A drama featuring ‘Lin Zexu’, a Qing Dynasty official, who led the fight against opium smuggling, will be staged at Guangzhou Opera House on January 15th and 16th, 2020.

The drama is a co-production from the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) drama commission and Guangzhou Dramatic Arts Centre to commemorate the 180th anniversary of Lin destroying opium in Humen, Dongguan in 1839.

A poster of the drama ‘Lin Zexu’ [Photo: Guangzhou Opera House]

Lin Zexu was sent by Emperor Daoguang to Guangzhou to stop the illegal import of opium from the British in 1838. Lin arrived in the spring of 1839 and ordered the destruction of about 1,400 tonnes of smuggled opium confiscated from British dealers in Humen, a port town, over 23 days in June, 1839. The incident triggered the First Opium War.

The drama depicts the great man by focusing on the conflicts between him and political figures including the Daoguang Emperor, Guan Tianpei, Qi Shan, and Wang Ding, and topically plays up to his patriotism and pioneering spirit.

The performance is directed by Wang Xiaodi, president of the Guangzhou Drama Art Center and features Chinese veteran actor Pu Cunxin as the protagonist and actress Xu Fan as Lin's wife.

Pu Cunxin as the protagonist Lin Zexu in rehearsal. [Photo: Official website of NCPA]

Xu Fan as Lin's wifein rehearsal. [Photo: Official website of NCPA]

Time: 7:30pm, Wednesday, January 15th-16th, 2020

Tickets: RMB 180-980

Venue: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House

Add: No.1 Zhujiang Xilu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou

Nearby metro station: Zhujiang New Town, Line 3 or 5

Duration: 140mins

* Children under 1.2 meters aren’t allowed to attend.

Author: Monica Liu

Editor: Simon Haywood