In contrast to the traditional art of Kunqu Opera, which has a rich six-hundred-year history, 23-year-old Kunqu broadcaster Pei Chen may appear quite young. However, her youth does not hinder her ability, as a graduate of traditional Chinese opera, to introduce Kunqu Opera to a wider audience in her own unique way.
Pei was born in Chenzhou, Hunan. Her journey into traditional art began at an early age when she started learning dancing at five. At eleven, she auditioned (试镜) for the local Kunqu Opera troupe and gained admission. At the age of fifteen, she was faced with a crucial decision: accept the troupe’s offer to study at a technical college and secure a steady job after graduation, or take the bold step to audition for universities in Beijing or Shanghai. Bravely, she turned down what her elders considered a “secure job” and applied to the Shanghai Theatre Academy’s Department of Traditional Opera, where she was successfully admitted. ▲
During her third year of college, Pei suffered a sudden waist injury, which was a near “fatal” blow for an actor specializing in Wudan. After undergoing surgery, she realized, “I won’t be able to perform on stage like a professional actor anymore.” However, Pei refused to give up.
In June 2021, she ventured into the world of video broadcasting and created a Douyin account. The live broadcast room has since become her new stage, where she can sing without engaging in physically demanding movements. Surprisingly, in the first month of broadcasting, the popularity of her live broadcast room soared. According to Pei, “At the peak, there were about fifteen thousand people online.” Pei believes that live broadcasting offers a new path for traditional Chinese opera graduates like herself. “On one hand, it addresses employment issues. On the other hand, it instills more confidence in the future of traditional opera.”
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