Exhibition Celebrates Legacy of Theater Pioneer

Credit: Ti Gong

Caption: Huang directed almost 100 plays and films in a career spanning six decades.

Shanghai is hosting an exhibition to commemorate the 120th birth anniversary of renowned Chinese theater and film director Huang Zuolin.

Huang directed over 100 plays and films, including "Phoney Phoenix" (1947) and "Corrosion" (1950), throughout his career spanning over 60 years. He pioneered the "Xieyi Theater," a theatrical theory in 1962.

Rather than pursuing literal realism, the theory advocates the use of flexible and expressive stage techniques to capture the inner spirit and essence of characters, emphasizing spiritual resemblance over physical likeness.

Huang also conducted comparative studies of the major theatrical traditions represented by Konstantin Stanislavski, Bertolt Brecht and Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang. He explored both the theoretical foundations and stage applications of "Xieyi Theater," seeking to develop a distinctive Eastern theatrical tradition through the integration of Chinese and Western cultures.

Credit: Ti Gong

Caption: The "Shakespeare Inspiration Chair" is featured in the exhibition.

Through a diverse collection of rare manuscripts, personal letters, theatrical artifacts and archival footage, the exhibition offers a comprehensive look at Huang's artistic journey across theater and film, as well as the influences of Eastern and Western artistic traditions on him. It also highlights Huang's theoretical contributions and achievements in theatrical practice.

The "Shakespeare Inspiration Chair" featured in the exhibition is modeled on a chair at Shakespeare's former home in England, believed to have been used by the playwright while writing. During a visit to Shakespeare's hometown in the 1920s, Huang queued to sit in the "inspiration chair," hoping to gain inspiration for his works. He reportedly sat in it five times over the following years.

The Shanghai exhibition will be open until November 15. It will then travel to Beijing on December 1. A series of academic lectures will also be held alongside the exhibition.

On December 21, the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center will premiere the original stage production of "Phoney Phoenixes," based on Huang's film of the same name. The drama retains the original comedy's plot while using contemporary stage language to recreate the atmosphere of old Shanghai.