Production of classic Kunqu play set for stage

The leading characters will be performed by young artists — Luo Chenxue and Hu Weilu — a move that Cai Zhengren, a renowned artist and the former director of Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, hails as a "bold and wise" decision.

Cai explains that the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe has nurtured several generations of Kunqu artists and that continued support to young artists is important to the company.

Hu is a female performer who takes on young male roles. Such cross-gender performances have become rare in the past decades in China's folk opera scene.

Yue Meiti, a renowned female artist who plays male roles, has witnessed the significant progress of Hu during the eight-month rehearsal period for the new production.

"Hu tends to be quiet and reserved and keeps much of her thoughts to herself. I've seen her grow into the character through the rehearsals, thanks to the guidance of director Guo."

Hu is one of the few women prodigies Yue has mentored in recent years.

"She really liked the style of male roles, and chose to focus her training in the field," Yue says.

"I also have other female students, who majored in male characters by chance, or simply because they grew quite tall, and have difficulty finding matching boys to perform duet scenes."