The 2018 CNPOC First-edition Performances of Excellent Martial Arts Plays is being played in Mei Lanfang Theatre these days, displaying excellent martial operas to the audience in Beijing for 7 days in succession.

In recent years, Peking Opera appears to be strong in literary arts while weak in martial ones, for the works and talents of martial operas are rare. After discussing it for many times, the China National Peking Opera Company, the top national ensemble which founded in 1955, determined to spare no effort to launch the “1st Excellent Martial Opera Performance”, and eventually decided to demonstrate 18 excellent martial operas in 7 shows this time. The performance has invited more than ten veteran artists, such as Gao Mukun, Li Guang, Sun Guiyuan, Liu Qi, Ren Fengpo, Liu Xizhong and Ye Jun, to advise the young actors and actresses on the performance.

The highlight programs to be on show include not only those classical ones of the China National Peking Opera Company like Sanda Zhujiazhuang (Three Assaults on the Zhu Family Village), Danao Tiangong (The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven), and Baxian Guohai (The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea), but also those traditional martial plays like Changbanpo•Hanjinkou, Jinqian Bao (Leopard), Tiao Huache, Sanjiang Yuehu Cheng, Zhan Ma Chao, and Xi Fu Shan, showcasing Wusheng (a main martial male character for roles involving combat), Wudan (a main martial female character) and Wuhualian (a martial and acrobatic face-painted male role).

The excellent martial opera performers take turns to present their talents. Young national-class performers including Tian Lei, Du Zhe, Wang Lu, Sun Liang, Wang Haoqiang and Pan Yuejiao are to perform their representative works, and other young performers like Zhang Zhifang, Liu Pengfei, Wang Libo and Wang Yuzhou are also to give their exquisite performances to the audience.