Born in the 1980s - Yu Manwen
Print Edition
Yu Manwen, a drama director born in 1981, says her life is motivated by the twin dreams of promoting a new genre of woman’s psychological theater and of preserving the old art of Kunqu Opera.
She now works as the director of art creation and research for the Shanghai Kunqu Opera House.
In June, Yu directed “Lonely Stage,” a play that tells the behind-the-scenes stories of Kunqu Opera. It was a one-woman show which describes the excitement and nervousness about being on stage.
Yu became fascinated by Kunqu Opera in 2007, after watching a performance. “I was deeply moved,” she says. “It’s love at first sight. I wanted to contribute to this old art form, which dates back 600 years.”
In 2011, Yu directed “Mahjong Women’s Hearts,” which explored the plight of women in their 20s and 30s who were stigmatized for not getting married. “I am interested in combining some of the ancient arts into a contemporary setting, focusing on women,” she says.
Yu says she knows what she wants. It’s all a matter of finding the right formula to combine the two passions.
“Kunqu is like my lover, and drama is like my relatives,” Yu says. “I want to bring Kunqu to new heights. Dreaming is the bravest thing in the world, or the most cowardly.”
Her dream, she says, is to become deserving of all those who love her and have put their faith in her abilities. It’s not an easy dream to fulfill. “As a post-1980s artist, I have had to struggle. I persist in the guise of giving up.”
After graduating from Shanghai Theater Academy, Yu says she expected to be sought after by the theater world, but nothing happened. “I felt very frustrated.”
She took some additional training and dabbled in some production work. But her heart didn’t re-enter her work until she discovered Kunqu.
Yu says another dream of hers is to achieve self-harmony. “Art and psychology are all arts about humans, and you cannot cheat your audience,” she says. “Every artist expresses his/her gift through a drama, a picture, or words. Such a gift comes from a very personal understanding of life.”
When it comes to dreaming, she says, all people are equal. “No matter how far you are from your dream and even if you are alone on your road, you know where you want to go and that will make you happy,” she says. “Except for dreams, I have nothing.”
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