Chao drama

Chao drama commonly called Chaozhou play is one of the nation ten dramas and eight go aboard dramas. It is evolved from Yuannan play,and has more than 500 years history. During long develop process, Chao drama extensively absorb Chaozhou soul of Chaozhou music and folk dance, also absorb strongpoint of other drama, finally forming a unique drama.

Chao drama root from Chaozhou, later popular in Chaoshan and south Fujian, Taiwan and Hongkong, has far-reaching effect in many countries of southeast, such as 《Lijin record》, 《gold flower woman》, 《Shu Liuniang》are collected in the library of American, England, Austria, and Japan, has more than 30 Chaozhou drama team in Thailand.

Chao drama role divided into Sheng (young boy, old boy, military boy etc), Dan (Huadan, pantaloon, military Dan, Wushan), Jing(commonly called “Wumian”) and Chou( buffoon, old and woman Chou etc.)

Possess unique art style in perform format, especially art of sing pay attention to circumbendibus. Antic performs clownery and humor, deeply loved by people. All activity on stage is very beautiful. Such as activity location of hand, has “Huadan level with navel, Xiaosheng front of chest.”

Accompany divided into language and military scene, language scene mainly adopt Chaozhou chord musical instrument, military mainly adopt Chaozhou gong and drum.

Chao drama take high reputation at home and abroad. Chao drama is enjoying high reputation at home and abroad. Show their skills in year 1957 and 1959, country lead Mao Zhedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai watch the performance; also see player and take group photo accept as a souvenir. At the end of 1991, city drama corps as only art corps of Guangdong province, gain “Country culture advanced collectivity”. In recent years, Chao drama corps often perform in Hongkong, Thailand, Singapore, gain high appraise and admiration.