The modern drama Protagonist, the newly-minted winner of Wenhua Grand Award, a top accolade for professional stage productions in China, was staged at the Grand Theatre of Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre (SZCAC) in SIP on Sept 29 and 30.
Adapted from Chinese dramatist and novelist Chen Yan’s novel of the same name, and produced by Shaanxi People’s Art Theatre (SPAT), the 210-minute performance is a feast of Qinqiang, a genre of folk Chinese opera originated in Northwest China’s Shaanxi province, and Shaanxi culture.
The drama follows the stories of a girl who spends nearly half a century growing from a sheep herder to a leading Qinqiang actress. The stories are touching, the singing is fascinating, and even the costumes and stage setting are amazing.
