Kun Opera Comes to London in 'Culture Swap' with The Globe Players in Nanjing

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160907/405103 )

The Kun Opera, from Suzhou, will be performing a traditional form of Chinese Drama, the 'Peony Pavilion' from 1598 at the Troxy Theatre, Limehouse Sept 28-30 .

The form of Chinese Classical Opera has endured through the Cultural Revolution and upheavals of the twentieth century to find a new lease of life under the celebrated director and author, Dr Pai (Hsieng-Yung).

In a culture swap with The Globe players, who are performing Shakespeare's Macbeth in Nanjing on the same dates, the Kun will be performing this most famous of Chinese operatic dramas in the UK.

Chinese Opera is a multi -sensory experience that incorporates drama, poetry, music, mime, acrobatics, dance and traditional costume. Designed to entertain the ladies of the Ming court in weekly instalments, 'The Peony Pavilion' can be seen as the original Soap opera. Its full ninety-nine-hour cycle has been distilled into a three act play over three hours by the celebrated Dr Pai.

A story is of high romance, a la Romeo and Juliet, a beautiful young heroine dreams of a mysterious stranger and falls in love. Who is the handsome "Romeo" of her dreams? When the young man is brought to life, together the lovers go on a perilous quest through war-torn country. The fates seem staked against them. Will their love triumph and conquer all?

Considered the Chinese Shakespeare of the Ming Dynasty, the author of 'The Peony Pavilion', Tang Xianzu died, like Shakespeare himself, in 1616.

As part of the continuing cultural exchange with China , students from Jiangsu province are set to take part in Shakespeare's Globe Youth Drama Festival in April, 2017.

Journalists are invited to the Press Launch: 26 September: The Globe, Swann, 9am- 11am .

And to the first night drinks reception, 28 Sept at The Troxy Theatre, Limehouse, 6pm - 7.15 start.