Theatre / china
Preview: The Autumn of Han
Red Dragonfly Productions present this stage adaptation of the 14th-century Chinese variety opera The Sorrow of Han, itself based on events at the Chinese imperial court in 33 BC.
When the beautiful concubine Zhao Jun refuses to supply the corrupt minister Mao Yan Shou with his usual bribe, the latter makes sure that she’s hidden away from the Emperor: but the resourceful Zhao Jun still engineers a chance meeting with the great man. When the latter sets eyes on her he immediately falls in love, setting off a chain of events that changes all their lives forever.
Red Dragonfly were formed by British and British East Asian artists to bring East Asian stories to UK stages. “There are a wealth of wonderful stories from the East that have never been seen on a British stage,” explains Michelle Yim, University of Bristol drama graduate and Red Dragonfly co-founder. “This also provides a great opportunity for some of Britain’s very talented East Asian actors, who are often overlooked, to showcase their work.”
The Autumn of Han was adapted for the stage by playwright/director Ross Ericson, whose army drama Casualties won plaudits in 2013. “We Europeans often find classical Chinese drama quite impenetrable,” Ericson explains, “so my job was to put the story into a structure and language that would be familiar to European audiences whilst retaining the authenticity and spirit of the original text.”
Touring the UK this winter and spring, The Autumn of Han is part of an ambitious three-year plan by Red Dragonfly that includes future productions of Diao Chan and Monkey: A Journey to the West, the latter memorably adapted for opera by Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett and Chen Shi-Zheng.
The Autumn of Han Wednesday, February 11, Wickham Theatre, Cantocks Close (off Woodland Rd). For more info and to book tickets, visit www.bristol.ac.uk/theatre/events/2015/outputurl-128648-en.html
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