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A scrap of cloth holds a sincere heart, dyed through a lifetime of trials. Adapted from the full-length novel Dye House, this production takes the modern national industry of dyeing workshops as its narrative perspective, set against the backdrop of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in 1937. It centers on the eventful life of CHEN Shouting, a tycoon in the dyeing and printing industry. Using exquisitely dyed fabrics of various hues as a thread, the dance drama weaves together CHEN Shouting’s legendary journey from a street beggar to an industrial magnate. Warmth from family and friends, sharp wit in business battles, and sincere patriotism are all embedded within these vibrant colours. Embodying the resilient, optimistic and diligent spirit of the dyeing trade, as well as the unyielding character of Qilu culture, it reflects the unyielding struggle of the Chinese nation amid hardships and adversities.
Playwright: XU Rui
Chief Directors / Choreographers: KONG Dexin, GUO Haifeng
Composer: LYU Liang
Set Designers: GAO Guangjian, SUN Wei
Lighting Designer: WANG Qi
Costume Designer: YANG Donglin
Costume & Hair Style Designer: WEI Xiaomeng
Video Projection Designer: HE Ziying
Lead Dancers
CHEN Shouting: LIU Jia
Fujii: YANG Siyu
Dancers
ZHOU Caiqin: LU Yuhan
LU Jiaju: LIU Kun
JIA Siya: DU Wanting (Apr. 17-18), WENG Xiji (Apr. 16)
Prologue: White Cloth·Patriotic Heart
A single ray of light is generating countless sparks, with comrades-in-arms fighting together to dye the national territory
CHEN Shouting lights a match. As the flame flickers, his mind flashes back to the past. The sky and earth are both white, while only his patriotic heart is burning hot.
Chapter I: Blue Cloth·Blue Comes from the Indigo Plant
A beggar meets a well-doer on a snowy night, getting married with Caiqin and starting foreign trade
On a snowy night, CHEN Liuzi (CHEN Shouting), a beggar, is lucky enough to be taken in by the owners of a dye house and their daughter Caiqin. As time goes by, Shouting and Caiqin become more deeply attached to each other, with the boy growing into shopkeeper. They start foreign trade. Facing technical innovations, CHEN Shouting decides to forge a new path.
Chapter II: Black Cloth·Dark Trade War
Joining hands with Jiaju for trade war and outsmarting Fujii, a rival for life
The trade alliance unites in a concerted effort, while Fujii, a Japanese businessman, casts covetous eyes on them. He colludes with JIA Siya, a well-known businesswoman, to rope in a foreign merchant during the bidding process, in order to disrupt the Chinese market. Unexpectedly, the foreign merchant is LU Jiaju in disguise. Very furious, Fujii begins to sell cloth at low prices to disrupt the market. CHEN Shouting and LU Jiaju buy cloth at high prices, finally winning by a narrow margin at the cost of their own interests.
Chapter III: Grey Cloth·National Salvation
Mukden Incident imperils the country, with trouble caused by secret support to the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression
After the Mukden Incident, the Japanese invader treads upon the land of China. Feeling anxious to save the nation, LU Jiaju secretly accepts an order for grey cloth from the Eighth Route Army, but little does he realise that Fujii has sneakingly set a deadly trap for him.
Chapter IV: Yellow Cloth·A Sly Trick
Grieved at the murder of Jiaju, with cloth dyed in another colour to uphold righteousness
Fujii intimidates CHEN Shouting with the death of Jiaju. Overcome with grief and anger, Shouting dyes the grey cloth yellow in a chemical way, successfully sending all the cloth out, helping Jiaju and himself fulfill their patriotic aspirations.
Chapter V: Red Cloth·Born to Die
Hosting a banquet for the enemy to frustrate him, with jade and stone burned together
The city of Jinan falls. When the nation is in peril, how can the family remain intact? On his birthday, CHEN Shouting vows to frustrate the enemy and destroy his own business - he will absolutely not give his painstaking efforts up to the enemy. The body is already old, but the heart is not dead yet and blood is still warm.
