Can the Conventions of Indigenous Kunqu Opera Training be Useful for the Contemporary Actor?
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Xiang, Yunlin. 2020. Can the Conventions of Indigenous Kunqu Opera Training be Useful for the Contemporary Actor?. Other thesis, Goldsmiths, University of London [Thesis]
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TAP_thesis_XiangY_2020.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (15MB) | Preview |
Abstract or Description
The ancient Chinese theatre system was described in Xian Qing Ou Ji by Li Yu (1611-1680), and can be translated as ‘Speaking honestly, if an actor wants to perform a role, it means that the actor speaks instead of the, so the actor has to put their heart into the role to be real during the performance. Actors need to be in the scene personally and there should be true feeling in it.’ The meaning of this is that when an actor is performing, the actor should convey their emotions to the audience and must put their whole heart into the character’s background to show their imagination on the stage, this is also an important theory by Stanislavski. From ancient theatre theory to contemporary theatre theory, and from Chinese theatre to the European theatre, both imagination and physical techniques are crucial to performance.
The purpose of this study is to research how Kunqu opera’s performance convention and formula also may improve actors’ performance techniques. Chinese has a three-character phrase, ‘jing qi shen’, meaning essence, energy, spirit in English. Originating from Chapter 67 of the Dao De Jing by Lao Zi, it has various interpretations in different fields. In this study, this phrase relates to the training of skills that can help actors in providing skilled performances.
This research process has included filming a documentary about Suzhou Kunju Theatre and Hengdian Film Studio, interviewing scholars and actors. There was one experimental study workshop with students for two weeks to test techniques in the Goldsmiths University of London studio. Actors’ skills relate to their imagination and physical movement. The results show that the research has enriched existing universal performance training methods and the significance of this study proves the physical training benefits of Kunqu opera. The workshop integrated Chinese theatre and European theatre practice for further expansion and development.
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Item Type: |
Thesis (Other) |
| Identification Number (DOI): |
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| Keywords: |
Theatre Anthropology, Chinese Theatre, Kunqu Opera, Acting Movement. |
| Departments, Centres and Research Units: |
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| Date: |
31 May 2020 |
| Item ID: |
30167 |
| Date Deposited: |
11 Jun 2021 11:34 |
| Last Modified: |
07 Sep 2022 17:18 |
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URI: |
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