Zhou Hong teaches students to perform.
Fujian Daily reporter Shu Hongxia
Editor's note: On March 28, the list of the fifth "National Young and Middle-Aged Literary and Art Workers" was announced, and Zhou Hong, president of the Fujian Experimental Min Theater in Fujian Province, and Zheng Chunhui, representative inheritor of putian wood carving of the national intangible cultural heritage project, were selected. This newspaper takes you closer to these two literary and artistic workers who are both virtuous and artistic.
"Fujian is a big province of opera, and there are many outstanding talents, and I have the honor of winning the honorary title of 'National Young and Middle-Aged Literary and Art Workers of Virtue and Art', all thanks to the blessing of Fujian opera." This is an affirmation, but also a responsibility and encouragement. ”
——Zhou Hong
With dreams, stick to the art road
Zhou Hong is from Fuqing, an overseas Chinese village. "Drama is bigger than the sky, and virtue is as thick as the earth", from the moment he entered the Xiqu Hall in 1989 to major in Qingyi, these eight big characters have been integrated into Zhou Hong's bones. During her time in school, Zhou Hong never slackened off, pondering every action and expression, every confession and singing voice, and perceiving the joys and sorrows of the characters in the play.
When she graduated in 1994, coinciding with the 4th Fujian Drama Daffodil Award Competition, Zhou Hong chose the 20-minute folding play "Zhaojun Out of the Jam".
"I play Wang Zhaojun in the play. At that time, the teacher who taught me this play was more strict, requiring me to sing martial arts in literature and opera, and I needed to pay equal attention to singing and doing. I start practicing at 11:30 a.m. every day, turning harriers, stringing over, three up and three rounds... Take a breath for 20 minutes, three times in a row. I firmly believe that Yan Shi is a high disciple, and the merit is forced out, and I grit my teeth and persevere. Zhou Hong's physical fitness was thus trained, and her body became more and more standardized, and she successfully won her first award from the arts, "Excellent New Seedling Award".
As soon as she graduated, Zhou Hong came to the Fujian Provincial Experimental Theater Troupe, the predecessor of the Fujian Experimental Min Theater, with a dream, and the same stage performed by the brothers and sisters, and she did not have the opportunity to be the main actor for a while, she watched while acting on the stage.
"Stupid Kung Fu" makes real Kung Fu. "The industry of opera must be thick and thin, and the effort outside of 8 hours is very important, and how much sweat and tears you spill in the rehearsal hall will definitely be able to reap the corresponding rewards on the stage." Recognizing this theory, Zhou Hong would not give up no matter how bitter and tired she was.
Because of love, so perseverance. Many relatives advised Zhou Hong to develop abroad. "I've been studying drama for 5 years, and I haven't tried it yet, so how can I give up?" At that time, I was holding my breath, hoping that I could apply what I had learned. Zhou Hong said.
That insistence is where it is today.
Accumulate thick and thin hair, achieve the "first plum"
The newly written historical drama "Sun Shangxiang" can be called Zhou Hong's famous work, which was the first time she participated in the performance after entering the troupe.
Sun Shangxiang in the play is from 19 years old to 50 years old, spanning Hua Dan, Qingyi, Lao Dan and other industries, during that time the rehearsal was tense, especially hard, Zhou Hong's throat was once dumb to make a sound, and had to take acupuncture treatment. In order not to affect the progress of the rehearsal, she silently put away the doctor's leave certificate and went straight to the rehearsal hall as soon as she returned from the hospital. Her efforts were rewarded, her performance was successful, and Zhou Hong also won the Outstanding Actor Award of the 22nd Fujian Provincial Drama Festival.
There is an old saying in Pear Garden, called "saving the field is like putting out a fire". Zhou Hong, who has a solid foundation, can stand up at key moments.
"For the scene to save the scene, I am relatively many, large and small roles, there are two more representative: "The Record of the Degraded Official" I am in danger to save the scene, from the beautiful and fierce Ai Chunlan to the gentle and intelligent Zhang Xiuyu, "Mei Yu Matching" from the soft and lively sister-in-law to the witty and calm sister-in-law, the character personalities in the two big plays are very different. These experiences and trials have also enriched my artistic life creation. Zhou Hong said.
In 2006, Zhou Hong ushered in one of the most important and challenging roles in her artistic career, Pan Jinlian, to show the mental journey of a young girl with simple dreams to sink step by step on the stage. She practiced diligently, and every action echoed with the vocal cavity just right, and with this role, she won the 23rd Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award in one fell swoop, becoming the first actress in the history of Fujian opera to win the Plum Blossom Award.
All the way down, what Zhou Hong wants to say most is gratitude.
"Every transformation I have made from the road of art has depended on the careful guidance of many predecessors and directors such as the famous Fujian opera performance artist Lin Ying, who has helped me tie the first button with their words and deeds, which makes me feel in awe, work hard and practice real skills, and only then have I become what I am today." Zhou Hong sighed.
Shouzheng innovation, to create a "four-person hospital group"
In 2011, Zhou Hong took over the burden of being the director of the Fujian Experimental Min Theater from Lin Ying. After that, what she thought about the most was not her personal achievements, but how to protect, inherit and develop the intangible cultural heritage of Fujian opera well.
Focusing on the creation of "four theater troupes" such as famous plays, famous actors, famous theaters, and famous dramas, Zhou Hong and the team twisted into a rope to form a strong synergy, which not only enabled the theater to be successfully selected as a key theater troupe for local opera creation and performance in the country, but also created excellent stage art masterpieces represented by the Fujian opera "Double Butterfly Fan" and "Life", and continued to move towards the peak of art.
Shouzheng innovation, Zhou Hong led the theater to create a large-scale red theme Of Fujian opera modern drama "Life", which greatly expanded the theme and expression of Fujian opera. At that time, in order to participate in the provincial drama performance, more than 100 days of uninterrupted rehearsal, Zhou Hong was not only the main actor, the role was many, but also served as the producer and inheritor of the play, channeling the confusion of young actors, and having to discuss rehearsals and work itineraries with the director on the spot, and could not take a break at all.
"Although the implementation process of the project was quite difficult at that time, we still survived, and finally the play won the 15th 'Five One Project' Excellent Work Award, and achieved the sixth consecutive championship of the Fujian Drama Award." Zhou Hong laughed.
"Although Fujian opera is a local opera, it is highly inclusive, and the artistic style keeps pace with the times, which is very substitutionary. Last year, we boldly used the 'post-90s' and 'post-00s' young people, who picked the beams, and the young audience immersed themselves in it, crying and laughing with the plot. For example, Zhou Hong said that in the past, "Horns" sang vigorously and the fans applauded, while the modern drama of Fujian opera was mainly based on the progression of the story, which narrowed the distance with the young audience.
Advocating virtue and art, Fujian opera has been rejuvenated. "Fujian opera is often performed as a new one. As a non-hereditary inheritor, I am well aware of the heavy responsibility on my shoulders, and I will adhere to the principle of innovation and ingenuity, and strive to explore the contemporary expression of traditional Fujian opera. Zhou Hong said.
Zhou Hong performance photos
Zhou Hong participated in the performance.
Zhou Hong
The images in this column are provided by the respondents