(Photo provided to China Daily)
Chen was born in Zhouzhi county, Shaanxi province and joined in Yisushe in 1991 after graduating from a local art school at 22. He had been introduced to Qinqiang Opera as a child by his grandfather, a big fan of the folk art, who often took Chen to watch Qinqiang shows. Attracted by the martial arts, Chen started learning Qinqiang Opera at 13, specializing in xiaosheng (a young male role).
"It is the first time for me to play nan dan, which is very challenging," says Chen, who took months to learn it with the troupe.
"I have been performing Qinqiang Opera for around 30 years and what fascinates me is that there is always more to learn. It's like wine, the more you taste, the more you want."
Director Yong says: "The scripts written by Yisushe in its history were realistic and mirrored social issues and traditional Chinese values. When we stage those works for contemporary audiences, we keep the core of Qinqiang Opera, which still works and resonates."
He adds that the art troupe is now enjoying popularity beyond Northwest China. Last year, for example, it performed at Tsinghua University in Beijing with four full-house performances.
Every year, Yisushe presents around 150 shows in the northwestern regions. About half are staged at universities and high schools to attract young audiences.
