Theater takes center stage

A prestigious director's vision to turn a small town in Jiangxi province into a cultural hub for theater practitioners, students and enthusiasts is now coming to life.

The Huichang Theater Season, a 10-day-long event, commenced on Jan 5, marking the official opening of the Huichang Theater Village in East China's Jiangxi province. That evening, the opening play of the season, titled The Village, was performed by the renowned Taiwan playwright and director Stan Lai's Theater Above troupe in the main theater of the village.

Among the professional actors and crew members involved in the production was an 18-year-old student, Zou Yaoyang. He worked as a set dresser, responsible for arranging and moving the objects and equipment required on stage. This experience allowed him to be part of the show and participate in the grand event taking place in his hometown, Huichang.

Zou is a freshman at the Hesheng Theater Technology College, a vocational school in Huichang that was jointly established by Lai and a local entrepreneur as part of the Huichang Theater Village initiative. Just four months ago, Zou had never set foot in a theater and knew little about drama. However, he is now learning and working with one of China's top play troupes and aspires to become a theatrical technician in the future.

"I felt incredibly nervous and excited stepping onto such a grand stage with a full audience seated below. I had never experienced anything like it in my life," Zou said. "I learned a lot by observing the work of lighting designers, sound engineers and props masters from Lai's troupe."

This is the desired outcome that Lai envisioned when he started collaborating with the local government to establish the Huichang Theater Village. In addition to constructing performance venues along historic streets, the initiative also included the establishment of schools and workshops to educate and inspire theater practitioners and enthusiasts.

Lai expressed his desire to witness the impact that art can bring to a small town like Huichang, particularly among its young population. "For a long time, young people in Huichang had limited options — they either went to coastal areas to earn a living and then returned to get married, or they left for university and never came back. I wonder if theater can provide new options for the young people here. We have been exploring new possibilities."

"Changes are already occurring. The students at Hesheng Theater Technology College have completed a semester of study," he added.

The newly established college offers a junior college diploma program in stage art design and production, accommodating 104 students from all over Jiangxi province, one-third of whom are from Huichang.

The college invites experienced theatrical practitioners and professors to provide training that meets international standards.

During the first semester, experts from Theater Above and the Shanghai Theater Academy delivered courses in classic drama and contemporary theater art, performance art, and theater English.

Zou particularly enjoyed the theater English course. "I learned useful theater terminology like 'mark', and even 'proscenium stage'," he said. "I never imagined that I would one day develop an interest in English, as I struggled with the subject in high school. Now, I can envision myself working with overseas theatrical staff someday."

Zou sees changes not only in his English skills but also in his overall outlook on the future. "Before entering college, I had never planned or even thought about my future. But now, I'm quite certain that I will pursue a career in lighting design."

Many local students shared similar experiences, with a clearer future path unfolding in front of them through their engagement with theater.

Harboring a deep connection to her hometown, Luo Jie, for example, is delighted to attend a college in the place where she grew up. With an interest in sound, she considers a sound technician as an ideal occupation. And Chen Yongkang, the class president and an outgoing and sociable young man, believes stage management perfectly suits his personality.

The Huichang Theater Season gives the students a valuable platform to hone their skills. Luo is responsible for communicating with and guiding theater troupes from other cities, while Chen assists with the setup of Lai's new play dedicated to Huichang, titled Flower in the Mirror, Moon in the Water.

"Huichang Theater Village provides local youth the opportunity to participate in top-class theatrical events during their first year of college. Not all theater students have such an opportunity," said Wu Zhicai, a tutor at Hesheng Theater Technology College.