THE EMBROIDERY GIRL
A tragic story set in the final years of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, The Embroidery Girl is a modern performance of traditional Chinese dance that is beautiful.
The three-year-old production will tour Sydney later this month, following the success of 16th century major Chinese Opera production Peony Pavilion, which was showcased at the 2013 Sydney Festival.
Tommy Jiang, chairman of OSTAR International Media Group, promoter of the production, says that interest in Chinese culture is growing enormously every year due to the accessibility of the stories being told.
“Even though these traditional Chinese love stories were first told centuries apart, their themes and characters are timeless,” he says.
The production uses a mix of the traditional and the modern to express the story of a Chinese woman who is torn between her true love and an arranged marriage.
Marcus Reubenstein of Red Door, whose aim is to “open the door to China”, says the new show has been written and produced with modern audiences in mind so it can be performed on the world stage.
“It is a traditional Chinese story with traditional costumes, but in terms of dance, movement and choreography, it is more of a traditional ballet than a traditional Chinese one,” he says.
“Any fan of ballet or modern dance would really be able to get something out of it.” (SO)
Feb 18-19, Sydney State Theatre, 49 Market St, Sydney, $30-70, ticketmaster.com.au
BY SHAUNA O’CARROLL
