Performance Infinity in collaboration with the Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe, assisted in managing their performance of the tragic romance ‘Romeo and Juliet’, part of the official programme marking the 400^th year anniversary of the deaths of Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare. One of Shakespeare most well-known and admired plays, it tells the tale of two lovers who defy being apart in spite of their family’s bitter feud. However, in the plays final tragic scenes their lives are lost, in no small part because of the animosity between the two lovers great house’s. The play offers the perfect opportunity for the ‘Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe’, honoured by China’s Cultural Communications Bureau as being the most famous performing arts troupe in China, the perfect platform to showcase their vast talent. The Kunqu form of Chinese opera pre-dates Shakespeare by around two hundred years and is noted for its emotionally charged portrayals, graceful imagery and poetic beauty. Critically acclaimed director, Wang Xiaoying, brought together both the finest traditions of Chinese and British theatre to create a truly special piece of work. The performance received a high degree of media attention both in the U.K and China, where it was featured on C.C.T.V, China’s national broadcasting agency.

Spotlites, Venue 278, Edinburgh

Performance Infinity produced this production alongside the Shijia Drama Club and Chongqing Foreign Language School. ‘Little Shakespeare’ is a medley of three of Shakespeare’s most famous works, each piece lasting twenty minutes. Ranging in age from ten to fifteen the two schools produced brilliant shorts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear and Hamlet. Known as being two of the most prestigious institutes in China for the development of young theatrical talent, it was a brilliant opportunity for the students to be able to perform in Britain. As well as offering British audiences the chance to see some of China’s next generation of raising stars. This collaboration was part of the official programme commemorating the 400^th year anniversary of the deaths of Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare.

As part of the official programme commemorating the 400^th year anniversary of the deaths of Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare, Performance Infinity helped the ‘The Malachites’ break new ground by taking responsibility for their first international tour of China. This process involved organizing the tour schedule, helping to ensure clear communications between international partners and developing media interest in a company operating in China for the first time. Founded in 2013 ‘The Malachites’ are a site-specific theatre company who aim to reconnect Shakespeare and his plays to the area’s in which he lived and worked. As well as bringing their own unique style to an international audience. This year saw the Malachites take ‘Hamlet’, perhaps Shakespeare’s most revered play, to the Guangzhou Dramatic Arts Centre, China. Having previously played in venues ranging from historic gardens to Churches, this was an event not to be missed. In conjunction with Performance Infinity ‘The Malachites’ production received critical acclaim, performing to a sold out Chinese audience.

Performance Infinity helped to mark a significant year in global theatre, the four-hundred-year anniversary of two of the world’s most noted playwrights, William Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu. To highlight this the internationally renowned ‘Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe’ created a unique piece of work ‘Coriolanus and Du Liniang’, combining Shakespeare’s ‘Coriolanus’ with Xianzu’s ‘The Peony Pavilion’. As well as presenting the show Performance Infinity arranged a symposium event and two stand-alone showcases. This offered British audience members the chance to enhance their understanding of the ‘Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe’ and put question to its director Guo Xiaonan. The play Interweaves the story of the Roman general Coriolanus, ostracized by his own people, and Du Liniang, a young heroine who vividly dreams of the future lover she has yet to meet. In order to bring this exceptional piece of work to London, Performance Infinity, in its capacity as lead producers brought the show to London’s Peacock Theatre. Combining our experience and knowledge of London’s theatre market, we were able to deliver a highly successful sold-out performance. This was part of the official programme to commemorate the 400^th year anniversary of the deaths of Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare.

Publications

Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company who create theatre for all ages and run successful outreach projects, education courses and membership programmes. Its mission for inclusion has never been lost and is central to the work Chickenshed does and the projects it undertakes. This year Chickenshed in association with Performance Infinity, the Xia Men Min Nan Theatre company and CPAA, collaborated in bringing Chinese children together to create their own production. The children were given a brilliant grounding in all aspects of theatre, helping to build confidence and social awareness. In conjuncture with director David Carey the children had a key input into the creation of their own play ‘Looking for Green Land’, a non-traditional piece which the children helped to write, develop and create. The play was performed both in the U.K and China. Performance Infinity was delighted to help be part of this fantastic collaboration aiming to inspire and educate Chinese children through the theatre.

This year saw the unique ‘Malasombra’ perform in China for the first time. As the lead producers on this project Performance Infinity proceeded to promote this show to a suitable theatre in China, handling all international communications and scheduling the tour and technical requirements. ‘Malasombra’ combines various forms of artistic expression including video art, dance, object theatre and live music. The end result was the creation of a collective fantasy based upon a scenario by renowned Spanish Cartoonist, Max. The piece, inspired by Adelbert von Chamisso’s “Peter Schlemihl’s Remarkable Story”, tells the tale of a world in which all humans are embodied with a soul of darkness and light. Asking the question, what would happen if that soul where to be stolen? On the back of the success of the collaboration between ‘Malasombra’ and Performance Infinity the show has been programmed into the China International Children’s Festival, 2016.

The Disadvantaged Girls Project is a collaborative programme between Jingying Entertainment Group (Elite Group) and Performance Infinity. The aim of the programme is to develop an ongoing initiative that will see British artists travel to a charity school in Shijiazhuang, China. Using theatrical education, a relatively new concept in Chinese teaching, the girls will create a piece of work that will allow them to share their own stories, and life experiences. Each of the girls at the school come from either a socially, economically or financially challenging background, and so the project aims to give these young girls a voice. This year Dave Carey of the renowned Chickenshed Theatre together with his colleague Michael Bossisse travelled to Shijiazhuang for a week-long workshop, which culminated in a production developed by the girls themselves. Next year, all the partners will look to expand this initiative further, potentially bringing the students to the UK for a standalone performance.

This year saw the unique Lebensraum from the legendary theatre artist Jakop Ahlbom and the rock music band Alamo Race perform in China for the first time. As the lead producer on this project Performance Infinity proceeded to promote this show to a suitable theatres in China, handling all international communications and scheduling the tour and technical requirements. On the back of the success of the collaboration between Lebensraum and Performance Infinity the show has been programmed into the Shanghai International Comedy Festival, 2017.

Lebensraum

Several years ago, there was a Spanish mask theatre company became very popular in China. To discover the mask theatre’s charm through different companies and their works, we invited Vamos Theatre to be the guest performing group to bring their unique and powerful performances to the Chinese audience. Worked together with the local professionals, drama students and ordinary audience, Vamos Theatre brought lots of inspiration to the Chinese theatre makers.