A Report on the 2014 UNIMA (Union Internationale De La Marionette) Conference, Nanchong, Sichuan, China

Abstract

The First China Nanchong International Puppet Art Week (Shoujie Zhongguo Nanchong mu’ou yishu zhou 首屆中國南充國際木偶藝術周), took place in Nanchong, Sichuan, June 1–6, 2014. This large festival included at least twenty-five troupes from the various provinces in China and welcomed over twenty-three troupes from around the world, including Taiwan. A seminar series of more than twenty presentations by scholars, performing artists, and cultural representatives in morning sessions took place over three days. Lively discussion in both English and Chinese followed formal presentations. Also during the week, a set of judges reviewed live and recorded performances, and their awards determined the fate and future funding of various artists and troupes. Nanchong is home to a world-renowned large puppet theater tradition known as Chuanbei da mu’ou川北大木偶 (Chuanbei [Northern Sichuan] Big Puppet). It is less than a four-hour drive to the northeast of Chengdu. Seven venues, including the new and very large Nanchong Theater (impressive with its grand staircase but still devoid of any landscaping), hosted the well-attended events. Buses transported participants across town to the various venues, while free outdoor performances in the town plaza showcased artists for locals and anyone walking by during the week. Sponsored by the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Culture, the City of Nanchong, and the UNIMA Asia-Pacific Commission, the International Puppet Week was organized and coordinated by a combination of arts organizations and propaganda bureaus. It follows in the footsteps of the 21 UNIMA World Puppetry Congress and Festival held in Chengdu, Sichuan, from May 27 to June 3, 2012, also a red carpet event showcased on Chinese national television. Massive coordination of close to a hundred prescreened English speaking volunteers, drivers, and handlers from universities in Sichuan cheerfully managed logistics for the mostly non-Chinese-speaking visiting guests. Effectively overcoming obstacles through rapid-fire cell phone communication and transportation, these young people were on call well into the night. Many of us were lavishly housed and fed in the five-star Tian Lai Hotel (Tianlai da jiudian 天來大酒店) on the banks of the Jialing River. The hotel’s glitzy lobby and abundant international buffet offered great locations for mixing with different performers and scholars each day. CHINOPERL: Journal of Chinese Oral and Performing Literature 34. 2 (December 2015): 162–165