For Feng, who studied classical Chinese literature rather than receiving formal training in playwriting, the creative process has been an opportunity to explore what Cantonese Opera can express beyond the familiar world of talented scholars, beautiful women and historical rulers.
She believes the genre can engage with questions of human nature with the same depth as spoken drama, while retaining the distinctive qualities of traditional opera.
Veteran actor Peng plays the leading role, Zhuangzi. As director of the Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe, he has performed in major Cantonese Opera productions and films throughout his decades-long career. This is his first time playing in a production tailored for a smaller theater.
"We want the play to help people heal," says Peng, who was born into a family with a long tradition in Wing Chun, a style of kung fu. "In a way, it has healed us, too.
"Small-theater performance demands greater intimacy and subtlety," he says. "I have to find a balance between preserving the stylized techniques of traditional opera and making the performance feel natural.
"At the same time, being closer to the audience allows you to convey emotions in a more direct and personal way," he adds.
For these creators, younger audiences offer an important reason to keep exploring.
"Small-theater productions tend to attract young people who are often more open to unfamiliar forms and more receptive to the ideas behind a work," says Feng.
Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn
