Cross-talk genius

The troupe, comprising more than 20 actors, and whose name mean "listening to Cao", gives shows on weekends at two small venues in the capital's downtown.

The troupe is so popular that 2,000 tickets for one of its shows sold out in one minute online in 2010, a record for xiangsheng performances, says Wang Jingjing, the manager of the troupe.

Cao was so completely occupied with starring in films and taking part in TV shows that he didn't have time for a single xiangsheng performance in 2017. So, the recent show at the Laoshe Teahouse is Cao's first xiangsheng performance of 2018.

On Jan 28, he will do a show at the Poly Theater in Beijing along with performers from Tingyunxuan.

Asked why he has cut back on his xiangsheng performances, Cao says: "I've spent 15 years making a name for myself as a xiangsheng actor. Now, I want to use the next 15 years to let people forget about my identity as a xiangsheng performer.

"I don't want to narrow my scope as an actor. Xiangsheng is just one aspect of my career, and I want to move on."