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China on Stage

The Stories of China

Duration: 23 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC WORLD NEWS Middle EastLatest broadcast: on BBC WORLD NEWS South Asia

The sights and sounds of China's performing arts are instantly recognisable; they conjure up a unique and unmistakable artistic world. In this six-part series, we see how China's performers are finding new ways of synthesising China's artistic heritage with fresh global influences. In this fifth episode, presenters Li Tong and Jeff Crosby find out why the many forms of Chinese theatre are central to Chinese cultural life and how they are adapting. Jeff sees how the charms of traditional family-run puppet theatre are still holding sway in rural China. Meanwhile Li Tong meets Norah Yang, a new star of China's burgeoning stand-up comedy scene, and Jeff meets the acclaimed playwright, Nick Rungjing whose work at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre has made it the go-to place for young sophisticated urbanites. And we meet the Mongolian star, Ayanga, behind a new hit musical about bicycle couriers adapted for the stage from a popular television series. Show less

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