Theatre Students Explore Historical Stigma Towards LGBTQ Relationships Through 350-Year-Old Chinese Comedy
This May the students of Victoria University of Wellington’s THEA 323: Intercultural Performance Practices course will present Two Belles In Love: A Romance, adapted from a 350-year-old lesbian romantic comedy by Li Yu. The play explores societal stigma towards same-sex relationships in Imperial China, but the students are discovering it is still poignantly relevant to their experiences today.
The students are creating the set design and performing in the play, directed by course co-coordinator and Intercultural Theatre Practices expert, Dr. Megan Evans.
Evans decided to direct the play after seeing a Chinese opera version of it in Beijing in 2010. She was attracted by the playwright’s clever and sympathetic treatment of a lesbian relationship. “I was afraid at first of the technical difficulty of Chinese opera music, which requires years of training. Musician Ailise Beales has solved that problem by writing lovely new songs for our production, which integrates influences from Asian and Western performance.”
In Two Belles, two young women fall in “love at first scent” (a line from the play.) The two belles pledge to "just trust fate" and reunite in their next lives as a heterosexual couple. However, the setting is Imperial China, and the strict conventional society presents many obstacles to their clever attempts to be together in this life.
“There’s always been a stigma towards the LGBTQ community,” says student Finnian Nacey. “And it’s surprising to find a piece of theatre that’s over 300 years old and so openly depicts a same-sex relationship. As LGBT myself, I feel like this show depicts with honesty the struggles the community goes through… it’s really resonated with a lot of the cast.”
Although the content might appear heavy, the play is actually a comedy, focusing on love rather than oppression, and promises to be sweet, funny, and compellingly relevant for a contemporary audience. “Putting this show together has been a great experience,” says student Kyra Basabas, “it’s such a supportive and creative environment and we are all learning so much about theatre, its relevance, and what it can contribute to society, even when it is hundreds of years old!”
Two Belles is showing at Studio 77 at 77 Fairlie Terrace from 24 – 28 May. Booking details are below. Please note ticket sales on the door are cash only.
For media enquiries and interview requests, please contact Theatre Programme administrator, Cathy McCullagh, on 04 463 5359, or cathy.mccullagh@vuw.ac.nz.
For the student publicist, please contact Finnian Nacey on nacey.f@gmail.com.
What: Two Belles In Love: A Romance. Adapted from a 350-year-old lesbian romantic comedy by Li Yu, with new music by Ailise Beales. Directed by Megan Evans. Presented by Victoria University Theatre Programme and the students of THEA 323.
When: Wednesday 24 May – Saturday 27 May 2017, 7.30pm (duration 90 minutes)
Where: Studio 77, 77 Fairlie Terrace, Kelburn
Tickets: $16 waged and $8 unwaged/student
Bookings: Available on Eventfinda: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2017/two-belles-in-love-romance/wellington Door sales also may be available (cash only).
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1521729597868174/