Transforming Tradition: The Reform of Chinese Theater in the 1950s and Early 1960s

The People's Republic of China launched a reform campaign in 1949 that targeted traditional song and dance theater, known as xiqu. Reformers censored or revised plays, reorganized star-based private troupes, reassigned the power to create plays to the newly created functions of playwright, director, and composer, and eliminated market-oriented functionaries. Major reform elements have remained, such as many traditional scripts no longer in performance, actors superseded by directors, playwrights, and composers, and the absence of star actors capable of creating their own performance styles. Transforming Tradition offers a systematic study of the effects of the reform.

Format: Hardback
Length: 456 pages
Publication date: 21 July 2021
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

Shortly after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the PRC launched a reform campaign that aimed to revitalize traditional song and dance theater, collectively known as xiqu. This initiative encompassed over a hundred genres and sought to modernize and reshape the theatrical landscape. Reformers took a comprehensive approach, censoring or revising xiqu plays and techniques, reorganization star-based private troupes, reassigning the power to create plays from star actors to the newly created roles of playwright, director, and composer, and eliminating market-oriented functionaries such as agents. While the repertoire censorship ended in the 1980s, significant reform elements have remained. Many traditional scripts, or parts of them, are no longer performed, and actors who relied on their physical memory of repertoire and acting techniques to create plays have been surpassed by directors, playwrights, and composers. The net result is a significant diminution in repertoires and performance techniques, as well as the absence of star actors capable of creating their own performance styles through new signature plays that had traditionally been a hallmark of a performance school.
To explore the effects of this reform, Transforming Tradition offers a systematic study of the changes that occurred during the 1950s and 1960s. Drawing on a decade of exhaustive research of official archival documents, wide-ranging interviews, and contemporaneous publications, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the reform's impact on traditional theater. It sheds light on the censorship and revision of plays, the reorganization of troupes, the shift in creative power, and the elimination of market-oriented elements. The book also examines the consequences of these reforms on the repertoire, performance techniques, and the role of star actors.
One of the key findings of Transforming Tradition is that the reform significantly diminished the diversity and richness of traditional theater. Many plays were censored or revised, and traditional genres and styles were marginalized or eliminated. The emphasis on modernizing and Westernizing the theater led to a loss of cultural identity and heritage. The traditional roles of actors, such as singing, dancing, and acting, were reduced, and the creative process became more centralized.
Furthermore, the reform led to the disappearance of many star actors who were able to create their own performance styles through new signature plays. The emphasis on professional training and technical skills marginalized the role of individual creativity and personality, resulting in a homogenization of performances. The absence of star actors capable of creating their own performance styles has had a lasting impact on the development of traditional theater.
Despite these challenges, Transforming Tradition also highlights the positive aspects of the reform. The introduction of new scripts, directors, and composers brought fresh ideas and perspectives to traditional theater, and the emphasis on professional training and technical skills has improved the overall quality of performances. The reform also paved the way

The People's Republic of China (PRC) launched a reform campaign in 1949 to revitalize traditional song and dance theater, collectively known as xiqu. This initiative aimed to modernize and reshape the theatrical landscape by censoring or revising plays, reorganization star-based private troupes, reassigning the power to create plays from star actors to the newly created roles of playwright, director, and composer, and eliminating market-oriented functionaries such as agents. While the repertoire censorship ended in the 1980s, significant reform elements have remained. Many traditional scripts, or parts of them, are no longer performed, and actors who relied on their physical memory of repertoire and acting techniques to create plays have been surpassed by directors, playwrights. The net result is a significant diminution in repertoires and performance techniques, as well as the absence of star actors capable of creating their own performance styles through new signature plays that had traditionally been a hallmark of a performance school.
To explore the effects of this reform, Transforming Tradition offers a systematic study of the changes that occurred during the 1950s and 1960s. Drawing on a decade of exhaustive research of official archival documents, wide-ranging interviews, and contemporaneous publications, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the reform's impact on traditional theater. It sheds light on the censorship and revision of plays, the reorganization of troupes, the shift in creative power, and the elimination of market-oriented elements. The book also examines the consequences of these reforms on the repertoire, performance techniques, and the role of star actors.
One of the key findings of Transforming Tradition is that the reform significantly diminished the diversity and richness of traditional theater. Many plays were censored or revised, and traditional genres and styles were marginalized or eliminated. The emphasis on modernizing and Westernizing the theater led to a loss of cultural identity and heritage. The traditional roles of actors, such as singing, dancing, and acting, were reduced, and the creative process became more centralized.
Furthermore, the reform led to the disappearance of many star actors who were able to create their own performance styles through new signature plays. The emphasis on professional training and technical skills marginalized the role of individual creativity and personality, resulting in a homogenization of performances. The absence of star actors capable of creating their own performance styles has had a lasting impact on the development of traditional theater.
Despite these challenges, Transforming Tradition. offers the positive aspects of the reform. The introduction of new scripts, directors, and composers brought fresh ideas and perspectives to traditional theater, and the emphasis on professional training and technical skills has improved the overall quality of performances. The reform also paved the way.

Weight: 766g
Dimension: 160 x 238 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472132478