MCLC: This Sun Is Not for Us

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Ruru Li <R.Li at leeds.ac.uk>
Subject: The Sun Is Not for Us
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The Sun Is Not for Us (stage at leedstouring) is a piece of devised theatre
based on Cao Yu¹s four most famous plays to this year¹s Edinburgh Festival
Fringe. 

Often compared to Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov and O¹Neill, Cao Yu is the
foremost pioneer of modern Chinese drama; his skillful fusion of dramatic
artistry and socio-political themes has made his work masterpieces. Cao
Yu¹s work has been revived and adapted into other genres, and performed in
other countries since they were first premiered in the 1930s and 1940s.
 

The Sun Is Not for Us explores love, hatred, adultery, incest, hope,
frustration and struggle from a Chinese women¹s perspective. What happens
when a Chinese woman, after imprisoned in an eighteen-year arranged
marriage, falls in love with her stepson? Why does a girl leave university
to become a courtesan? How can a woman reconcile primitive passions,
sexual deprivation, and defiant courage for life? After losing love and
dignity is death the only escape? The production¹s poignant splendour,
poetic style and its profound sentiments help audiences see Chinese
women¹s long and painful journey in the early 20th century - denied the
sun and bereft of hope.
 

This one-hour production aims to be dynamic, sophisticated, passionate and
dangerous. The language of the Chinese master is well blended with
movements/dances created by a talented group of British young actors who
bring the Chinese characters, their heart-rending lives and the
complicated society into their own perspectives.

 
The Sun Is Not for Us premiered in March 2011 in Leeds and comes
toEdinburgh with a new cast under the helm  of the award-winner David
Jiang.
 

After the Fringe the production will be performed at the Shanghai
International Contemporary Theatre Festival in China in November 2012.
 

The Sun Is Not for Us is a profound and intercultural piece of theatre.
 

Dr Li is a researcher and practitioner of Chinese theatre and is working
on the Royal Shakespeare Company¹s first Chinese play The Orphan of the
Zhao Family.
 

Performance information
 

Previews: 3, 4 August @ £5.00
Performances: 6, 7, 10, 11 August @ £7.00 (£5.00)
At 4:10pm (1 hour)
 
theSpace on North Bridge (Theatre 2, V36).
North Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1TH
Email: publicity at thespaceuk.com