Why did China's traditional drama once flourish, but now it is declining? How to revitalize?

Reason: Today's traditional dramas all face the same problem: it is difficult to expand the audience among young people, because highly stylized performances, outdated plays, slow pace and single visual effects make it difficult for today's traditional dramas to "capture" those young people who are used to watching audio-visual electronic performances.

Methods: At present, more and more traditional dramas in China are trying to reform. Arrange new plays, simplify the complex and integrate the characteristics of the times into classic plays; Actors use more beautiful faces of newcomers, sing with emotion and use more colorful stage special effects. For example, the newly-edited historical Peking Opera "The Forbidden City at Dawn" staged in Shanghai some time ago gave Lao Dan an emotional drama for the first time and abandoned the stylized performance. The compact rhythm, humanized depiction, a large number of British vocals and modern theater stage scenery all make the play highlight the elements that are completely different from traditional Beijing opera.

Extended data:

Sichuan Opera has a history of more than 300 years, but the current development situation is not optimistic. According to the reporter's understanding, except for the better development of Chongqing Sichuan Theatre, most of the Sichuan Opera Troupes in various districts and counties in Chongqing have closed down, and the only remaining grassroots Sichuan Opera Troupes mainly sing and tell jokes.

Tang Youming, secretary of Sichuan Opera Troupe in Qijiang County, Chongqing, told reporters that almost every employee is now engaged in a "second job" and he himself has opened a children's wear store in Qijiang County. The Sichuan opera actors in the group didn't come back until they rehearsed. When there are no programs, they go their separate ways and even go to work in other places. Because there is not enough time for creation and rehearsal, and in order to maintain daily operation, the troupe often rents out the rehearsal space for other purposes, and the performance quality is generally low.

In contrast, Anhui Huangmei Opera Troupe is in full swing. As a repertoire of Huangmei Opera participating in the 12th China Drama Festival being held in Chongqing, The Woman at the foot of Duxiu Mountain, created by Huangmei Opera Performance Center in Huaining County, Anhui Province, which enjoys the reputation as the hometown of Huangmei Opera, has been sought after by the audience.

The beautiful dance design of "Woman at the Foot of Duxiu Mountain" uses modern light and shadow technology to simulate various scenes such as thunderstorm days, and the effect is realistic and shocking. The soundtrack incorporates elements such as modern strings. The classical costumes worn by the actors, the unique gong music of China opera and the high-pitched singing fully demonstrate the unique charm of traditional art.

These ingenious innovations have been recognized by the audience. The performance theater was packed, and even the aisles and corridors were crowded with spectators. There is little difference between Anqing dialect used in Huangmei Opera and Mandarin, so the audience can easily understand the lyrics. With the development of the plot, people sometimes applaud and sometimes laugh, and the atmosphere is very warm. When the actor took the curtain call, many audiences couldn't help standing up and applauding for a long time.

Chen, manager of Anqing Huangmei Opera Troupe, said that the influence of Huangmei Opera is not only expanding day by day, but also the audience is gradually expanding. Especially with the help of scientific and technological means and new media means, the spread of Huangmei Opera is more profound and the development trend is more rapid.

Chen said that every night in the streets and alleys of Anqing City, Anhui Province, it can be said that "Huangmei is everywhere, and no one does not sing Huangmei Opera". According to incomplete statistics, there are more than 200 folk Huangmei Opera Troupe in Anqing, and more than 40 Huangmei Opera Troupe in Anqing developed in Fujian. The deep mass base of Huangmei Opera is unique and thought-provoking in the situation that the operas in many places are declining day by day.

In view of the present situation of China's traditional drama, some experts and artists believe that the development of China's traditional drama cannot be separated from the government's policy and financial support, but this support is not simply "blood transfusion", but "hematopoiesis".

Zhang Fengqi, director of the National History Society of China and director of the Institute of Literature and History of Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences, said that the intangible cultural heritage such as opera is the embodiment of national personality and aesthetic habits, and the carrier of national spirit, which should be protected by the government. But this protection is not to build a special "greenhouse" for it, but to create a better cultural environment and market environment for it and promote its healthy and sustainable development.

Li Li, director of Shanghai Yue Theater, said that the theater should innovate constantly in theme and content according to the changes of the times, try to survive through market-oriented operation, and the government can provide financial support for the talent training that the theater itself cannot afford. This not only solves the problem of follow-up talents for the theater, but also urges them to innovate constantly.

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