Treat for fans at theater awards ceremony

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 29th China Theatre Plum Blossom Award, for both contemporary stage productions and traditional Chinese operas, was launched in Nanning, in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on April 13.

As part of the award ceremony, which runs through April 23, 17 Chinese theater productions chosen from 44 entries, covering 13 genres, including stage plays, Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera and Yueju Opera, presented by Chinese theater companies, are being staged in Nanning, running throughout April 23.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The contenders for the awacomprise 17 Chinese actors who are competing for 15 positions.

The opening play was Gu Wenchang by the National Theater of China, which was about the life of Gu Wenchang, the first official who advocated the fight against desertification by planting trees.

Chinese actor Xin Baiqing, who plays the role of Gu, is one of the nominees for the Plum Blossom Award.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Other highlights will see Kunqu Opera performances by Chinese actress Gu Weiying of the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre, featuring The Peony Pavilion and The Jade Hairpin; and Peking Opera show, Chun Qiu Er Xu, performed by Chinese actor Fu Xiru of the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company.

The first China Theatre Plum Blossom Award was held in 1984. But since 2005, the annual event, launched by the China Theatre Association, has become biennial.