East and West: “Lear is Hear” directed by Wu Xing Guo

Abstract

The object of this research to one-man production “Lear is Here” based on W. Shakespeare's tragedy, “King Lear”. The theatrical director and actor of Beijing Opera Wu Xing Guo (born 1953, Taiwan) bravely edits the Shakespearian text and principles of the National Theatre of China. Since 1980’s, