The drama, The Homecoming, starts from the image of a bowl of noodles to depict the unfolding of deep affection between the cross-Strait compatriots. Set in 1987, when both sides of the Taiwan Straits had just established connections with each other by “mail service, transport and trade”, with mothers and children, brothers and sisters, other family members or friends still separated, the drama conveys a story about how a bowl of beef noodles has played witness the separations and reunions among four generations. A double-revolving stage is applied to the drama, ensuring a subtle shift among 30-odd scenes, where there is not only the space of Taiwan, China, but also that of Beijing. As the tale unfolds, the spaces, cultures and people converge gradually with their counterparts on the stage. With the aid of scene design, it becomes easy for the audience to feel as if they were personally on the scene, so that they may not only realize the great change that has been taken place in Beijing over the past 70 years, but also offers a taste of the deep affection between the cross-Strait people.
The Homecoming was financially supported by the Beijing Cultural and Arts Fund in 2022, selected for the 18th China Theatre Festival, and staged at the Daliangshan Theatre Festival in 2023.
Co-presented by the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Art Ensemble of the All-China Federation of Trade Union and the Taiwan Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal People’s Government, and co-produced by the Beijing Theatre Association and Jalent Organization (Beijing) Cultural Communications Co., Ltd., the drama features CHEN Ping, Chairman of the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, as the chief planner and dramaturge, Prof. GONG Yingtian, a film director, and Li Tsung-hsi, a director from Taiwan, as co-playwrights, Li Tsung-hsi as the director, WANG Xingang, a national first-class set designer, as the visual director, and LI Shiqi as the stage design advisor. The drama also stars outstanding artists from both sides of the Straits. TANG Lihua, Deputy Managing Director of the Drama Troupe of the Art Ensemble of the All-China Federation of Trade Union, WANG Yi, a winner of the China Golden Lion Award for Drama, and Benjamin Lee, a film and TV actor from Taiwan, all collaborate.
The playwright GONG Yingtian referred to the meaning of the title, “The Homecoming”. The goal of homecoming is to search for the taste of affection, kinship and reunion in a bowl of noodles. Reunion is the warmest part of the life of the Chinese. Harmony is the best component of our traditional ethics. We keep the past firmly rooted in mind in order to avoid recommitting the same error. We open up a new era in order to lead a better life and make our home warmer. The director Li Tsung-hsi said that since its premiere, The Homecoming has been polished over, again and again. This story is expected to help people feel the warmth of home.
A memory or taste of the hometown may be a cup of weak tea, a pot of simple food or a bowl of hot soup shared with your parents at three meals every day in childhood. Maybe that’s what the title really means.
Co-Presenters: Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Art Ensemble of the All-China Federation of Trade Union, Taiwan Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal People’s Government
Co-Executors: Beijing Theatre Association, Jalent Organization (Beijing) Cultural Communications Co., Ltd.
Creatives
Chief Planner: CHEN Ping
Executive Presenters: CHEN Ning, QIAN Lei, HUO Guangfeng
Chief Producers: DU Sheqin, CHEN Sisi
Supervisors: GONG Yingtian, SHANG Daqing
Managing Producers: FU Ruoyan, TANG Lihua, HUANG Qiaoyun (Taiwan, China)
Playwrights: GONG Yingtian,Li Tsung-hsi (Taiwan, China)
Director: Li Tsung-hsi (Taiwan, China)
Deputy Director: GUO Xinnong
Stage Visual Director: WANG Xingang
Stage Design Consultant: LI Shiqi (Taiwan, China)
Set Designer: LUO Yazhuo
Deputy Set Producer: LI He
Lighting Designers: WANG Jichen, GUO Yangweifeng
Lyrist of Theme Song: XIE Daihua
Composer of Theme Song: ZHOU Zhiping (Taiwan, China)
Singer of Theme Song: JIANG Nianting (Taiwan, China)
Music Designer: CHENG Jiajia
Music Producern & Remixer: YANG Sili
Sound Designer: FU Jin
Costume Designer: WANG Bing
Hair Style Designers: WANG Lili, YANG Xuan
Set Coordinator: WANG Yaokang
Stage Managers: LI Shuicun, LI Yihang
Chief Coordinators: SUN Jingjing, LI Mi, SHEN Ming
Audio Technicians: YANG Yuefei, DING Hong, YOU Linyi
Lighting Technicians: LI Xin, ZHANG Weixing, WANG Hu
Stage Crew & Props: LIU Chunxuan, LI Ya’nan, WANG Yichen
Costume Consultants: LI Guorun
Assistant Dance Manager: WANG Zinan
Lead Cast: ZENG Li, LI Zhixi (Taiwan, China), WANG Yi
Cast: NING Tong, GAO Qiyou (Taiwan, China), WANG Hongbo, CHAI Zhongsi (Taiwan, China), CHEN Jiulong, WU Hao, XUE Peng, LIU Chang, BAI Bo, HAN Jin, ZHENG Qi, YANG Feng, WANG Xinjie
Presenter: Art Ensemble of the All-China Federation of Trade Union
In 1987, both sides of the Taiwan Straits, which have stood isolated from each other for over 38 years, establish connections with each other by mail service, transport and trade. LI Jinbiao, who is 72 years old, is a veteran soldier that retires from the Peking Regiment of Division No. 177 of Kuomintang. Other veterans return home one after another to visit their relatives, whereas LI Jinbiao, who grows up in Beijing alleyways, is slow to return. Not until the late summer of 1992 does he hurry to Beijing with his son, LI Guangqi, daughter-in-law, YANG Shuping, and eldest grandson, LI Mingwei.
It's a special experience to return home. In the long river of history, merciless time has left inexhaustible tears for the cross-Strait people separated from each other, with many people tortured by great sorrows in their lives. The Homecoming is designed to present the deep affection between mothers and sons, brothers and sisters or between friends living across the Straits. When the lively characters appear one after another, contradictions emerge everywhere left over from history, which we have to confront. Nonetheless, blood is thicker than water, and people on both sides of the Straits belong to one family. In the face of human nature, human feelings and even human souls, all the misunderstandings and conflicts will be cleared up in the end, with everything recovering its original simplicity. It’s love that allows us to become more generous and considerate, so that we can realise the true taste of life bit by bit.
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