The first Beijing opera children's drama "The Ballad of the Canal" was recently signed at a signing ceremony for a joint production between the China Children's Art Theater and the Beijing Opera Troupe, heralding the start of in-depth cooperation between the two parties at the creative level.
According to Cui Di, deputy secretary and general manager of the Party branch of the Beijing Opera Troupe, the Beijing Opera "The Ballad of the Canal" is adapted from the children's drama "Drifting on the Grand Canal". In 2024, the play participated in the "Blooming·Enlightenment" of China Children's Art. "Shanghai" children and youth stage art works incubation program, finally stood out from 146 works, successfully entered the work incubation pool, and completed the performance at the China Children's Theater. The vivid and interesting story incorporates history and mythology, and the actors convey innocence and childlike fun to the audience through vivid characters.
It is reported that the cooperation between the two academies is a continuous incubation of the previous outstanding works of "Blooming and Setting Sail". It is a useful practice for inheriting the excellent traditional Chinese culture and innovating new paths, new models and new expressions of stage art. It is also a joint effort. An important measure to promote the innovative development of children's drama works and enhance the influence and appeal of opera art on children. Feng Li, director of China Children's Arts, said that this cooperation is the beginning of complementary advantages, resource sharing, and win-win cooperation between both parties. This signing also marks that the two troupes will work together to cross new artistic boundaries, jointly weave an artistic dream with Chinese characteristics, Chinese charm, and Chinese style for children, opening a new chapter in the in-depth integration of children's drama and opera.
Dai Bing, secretary of the Party branch and chairman of the Beijing Opera Troupe, said that the Beijing Opera children's drama "The Ballad of the Canal" is a work launched based on the "Grand Canal Cultural Belt" as a creative guide. Through the in-depth cooperation between the two parties, they will be able to inspire more creative sparks and jointly create a high-quality, educational and artistic children's drama of Beijing opera.
This signing marks the official launch of the cooperation. It is not only a linkage between national theaters and local theater troupes, but also a blend of drama and opera. It is not only a crossover of art categories, but also a breakthrough of art forms. In the future, both parties will take this opportunity to integrate traditional art into the present and bring Beijing-style culture closer to children. Next year, "The Ballad of the Canal" will be officially launched.
Text/Beijing Youth Daily Reporter Guo Jia
Photography/Beijing Youth Daily Reporter Liu Chang
Editor/Qiao Ying
