomes a beggar. He is later discovered living as a beggar by his own father, a local minister. His father, very angry, whips him and repudiates his son. Yuanhe is left begging for his life.

Not until Yaxian discovers for herself Yuanhe living as a beggar are they reunited; Yuanhe, gives him an embroidered jacket as a symbol of her dedication.
However, this is not to be their “happily ever after.” Though reunited, Yuanhe still spends idle time. Yaxian mutilates her own eyes in an act of frustration. Only then does Yuanhe find his motivation to study hard. With dedication restored, he passes the national exam and retrieves precious medicine to return Yaxian’s sight.