18 | Monday, October 28, 2019 LIFE CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION A tough act to follow After the success of plays like Divorce and Cat Country, Fang Xu’s latest adaptation of another Lao She novel is ready to take center stage, Chen Nan reports. hen a couple with no heirs found an aban­ doned child on their doorstep, they decid­ ed to adopt him and give him the W name Niu Tianci — which means “gift from heaven”. That’s how Lao She’s 1934 novel A foreign ceramic craftsman interacts with a Chinese peer at a The Story of Niu Tianci begins. fall fair that gathered more than 200 artists from over 60 coun­ Unlike Lao She’s other novels, tries in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, on Oct 17. ZHOU MI / XINHUA such as Rickshaw Boy and Four Generations Under One Roof, The Story of Niu Tianci is less well­ known and has never been adapted into a movie, TV series or theatrical Ancient ceramic production. However, when Chinese actor­di­ rector Fang Xu read the novel a few years ago, he was intrigued by how hub set for boost the protagonist as a young man found out that he wasn’t particular­ ly good at anything, yet still had to NANCHANG — Porcelain crafts­ difficult to achieve in their own obey the numerous rules and regu­ men from home and abroad say countries. lations set down by his parents and the plan of turning Jingdezhen, a “Jingdezhen is a spectacle. You society. Chinese city renowned for its have new discoveries here every Last year, when Lao She’s eldest 1,700­year history of manufactur­ year. Its well­developed industry daughter, Shu Ji, 87, discussed the ing porcelain, into a world ceram­ environment has attracted many idea of adapting the novel with Fang ic cultural center, will attract young artists to start their busi­ into a theatrical production, he was more skilled artisans to introduce ness and create their own works,” quick to agree. new ideas, strengthen exchanges says Yasuda. After a year of preparation, the and stimulate the development of As the city speeds up to trans­ director and scriptwriter is set to the ceramic industry. form itself into a world ceramic premiere his production, titled Niu In early October, the govern­ cultural center by 2035, Yasuda Tianci, at the Tianqiao Performing ment of eastern China’s Jiangxi says Jingdezhen is taking a new Arts Center in Beijing from Dec 25 province revealed details of a new development path. “The future of to 29. Long Xu Gou (Dragon Beard Ditch) plan to build Jingdezhen into a Jingdezhen will be brighter as it is “Both Shu Ji and I agreed that it and Teahouse, have earned him national ceramic culture inherit­ building cultural confidence at a would be a pity to ignore such a fame as a linguistic and literary ance and innovation pilot zone. higher and more international great novel,” Fang says at an event in master worldwide. One of its primary missions is to level.” Beijing to promote the upcoming Lao She committed suicide in enhance international ceramic Lee Taxoo, a ceramic artist from premiere, which falls on the 120th Beijing’s Taiping Lake in 1966 dur­ cultural exchanges and coopera­ the Republic of Korea, spends anniversary of Lao She’s birth. ing the “cultural revolution” (1966­ tion. three to four months every year “Although the novel was written 76), leaving a wealth of work that “It’s nice and interesting to me, collecting porcelain fragments in in 1934, it portrays the growth of a went on to inspire several genera­ and also for all international art­ Jingdezhen. He splices the pieces young man, which reminds me of tions of writers. ists who come here, to exchange into new ceramic works at the young people today and the philoso­ The Story of Niu Tianci was writ­ thoughts and ideas on each others bottom of old bowls — a project phy of Chinese parents toward edu­ ten when Lao She was teaching at work. People from Europe, Africa, which he has named Rebirth. cation,” Fang says. Cheeloo and Shandong universities America have come here to expe­ “Jingdezhen is a special place As an infant, Niu’s hands and feet in Jinan, the capital of Shandong rience Chinese culture and learn for porcelain artists. It has a long were bound by his parents to pre­ province. from the Chinese,” says Christia­ history of handmade ceramics, vent him from developing bandy For Fang, adapting Lao She’s ne Toewe, a German ceramic art­ which is important for ceramic legs. Niu’s mother wanted him to works has become his specialty. ist who has visited Jingdezhen cultural inheritance,” says