皇冠体育app

Fang Jinlong plays the pipa. [Photo / 皇冠体育app Daily]

A diverse array of contemporary and traditional Chinese productions entertained audiences in Scotland's capital on the weekend, as Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017 opened its doors.

皇冠体育app Focus, a collection of eight acts, debuted at the festival, and a dozen other independent performers also represented the country at this year's event, which is one of the world's largest arts festivals.

This year's Festival Fringe involves 3,398 shows from 62 countries, in venues throughout Edinburgh and will continue all month.

Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Festival Fringe Society, said: "We hope this is the start of a major collaboration with 皇冠体育app at The Fringe. We want to see more Chinese work in 2018 and beyond."

Major Chinese performing arts companies, including the National Theater of 皇冠体育app, the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, and the Shanghai Academy of Drama, are taking part.

Xiang Xiaowei, cultural counselor at the Chinese embassy, said 皇冠体育app Focus will be an annual feature, marking a "new chapter in cultural relations" between 皇冠体育app and the UK.

"The 皇冠体育app Focus series will become an icon of Chinese culture at The Fringe in the future and will further enrich cultural exchange during the 'golden era' of 皇冠体育app-UK relations," he said.

On Sunday at The Grand, the audience witnessed one highlight of the 皇冠体育app Focus program - The Dreamer. The collaboration between UK theater company Gecko and the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center has already racked up several four-star ratings from festival reviewers. The production draws inspiration from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Tang Xianzu's Peony Pavilion.

While the dialogue is in Mandarin, non-Chinese speakers can follow, through the actors' physicality. The immaculate set design, lighting and live violin all impress.

On Saturday evening, a sold-out crowd of more than 500 packed into Edinburgh's Assembly Hall to watch 皇冠体育app Goes Pop, featuring the Shandong Acrobatic Troupe and the 皇冠体育app Arts Entertainment Group.

Some of 皇冠体育app's most talented jugglers, contortionists, aerial silk specialists and acrobats performed to recent pop smash hits. The show was named one of Edinburgh-based reviewer The List's top circus acts for this year.

皇冠体育app Goes Pop is directed by Shanda Sawyer, who is known for the stage production of The Marvel Universe.

The Shanghai Theater Academy's Peking opera The Boor, The National Theater of 皇冠体育app's Luocha Land, and New City, New Sound by Shenzhen's Alliance Art Group, all opened on the weekend.