An enduring enchantment with Peking Opera

Lifelong commitment

Pourazar believes that great art transcends language. Over the years, he has devoted himself to introducing Peking Opera and Sun Wukong to international audiences, taking Chinese performers to places like the US, Britain and Malaysia.

He teaches courses and organizes workshops in the US, bringing Peking Opera to curious learners and has also adapted classic plays like The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven into English. "I changed the spoken parts and kept the original songs, and it became a success on the international stage," he says.

"I am the most powerful spirit in heaven and earth," Pourazar exclaims, dressed in the signature yellow costume of the Monkey King. As he recites the dialogue in English with the distinctive intonation of Peking Opera, he leaps, flips and executes movements that capture the playful nature of the mischievous monkey.

Over the past two decades, his performances have introduced the character to people abroad. "My nephew has become so enamored with the Monkey King that he taught himself to perform the character," Pourazar says.

"I love the Monkey King for his simplicity and the inner child that defines his character. His love of freedom and quest for longevity are also qualities I respect," he says. "I believe he resonates with people of different cultures."

He has also adapted Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream into Peking Opera. "By presenting a story that Western audiences are already familiar with, I hope to introduce them to the beauty of Peking Opera," he says.

In recognition of his contributions, Pourazar received the Great Wall Friendship Award from the Beijing government in 2014.

Over the years, he has suffered injuries and health issues. His right knee is arthritic, and he suffers from edema due to excessive exertion during a recent Peking Opera workshop in California, but he continues undeterred.

"I rely on traditional Chinese medicine when I am unwell or injured," he says, sipping green tea from a thermos and adds that his love of Chinese culture extends beyond Peking Opera, to calligraphy, painting, cuisine, and kung fu.

Despite his health challenges and advancing age, Pourazar remains committed to his art.

He is currently working on two Broadway-style musical projects, both influenced by Peking Opera traditions. The first, Dream of Wukong, explores his personal journey mastering Peking Opera, while the second, Dr Jane Goodall, is the story of the renowned British ecologist and her extensive work with chimpanzees.

"Cultural exchange should be reciprocal. I aim to blend my expertise in opera with my multicultural background to create enriching artistic experiences for the audience," Pourazar says.