Lee. become a government official, while The 54­year­old graduated in three times in recent years. “In China, I have more opportuni­ his father hoped he would take over Top: The cast and production crew of Niu Tianci, a play adapted directing from the Central Acade­ “At home, I have a big work­ ties to exchange design ideas the family business in later life. As a from Lao She’s novel that will be staged in Beijing from Dec 25 to 29. my of Drama in 2000, and began space, but it is refreshing to take a about my work with global art­ young man, Niu attended the best Above: Guo Qilin (left), who plays the lead role of Niu Tianci, and adapting Lao She’s books for the break, come here for three ists.” school and was an obedient stu­ his crosstalk partner Yan Hexiang. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY stage in 2011. months and work on new pro­ According to the plan, more dent. But contrary to his parent’s His first attempt, a one­man jects,” Toewe says. high­level porcelain talent will be wishes, Niu learned very little and show based on the writer’s novel As one of the areas with the introduced to Jingdezhen, and struggled with the social environ­ Guo, who is the son of crosstalk The Life of Mine, tells the sad story highest concentration of artistic both domestic and foreign scien­ ment. comedian Guo Degang. of a low­ranking police officer in talent in China, Jingdezhen has tific research and art institutions, “Adapting The Story of Niu Tianci Guo Qilin has built up a sizeable Beijing in the early 20th century, over 30,000 artists, including along with relevant creative think into a play was very difficult. I had fan base after he made his debut and was a major success. 5,000 foreigners, living in the tanks, are encouraged to establish to revise the script again and again crosstalk performance in 2011. He Since then, Fang has adapted five city. These artists are known as branches in the pilot zone. over the course of the last year,” says has expanded his career into movies of Lao She’s works into theatrical jingpiao and foreigners as yang­ More preferential policies tai­ Fang, who will use puppets for the and TV dramas. productions, including Divorce, Cat jingpiao. lored for the talent, such as hous­ first time onstage to perform with “After reading the novel, I was Country and Mr Ma and Son. Moreover, the city now boasts ing, resettlement of spouses and real actors to tell the story of the surprised to see that Lao She used Like Lao She, Fang grew up in a more than 6,700 ceramic enter­ children’s education, as well as young man. lots of elements of crosstalk in his courtyard house in a busy hutong prises and workshops and around loans for startups, will also be An all­male 16­member cast will work. I later learned that Lao She (alley) in Beijing, which immedi­ 150,000 people work in porcelain­ rolled out. play both male and female roles. was a big fan of the genre and even Although the novel ately gave him an affinity for the related industries. “Jingdezhen is an inclusive city, Guo Qilin, a 23­year­old crosstalk, performed it himself,” Guo Qilin was written in 1934, it writer and his work. For Japanese ceramist Takeshi with skilled craftsmen from all or xiangsheng, performer, will play adds. “I enjoy adapting Lao She’s works Yasuda and his wife, who have over the world gathering here,” the lead role. Guo’s longtime part­ Born as Shu Qingchun to a Man­ portrays the growth of because it feels like I’m talking to lived in the city for 17 years, Jing­ says local porcelain artist Zeng ner and crosstalk performer Yan chu family in Beijing in 1899, Lao a young man, which him. His humor and smart language dezhen is not only their creation Yalin. “The pilot zone will bring Hexiang will play the role of Niu’s She is best known for his vivid is nothing short of timeless. The base but also their second home. historical opportunities for the best friend, the personification of a descriptions of grassroots life that reminds me of young characters in his works remind me In Yasuda’s eyes, foreign artists city, which expects to attract more front gate pillar — a role that doesn’t reflect social reality and for his pre­ people today and the of my neighbors in the hutong when chose to come to Jingdezhen as it artists from home and abroad to exist in Lao She’s original novel. cise depictions of local Beijing cul­ philosophy of I was a child. They are so ordinary, is a place where they can learn exchange new ideas and crafts­ “I have never performed in a play.