Epilogue: Civilian Cloth·Life without Regrets
Keeping a loyal heart to inspire the younger generation rather than sleeping soundly in tribulation
The sky and earth become white again. CHEN Shouting feels a sense of relief for the rest of his life, yet in his heart, there is a voice shouting without stop, “Chinese people, don’t fall asleep!”
Shandong Opera and Dance Drama Theatre
Founded in 1958, the Shandong Opera and Dance Drama Theatre consists of different departments including the Chinese Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Opera Troupe, Dance Drama Ensemble, Choir, Shandong Theatre Management Centre, Stage Art Centre, Performance Centre and Creation Centre. Since its founding, the Theatre has created and staged numerous operas and dance dramas, as well as a large number of music and dance works. With distinctive local characteristics of Shandong and its unique acting style, the Theatre enjoys a high reputation in China. It has been to more than 50 countries and regions in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australia. Its Blank Stele, China’s first symphonic dance drama, won the Newcomer Award at the China Shanghai International Arts Festival. Its XU Fu, a large-scale opera, won the Fifth Wenhua Award by the Ministry of Culture. Its Chinese instrumental work Green Yearning won the Eighth “Wenhua Award for Best New Production” by the Ministry of Culture. In 2014, its opera The Chinese Orphan won the Excellent Opera Award at the Second China Opera Festival. In 2015, its Chinese orchestral tone poem Confucius received financial support for large-scale stage creation from the China National Arts Fund.
Some years ago, the Theatre’s national opera Mount Yimeng made a stir upon its premiere, receiving high praise from both industry experts and the public. Then it won the 17th Chinese Government Award for Culture and Arts - “Wenhua Award”, “Five-One Project” Award for 15th Session of Spiritual Civilisation Construction by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and Excellent Production Award at the Fourth China Opera Festival. The opera was also selected as a key work for the “China National Opera Inheritance and Development Project” by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2018, as a work that received dynamic support in 2019, as a large-scale stage creation supported by the China National Arts Fund in 2019, for the Excellent Chinese Stage Art and National Opera Exhibition in 2019, for the Excellent Stage Works Exhibition held to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPC in 2021, as a work that received financial support for communication and popularisation from the China National Arts Fund in 2023, for the Exhibition of Excellent Stage Art Works of the New Era in 2023, and for the Top Ten Excellent Performances that Achieved Both Social and Economic Benefits in the National Performing Market in 2023 in 2024. The starring performer won the 30th Plum Blossom Prize in 2021. Three other performers won the 30th Shanghai Magnolia Stage Performance Award, getting the first grand slam in the history of the Shanghai Magnolia Stage Performance Awards. The creative team of Mount Yimeng has garnered such accolades as “Pioneer of National Workers”, “Outstanding Youth Team” of Shandong Province, Advanced Group in “Overcoming Difficulties” by the Shandong Provincial Party Committee/Provincial Government, “Pioneer of Workers of Shandong Province”, and “Meritorious Service Award” by the Shandong Provincial People’s Government and Human Resources and Social Security Department of Shandong Province.
Many artists at the Theatre enjoy special government allowances from the State Council. Some of them have won honours including the title of “Four Kinds of Talents in the First Batch” by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the title of Outstanding Expert by the Ministry of Culture, and the title of Young Expert who has Made Outstanding Contributions to Shandong Province. They have jointly garnered many prizes including grand awards in global music competitions, the Chinese Government Prize - Wenhua Award, the China Radio and TV Award, the Golden Bell Award, the Plum Blossom Prize, the Golden Eagle Award, the Magnolia Award, and others. Many of them have been awarded the honorary title of national and/or provincial labor models, the medal for richening people and prospering Shandong, and the medal for women’s meritorious service.
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