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A new version of a puppet show on Italian explorer Marco Polo created by the Yangzhou Puppet Research Institute, one of China's largest performing art groups for puppetry, made a dazzling appearance with two back-to-back performances during the fourth Nanchong International Puppet Art Week, the curtain of which came down on Dec 7.
Yangzhou artists manipulate puppets during the fourth Nanchong International Puppet Art Week. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
With grand narratives, exquisite puppet maneuvers, and deep cultural significance, the production showcased the unique charm of Yangzhou puppetry.
Following in the footsteps of the characters Boluoqiu (Pineapple Ball) and Marco Polo, the audience was transported back seven centuries to retrace the Silk Road during the one-and-half-an-hour show.
The "journey" begins in Kashgar Old City, proceeds to Dadu (the capital city) of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), then moves to Yangzhou, and finally arrives at Quanzhou Port, known as Citong Port in ancient times and newly included in this version.
On the stage, various types of puppets, including rod puppets and glove puppets, came to life, vividly recreating the magnificent scenes of the Silk Road and the adventurous journeys along it.
For its excellent stage presentation and rich cultural expression, the show received awards for Outstanding Play, Outstanding Group Performance, and Outstanding Visual Arts.
Meanwhile, the Yangzhou Puppet Research Institute was officially designated as an experimental base in Yangzhou for the Puppetry & Shadow Arts Research Center of the UNESCO International Puppetry Association.
There are currently only four such bases across the country, each representing a major genre: Quanzhou string puppetry, Jinjiang glove puppetry, Nanchong giant puppetry, and Yangzhou rod puppetry.
