Peking Opera piece for children to premiere in capital over weekend

A new Peking Opera production for children, titled Xin Yuan, or Wish, will premiere at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday.

Co-produced by Beijing Opera and Arts College and Jingju Theater Company of Beijing, the production is adapted from a Chinese movie of the same title by director Ye Daying, which tells the story of Chinese Young Pioneers — a national organization for Chinese children. Chinese children aged from 6 to 14 years can apply to join as young pioneers and wear a red scarf as a symbol. The production aims at encouraging young people to carry on the revolutionary spirit.

"This is the first time that my scripts will be adapted into a Peking Opera production, which makes me proud," says Ye, 68, who is known for his directorial works, such as Red Cherry (1996) and A Time to Remember (1998).

Gathering director Yan Rui and composer Zhu Shaoyu, the Peking Opera production will bring out characters performed by veteran and young Peking Opera performers. The song, We are the Successors to Communism, which is sung by generations of children across China, will also be adapted into a music piece with Peking Opera performing style. In 1978, the song was selected as the anthem of the Chinese Young Pioneers.