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Chen Peisi, one of China's biggest comic stars, has been named as the artistic director of Beijing Comedy Theater, a new theatrical project that aims to get Beijing laughing.
Under the management of the National Center for the Performing Arts, the theater, which was unveiled on May 28, is located in downtown Beijing. It was previously called Oriental Theater.
Xi Tai, or The Stage, a comedy directed by Chen, will open the theater's first season on July 16, with a two-week run.
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Chen Peisi, a comic star popular among Chinese audiences of all ages, will be the artistic director of Beijing Comedy Theater. Provided to China Daily |
Starring Chen and veteran actor Yang Lixin, The Stage shows behind-the-scenes dramas of a Peking Opera troupe in the 1930s.
"Taking this job means I will be 'kidnapped' by the theater," says Chen. "For a very long time, I have been working on my own comedies, very personal and even self-centered. But because the theater has comedies from around the world, I will spend lots of time on those works and guarantee the quality of each."
NCPA vice-president Li Zhixiang says more than 200 comedies will be staged at the Beijing Comedy Theater, along with a variety of comic works, such as operas and musicals. Chen's comedies, such as Balcony, Tuo'er and Old House, which appeal to a wide audience, will be staged at the venue.
"We have venues for many different types of art forms in Beijing, such as Western classical music, Western and traditional operas and indie rock. We want to set up a permanent theater for comedy," Li says.
He says that in addition to bringing international comedies to audiences in Beijing, the theater will also help promote young Chinese comedians.
"I think that getting everybody to laugh at the same time is hard, but not for Chen. He has also trained many young comic talents in the past 10 years. He is the right person for this theater," Li says.
The first young comedian to get a break at the theater is Chen Dayu - the son of Chen Peisi. He will present his directorial debut, Nao Dong Fang, or Wedding Night.
Chen Peisi has been well-known since 1984, when he presented the popular skit Eating Noodles on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala.
Chen quickly became a star and is a regular performer on the annual show, the most-watched TV show in China.
Along with his actor father, Chen Qiang (1918-2012), Chen Peisi made a series of comic movies in the 1990s.
In 2001, he turned to theater, producing original comedies and also adapting Western works.
Now 61, Chen Peisi is one of the few comic stars in China, popular with audiences of all ages.
He hopes to turn Beijing Comedy Theater into a well-known national brand.
"Stage performances are more demanding, especially for a comedian. The most rewarding thing is to see how people are connected and refreshed after watching good comedy," says Chen Peisi.
"When people come into my show, they want to relax. Then, by the time they leave, I see that they are laughing, belly laughs, chuckles or just an occasional guffaw."
