Highlights of Kunqu, the mother of Chinese Opera / The Peony Pavilion and The Story of The Stone

Kunqu opera is one of China’s oldest existing forms of drama, with a history dating back approximately 600 years. 

Included in UNESCO’s official list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the detailed knowledge of the complex techniques and traditions involved takes many years for its practitioners to acquire. This means that it is only performed by a few specialist companies within China, and rarely performed in the West at all.  

Established in 1957, the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre is one of Kunqu Opera’s leading ambassadors. It strives to maintain the artform’s highest standards and traditions, and to share its knowledge and experience with the rest of the world. Its 2022 online stream of the Kunqu classic 'The Peony Pavilion' achieved nearly three million views in two hours.  

The Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre is bringing a special highlights event to Edinburgh, combining excerpts from their most popular productions: 'The Peony Pavilion' and 'The Story of the Stone'.  

A popular romance from the 16th century, 'The Peony Pavilion' is one of the most famous Kunqu classics, while 'The Story of The Stone' is a contemporary adaptation of a classic Kunqu story, blending the traditional aesthetic with a contemporary experimental approach.

Sung in Chinese (with English surtitles), this performance will feature live music, and the colourful costumes, exotic makeup and studied physicality associated with Kunqu.  

Presented by Asian Arts Global