Xiqu Centre to sign exchanges and collaboration agreements with The Shanghai Center of Chinese Operas

The Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) announced that it will sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Shanghai Center of Chinese Operas. The agreement serves to establish a long-term partnership covering professional and operational exchanges as well as collaboration on artistic development. The move will enable the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon to join forces with other Xiqu institutions in the region to promote traditional culture.

Louis Yu Kwok-lit, Executive Director of Performing Arts of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) said, “The Shanghai Center of Chinese Operas is an influential xiqu organization in mainland China. Our collaboration not only will create a synergy that can enhance the development of Chinese opera in both cities, but also signifies a major step forward in the preparation for the opening of WKCD’s Xiqu Centre. Leading up to the opening of the Xiqu Centre in less than two years’ time, we will step up our efforts on preparing for venue operations and optimize facilities management through learning from the experience of our counterparts in other cities.”

According to the LOI, WKCD’s Xiqu Centre and the Shanghai Center of Chinese Operas will take turns to organise exchange activities every year. Related organizations and practitioners will be invited to join, with an aim to boost capacity in venue operations, stage technologies, arts administration, marketing and promotion, talent cultivation and the ability to produce original works.

Young Cantonese Opera performers and professionals from Hong Kong will be sent to Shanghai this year to learn about the local xiqu art policy and the artistic development of different troupes in the city. The Xiqu Centre at WKCD will also identify young blood from Hong Kong to participate in the Shanghai Experimental Xiqu Festival and various xiqu art seminars this year.

Founded in December 2011, the Shanghai Center of Chinese Operas is a non-commercial public service institution aiming to promote, preserve, innovate and develop the traditional heritage of Xiqu in Shanghai. The Centre manages six main Xiqu troupes in the city, namely the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company, Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, Shanghai Huju Theatre Company, Shanghai Yueju Theatre Company, Shanghai Huaiju Troupe and Shanghai Pingtan Troupe. In addition to its various award-winning plays at national level, the Shanghai Center of Chinese Operas also processes a strong network of professional talents across different xiqu disciplines, including numerous Representative Bearers of Intangible Cultural Heritage items at National Level as well as the many winners of Chinese "Drama Plum Blossom Prize" and Wenhua Performance Award presented by the Ministry of Culture.