QUANZHOU MARIONETTE TROUPE - Marionettes 

MAY 21, 22, 23

AUDITORIUM

21:30

Puppets

QUANZHOU MARIONETTE TROUPE (CHINA)

OPERATIC EXCERPTS:

LITTLE MONK, RUO LAN’S JOURNEY, THE DRUNKEN ZHIONG KUI, LANTERN FESTIVAL

Artistic director: Wang Jingxian

Technique: String puppets

For the first time ever in Portugal, ten actor-puppeteers and eight musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments demonstrate just why their company is considered one of the greatest exponents of puppet theatre in China.

The Quanzhou Marionette Troupe company is one of the largest and most renowned string puppet theatres in the world given the richness of its traditions, handling and complexity of its puppets. With bodies, legs, arms, hands and hollow wooden heads, the puppets are fitted with mechanisms enabling their mouth and eyes to be moved.

They generally have between 14 and 36 strings and when expertly controlled can create personalities portraying men and women of different ages and professions, spirits or wild animals.

In order to operate these puppets, the actors need to know how to sing, dance and move in a fashion in synchronicity with its respective personality and to a level that requires long hours of practice and professional training. It is generally considered that twenty five years of study are required to be able to handle the 30 string puppet characters.

PROGRAM

Little Monk: The little monk is lazy and does not fulfil his daily prayer rites. While descending the mountain to request alms, a great storm breaks with much thunder and lightning. The little monk runs in search of shelter, stumbles and falls several times to find himself in serious trouble. Only then does he understand that had he said his prayers properly, perhaps then he would be saved. In the meantime, the storm continues to soak him still further…

The Drunken Zhog Kui (o Bêbado Zhong Kui): Zhog Kui is a wise man of great talent but who, horrendously unfairly, fails an imperial examination process. In an attack of fury, he commits suicide and the god of hell endows him with the title “master hunter of demons”. However, down in hell, there are so many demons and malicious ghosts that he feels incapable of hunting them all down. In his despair, he turns to drink, dedicating himself to a relentless struggle against evil.

Ruo Lan´s Journey: The husband of Ruo Lan was sent off to battle. After a separation of many years, Ruo Lan then embarks on a quest to find her husband. The long march she then embarks on is only softened by the immeasurable love she feels for her husband.

Solos are sung to accompany the highly delicate performance that few artists are ever able to enact. This is also one of the key defining pieces in the company’s repertoire.

Lantern Festival: This work is based on traditional Chinese dancers and reveals the intense skill and dexterity deployed by the puppeteers. The street processions, typical of the south of Fujian province, are recreated in conjunction with sumptuous sounds and gestures.

PRICE: € 15.00

Over 7 yrs.

APPROX. LENGTH: 40 minutes

Organised by: A Tarumba

Co-production: Fundação Oriente / FIMFA Lx8