Reaching out through theater
Based on folklore, Chinese Mermaid was co-written by famed playwright Huang Zongjiang and his daughter Ruan Dandi in the late 1970s. It follows the story of Jin Zhuzi, a kind, brave and tenacious boy who spends his life doing everything he can to deliver on his promise to rescue Cai Ping, a kindhearted girl who has been kidnapped and turned into a mermaid by an evil Dragon Prince, and restore her legs.
The play created a sensation following its debut in 1981, prompting comic books to be made from stage photos of the performance. In 2015, the theater revived the play with modern stage design and has since put on over 70 performances.
"Chinese Mermaid is a classic of our repertoire. It has won the approval of generations of theatergoers," says Feng Li, president of the China National Theater for Children.
"It embodies traditional Chinese aesthetics and values such as being kind and honoring one's commitments. As these are universal values that resonate easily with children from other cultures, we accepted Chen's proposal," she adds.
