Synopsis Travelling in search of a relative, scholar Zhu Wen takes a room at an inn. During the night, a young woman comes to his room and refuses to leave. Calling herself Yi Li Jin (A Grain of Gold), she tells Zhu that she is the daughter of the innkeeper and presents him with an embroidered purse full of coins as a pledge that they will become husband and wife. The next day, when Zhu Wen takes out the purse to pay for a meal, the innkeeper and his wife recognise it as the one they had placed in their deceased daughter’s grave. The archaic language of this script, the only extant version passed down from the Song and Yuan dynasties, illustrates how Liyuan opera has preserved the qualities of its ancient origins. Cast Zhang Chunji Zhang Chunji, currently the Associate Director of the Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian, is a National Class Two Performer who specialises in sheng(male) roles and was trained under Yao Suqin and Wu Mingsen. His repertoire includes Chen San, Zhu Wen, Li Yaxian, Guo Hua, Jiang Shilong and A Widow’s Lament. Zhang is the winner of a number of awards, including the Outstanding Performer Award at the Theatre Showcase of Fujian Province, the Silver Award at the Young to Middle-aged Performers’ Competition of Fujian Province, and various other prizes in provincial theatre showcases. Zheng Yasi Zheng Yasi, currently the Associate Director of the Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian, is a National Class Two Performer who specialises in tie (young female) roles and was trained under Zeng Jingping. Her repertoire includes Chen San, Zhu Wen, Guo Hua and The Scholar and the Widow. Zheng is the winner of a number of awards, including a Gold Award at the Narcissus Awards of Fujian Province, and various recognitions at the Young to Middle-aged Performers’ Competition of Fujian Province. Company Director, Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian Zeng Jingping Zheng Jingping specialises in dan (female) roles. She received training on the Liyuan Course at the Fujian Arts School and the Advanced Directing Studies Course at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. She is currently the Company Director of the Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian; a National Class One Performer; Vice Chairman of the Fujian Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Fujian Dramatists’ Association; a National Bearer of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Liyuan Opera in China; deputy to the 10th, 11th and 12th National People’s Congress; National Model Worker; an Outstanding Expert in the ‘Four Groups Talent’ Project under the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; an Outstanding Expert of the Ministry of Culture; an Advanced Cultural Worker in the Cultural System under the Ministry of Culture; and holder of the accolade ‘Artist of Integrity and Artistic Excellence’ presented by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Zeng is renowned for her performances in traditional Liyuan Opera productions such as Chen San, Zhu Wen, Lu Mengzheng, Zhu Bian, Guo Hua and Zhu Maichen, as well as in the new original plays A Widow’s Lament, The Prison Guard and the Woman Gangster and The Pavilion of the Imperial Monument.

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Programme Details Date: 9 September 2017 (Saturday) Time: 7:45pm Venue: HKRep Black Box Ticket price: $180 Half price for people with disabilities and the accompany minders and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients 10% discount for HKRep Pals Tickets available at URBTIX from 4 August 2017 Online booking: http://www.urbtix.hk Telephone credit card booking: 2111 5999 With Chinese and English surtitles *The duration is for reference only.