Yueju Opera talent hopes for broader audience

Defining strength

Chen Lijun has also demonstrated an undefined feminine strength in her career by portraying male roles one after another in Yueju Opera.

Growing up in Shengzhou, Zhejiang, the birthplace of Yueju Opera, Chen Lijun was familiar with the art by listening to her grandparents and parents often humming tunes.

At 13, she decided to become a Yueju performer and entered a local art school to start the long days of practicing gestures, expressions, movements and steps.

However, after joining a five-year training program in 2008 that prepares actresses for the renowned Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yueju Opera Troupe, she was advised to switch to performing xiaosheng (young man) roles due to her tall height.

This meant starting anew, practicing the body language and vocal techniques for male roles. She went through a difficult transition period, practicing martial arts until she had many injuries and singing until her vocal cords were strained.

Year after year, through countless rehearsals and refining different roles, she gradually learned how to portray male characters.

"I have learned to walk onto the stage relaxed, not worrying about whether every line, vocal part or movement is perfect. On stage, I worry not about making mistakes but about becoming the character."

In 2023, Chen Lijun got to play a supporting male role in the innovative Yueju Opera show New Dragon Gate Inn, which was adapted from a movie of the same name.

The show features six actresses dressed in exquisitely designed costumes who play roles from a spirited landlady to skilled swordsmen, spies and soldiers on a stage that intrudes into the audience, offering a more immersive experience with opportunities for interaction.

This is very different from a conventional Yueju Opera show.

Its 138 performances in small theaters attracted over 15,000 visitors with an average attendance rate of 97 percent, 80 percent of whom were young people experiencing Yueju Opera for the first time.

The show's first live online broadcast on the short-video platform Douyin drew over 9 million viewers.

Chen Lijun's portrayal of Jia Ting, characterized by a handsome face, swift and decisive fight scenes, and a charming, nonchalant demeanor, captivated many.

A video clip of Jia lifting and spinning the landlady with just one arm went viral. Many female viewers affectionately called her "Miss Husband" to express their admiration for her precise portrayal of male roles. Chen has garnered over 3.4 million followers on Douyin.

Chen attributes the show's popularity to the bold innovations by producer Mao Weitao, an established Yueju Opera actress, the creative ideas from the young production team and the audience's active editing of the show's videos, which helped to spread many clips to the public.

Facing sudden fame, Chen Lijun remains calm.

"This overwhelming attention isn't about me but about Yueju Opera and traditional culture. Public attention comes quickly and fades just as fast. My goal is to keep the focus on Yueju Opera for as long as possible."