It is learnt that Yichang Peking Opera Troupe will co-direct Dream Back to Xiangxi, a large-scale symphonic poem play, together with Grand Three Gorges Art Troupe of Three Gorges Tourism Company.

　　The play is based on the story of Wang Zhaojun, a Chinese historical and cultural celebrity who was born in Yichang and married Chief of Xiongnu in ancient China for the sake of peace of the country. The play highlights the traditional Chinese concept that it is always essential to maintain harmony in the world. The story happened at the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. ---220 B.C.) when the Han Emperor ordered Prince Yun, Wang Zhaojun’s daughter with the Chief of Xiongnu, to serve him at the Han court. The Chief of Xiongnu flew into rage when he received the order, which led to the tension between Xiongnu and the Han dynasty again, just like the period before Wang Zhaojun married to Xiongnu. To regain the peace between Xiongnu and the Han dynasty, Wang Zhaojun, after the painful mental struggle, finally decided to send her daughter to the Han court. “We will try to foster the play to be the fresh blood to the Peking Opera”, said Lan Dong, the writer and general director of the play. He said honestly that the play was an experimental try and they would apply various methods of representation to it. The combination of the Peking Opera, symphony, dancing and chorus will show the desolate desert of Xiongnu and the graceful scenery of the Han. Lan Dong told the reporter that they would start composing the music for the play as soon as the initiation ceremony finished, then begin rehearsal in July, complete the play in October and present it to the audience.

　　Yichang Peking Opera Troupe has achieved a lot. The plays of The Seven Fairies at Chashan, The Death of Lubu created by them were once put onto the stage of Zhongnanhai, the Government Affairs Office of China. They created and presented a handful of plays, including Shangluo Mount, the Battle of Yiling and Maolui Mount. Wang Yongping, the director of Municipal Culture Bureau, places great hopes on the play. He said that the greatest goal of the play is to cater to the needs of the audience. We should apply our useful experience to the new play, and make it as a competitive product of art, a tourist product and a play that satisfies the audience. And by elevating the artistic level of the Troupe, the culture of Peking Opera in Yichang will obtain its glory once again. (Reporter: Yangqian; correspondent: Liu Yuannong)