“Realm of Trance: Tian Hacks the Coffin” 【A Tribute to the Xiqu Centre 5th Anniversary Celebrations】Arte of Xiqu Co. Ltd.

Philosopher Chuang-tzu testing his wife has been a popular story for the operatic performances throughout China. This rendition is most similar to the Peking Opera interpretation, with the wite, Tian, as the protagonist. telling her experience through five scenes.

Utilising the smaller theatre, the tale is told through the three types of character with the four key performance techniques.

The three performances offer different endings. Along with the iconic tragic versions, this presentation also offers a more delightful finale, in which Chuang-tsz regrets testing his wife and reconciles with her in his transformed identity.

Synopsis:
Sublimated, Chuang-tzu transforms himself into a prince and fakes his death as a test to the integrity of his wife, Tian. Visiting his wife with an elder and a young servant - both transformed from butterflies - to pay tribute, the disguised Chuang-tzu found his wife falling for the prince. Persuaded by the elder, Tian agreed to remarry the prince. When the prince complains of a severe headache curable only by a man's brain, Tian decides to hack her husband's coffin, only to find her husband springing back to his life, reproaching her. Her fate is yet to be decided.

- Performed in Cantonese with Chinese and English surtitles
- The programme and cast are subiect to changes without prior notice. Please refer to the programme website