Veteran star gives new life to Huangmei Opera

At 52, Wu Qiong has established herself as one of the country's most famous actresses in Huangmei Opera. While many of her generation's actors have abandoned the "outdated and old" art form - that originated from Huangmei county, Hubei province, in the 18th century and also became popular in neighboring Anhui and Jiangxi provinces - she likes to push the edges of traditional theater and reach out to audiences with her modern sensibilities.

She recently announced in Beijing that she will challenge herself by performing six differently styled Huangmei Opera repertoires, including three of the most classic works, Tian Xian Pei (A Goddess' Marriage), Nu Fu Ma (Emperor's Female Son-in-Law) and Hong Luo Pa (Red Handkerchief), at the capital's Chang'an Grand Theater from Dec 23 to 28.

"I have never performed six different shows on six continuous nights before. Some of the roles I haven't played for years, such as a 17-year-old fairy in Tian Xian Pei. But I know I have to do it," says the big-eyed actress, who calls the six shows a retrospective showcase of her decades-long career. "Unlike Peking Opera, Huangmei Opera doesn't have a large fan base in Beijing, which means there is no market. But if I don't do it, no one would do it and then the audiences will not have a chance to watch Huangmei Opera."