Private art troupes making gains
Print Edition
IN China, state-run troupes have always been considered synonymous with high-quality shows and strong commercial success. Comparatively, private or amateur performance groups with less financial support and marketing opportunities usually struggle.
But the situation is changing gradually, with more and more talented private art groups expanding into new market and receiving more attention from local government and official organizations.
One such troupe is the Shanghai Encore Arts Group. Its new work, the musical “I Am in Your Future,” was recently picked by the Shanghai Blood Center at the city’s first seminar/fair for privately run troupes. The show will be staged at Shanghai Culture Square on May 23-24, as part of the first Shanghai Private Arts Group Festival.
The musical tells the story of how a patient with a blood disease struggles with the illness and keeps active in life. The topic attracted Li Caitang from the Shanghai Blood Center, who decided to sponsor the troupe with a long-term commitment.
“We can collaborate in various ways, including inviting them to perform in our institutes or creating programs especially for our blood center — for both the patients and the staff,” says Li.
The purpose of the fair was to find more sponsors for privately run arts groups, says Wei Zhi, director of the Shanghai Performing Arts Association. Up to 20 select programs were presented. Theaters, institutes and performing agencies would then bid and discuss further details after the event.
“Nowadays performance venues are no longer limited to theaters, and those meaningful shows such as Huju Opera ‘In This Life’ can be good for social organizations as well,” says Wei.
Starting this year, the Shanghai government will provide 5 million yuan every year to support local amateur art groups by organizing bidding conferences, culture forums and other means to provide more chances for private groups.
During the one-month private troupe show festival that runs until May 25, over 200 performances will be staged at various theaters in the city. They range from orchestra concerts to jazz shows, musicals, dramas, ballet, circus and Chinese traditional operas.
The venues cover almost all the mainstream theaters in the city including Shanghai Grand Theater, Shanghai Culture Square, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Wanping Theater, Yunfeng Theater and others.
According to data released by the Shanghai Art Academy Institute, two-thirds of Shanghai’s performances of all kinds are produced by privately owned troupes. There are now around 120 private performance groups in the city, providing 12,000 to 15,000 shows every year.
Compared with national troupes, private groups have certain advantages such as more efficient decision-making on content and less pressures to receive awards, says Bei Zhaojiao, vice director of the Shanghai Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and TV.
“The themes of performances produced by private troupes are generally close to people’s lives,” Bei adds. “The shows also have more chances to reach grassroots audiences.”
Collaborations between private troupes and local neighborhoods and cultural institutes, even district governments, are becoming more and more frequent.
“We have invited many private drama groups as well as individual artists of music and art crafts to give performances and hold different activities in communities,” says Ivy Luo, vice director of the Xujiahui sub-district administrative office. “It is really catching on in neighborhoods and is a new way for private groups to develop.”
The latest original Huju Opera show “In This Life” (Jin Sheng Jin Shi), which won a White Magnolia Award, attracted nine buyers at the fair after a brief presentation by Yang Yin, artistic director of Wenhui Huju Opera Troupe.
Founded in 2010, the group has created nine works, including classic programs and original creations. The group is now touring in Songjiang District.
“The platform of private groups can provide talented performers with more free stage to grow up,” Yang says, adding two actors in the show “In This Life” were sent to the Shanghai Theater Academy for professional training.
“High artistic quality is not merely about big-name performers or fancy stage effects, but a combination of creative ideas and teamwork,” says Wang Haigang, general manger of the Happy Twist Culture Media Company.
The Happy Twist, initially founded in Beijing 10 years ago, stages comedy shows. It’s now well-known throughout the country and has performed on China’s most important stage — Spring Festival Gala Show — three straight times.
As one of the most successful private art groups in China, the troupe has created 21 original comedy products, given shows in over 40 cities over 10 years, and staged 700 performances at Beijing Grand Theater last year. This year there will be 100 performances staged in Shanghai.
The group had its difficult times when starting out. A decade ago when Happy Twist had just started, only seven tickets were sold for a performance in Beijing.
“In the end, I could only give the money back to the buyers, plus taxi expenses,” recalls Wang. “It might be the most embarrassing moment in my life.”
The only way to succeed, says Wang, is “to push ahead with creativity and originality, focusing on the quality of shows to win over audiences.”
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