The Cantonese opera 72 Tenants, adapted from a renowned Chinese comic drama of the same name, will be staged in Foshan on August 27 and 28 as well as in Guangzhou on September 4.

A poster of the Cantonese opera 72 Tenants. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

The classic 72 Tenants, a farce launched by the Shanghai People’s Comic Troupe in 1958, has been adapted into various versions of movies, sitcoms and plays in both Guangzhou and Hong Kong SAR over the past 60 years. It is now one of the most well-known and popular stories for artistic creation in China. The Guangzhou version of 72 Tenants tells a story of the tenants living on Taiping Street in Xiguan where they fight against bullies and evils together.

The opera version is produced by the Foshan Cantonese Opera Troupe, and adapted by famous screenwriters Cai Yanfen and He Duzhong who is also the director. The opera features renowned Cantonese opera performers Ding Fan and Li Shuqin, as well as 83-year-old Cantonese crosstalk artist Huang Junying.

A group photo of the performing artists at the press conference. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Li Shuqin, the director of the Foshan Cantonese Opera Troupe, said this is a once in a lifetime chance where audiences will be able to watch so many famous performing artists from Guangdong staging a comedic Cantonese opera.

Ding Fan, former director of the Guangdong Yueju Opera Theater, said this is the first time he has performed a comedic opera. Ding hopes that Cantonese opera will be performed in more popular and diversified ways to attract more young audiences.

Performers rehearse the opera. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

The Cantonese opera 72 Tenants will debut at the Foshan Qionghua Theater on August 27 and 28. Tickets for August 27 have been sold out, and only a few tickets for August 28 remain. The opera will also come to the Guangzhou stage on September 4 at the Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall. After that, it will go on tour to other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

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Author: Monica Liu

Editor: Chris