Скачать или смотреть Beijing Fringe Festival draws in the crowds

(13 Sep 2011) They call themselves "Duel", staging their brand of musical performance like a battle of wits.
A few short years ago a performance like this would have been unthinkable in China.
In the past, conservative music traditions would have made a slapstick music show hard to stomach - but today''s audience at the Beijing Fringe Festival love it.
Both musicians have a classical training, but their show is full of comedy routines that have made the show a big hit with the Chinese theatre fans.
According to artistic director, Meng Jinghui, the fledgeling festival is already established as a destination event on the capital''s arts scene:
"The Festival has become a brand. Every September, people come to Beijing not just to eat Peking Duck, go to the Great Wall and visit the Forbidden City. For some, the most important thing now is to go to the theatre."
The Chinese theatre scene has come a long way since the Beijing International Youth Theatre Festival, now the Fringe Festival, started 4 years ago.
"Duel", featuring cellist Laurent Cirade and pianist Paul Sta�cu, are just one of six acts from the Avignon Festival in France.
For festival-goer Xie Shanshan, there is a growing appetite for shows like this:
"I think this performance was of a high standard. After I finished watching, I feel quite excited, because in Beijing we rarely get the opportunity to see this kind of performance."
From modest beginnings, the Beijing Fringe has grown rapidly year on year, with productions ranging from contemporary dance to experimental theatre and musical performances.
11 venues in the Chinese capital are hosting performances from 12 countries around the world, including the Netherlands, the UK and France.
The festival also presents the work of young Chinese playwrights and directors from the post-Mao generation who are experimenting with new forms of theatre, much like their western counterparts.
More and more young Chinese are getting involved, says actress Wang Jingjing:
"It''s still not commonplace to see these kinds of performances, but increasingly there are more and more people involved. To take my own case as an example, I used to work in the media. I was interested in this and now I have even become a performer. So there is an audience for this kind of thing."
The international flavour is a big part of the festival''s attraction says Wang Jingjing, who is performing here in her own show:
"Normally I watch domestic performances, because we don''t often have the chance to watch performances from abroad. But we do watch them when we can. In terms of experimental theatre, I think the level is better in other countries at the moment. When I want to watch a film, often I will choose one from another country. But I think China has some good performances, as does Taiwan."
Meng Jinghui is one the most best-known directors in China, having been director of the Chinese National Theatre.
Now, growing the festival is his passion:
"This year is the fourth year of Beijing International Youth Theatre Festival. It was previously called the Youth Theatre Festival, but now it''s called the Beijing International Youth Theatre Festival. In the first year, we had 11 directors and 11 plays. In the fourth year, this year, we have 58 directors and 58 plays. It is getting bigger and bigger, and we are also becoming more international. At the same time, there is more involvement from the younger Chinese generation and more of their creative input. They are also represented on this platform and have become more confident."
The benefits are two-way says "Duel" cellist Laurent Cirade:

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...