Feature: China's Sichuan Opera welcomed by British audience

GLASGOW, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Sichuan Opera troupe from southwestern Chongqing Municipality Wednesday night gave their last show of the Britain tour at a theater in Glasgow.

After two splendid performances in the northernmost islands, Shetland, the troupe arrived at the Platform, Glasgow on Wednesday noon, rehearsed, prepared and waited for their final show in Britain.

The show started at 7 p.m., performers from Chongqing Chuan Ju Theater first showed some highlights of the 300-year-old Sichuan Opera, including the beautiful costumes, five principal roles, movements and performing techniques in Sichuan Opera.

They then performed three episodes from three very famous and classic Sichuan operas, showing the different styles and diversity of this traditional opera in southwest China, gaining warm applause from the audience.

John Rae, Jim Holland (two fathers) and their sons came to watch Sichuan Opera for the first time tonight, and thought the show was spectacular. Both their sons are learning Chinese at school.

"We really enjoyed the performance, I love the comedy of the man with an oil lamp on his head. That is very unique here," said Holland.

"There are sorts of elements and funny parts in the comedy, the acrobatics are terrific. I think the performance can help us better understand the Chinese culture and history," said Rae.

Li Tingyong, vice director of Chongqing Municipal Culture Commission, also the leader of the troupe, said compared with other tours he had seen previously in the western countries, he thought highly of the performances of the troupe from Chongqing Chuan Ju Theater.

"They have not only exhibited the beauty of our traditional opera to the local British residents, but also achieved great effects among them. They worked very hard during their performances, and also elaborated their lines and interacts for a better understanding by the audience," he added.

The troupe preformed 10 shows of Sichuan Opera in the museum, schools and theaters in London, Preston, Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Shetland, etc, in the past two weeks.