Puppets can string us along

Sino-French production aims to demonstrate the universal appeal of the art form with a show that pulls out all of the stops, Chen Nan reports.

Theatergoers to the contemporary puppet show, Star Fish, will be taken on a whimsical journey through this creative collaboration between artists from China and France.

Inspired by the delightful 2018 novel by Zhou Xiaofeng, its story takes place in the depths of the ocean where two stars, who are twin brothers, tumble into the human world, kicking off an adventure that blends cultural charm with theatrical magic.

"I was deeply touched by the novel when I read it for the first time, though it's written for children. Steeped in the ocean's mysteries, it paints a picture of the brotherhood between the two stars as they navigate the complexities of human existence in the big blue ocean," says the show's producer Han Chi. "It's a tale that resonates with themes of unity, discovery and courage, weaving a narrative tapestry that captures the imagination and stirs the soul of both children and adults."

Star Fish will be staged in Beijing on Sept 6, as the opening show of the upcoming 2024 Beijing International Puppet Festival, which will run from Sept 6 to Oct 6.

According to Han, who is the curator and producer of the festival, 28 productions and more than 50 shows from 11 countries are on the agenda, including from the United Kingdom, France, Brazil and Spain. In addition to live performances, the festival includes online screenings of nine other productions from around the world, as well as workshops, which will offer attendees the opportunity to explore the backstage at puppet shows.

In Star Fish, the audience will be introduced to a dreamlike world inhabited by puppets of variously sized fish, with the lead character, Xiao Nu, one of the twin stars, becoming a 3.5-meter whale puppet when he falls into the ocean.

Han invited French director, Marjorie Nakache, to be part of the show, which took the creative team about 18 months to finish.

With a deep background in theater and puppetry, Nakache brings a unique perspective to the production, infusing it with a blend of French theatrical experience and a deep respect for the narrative traditions of both countries.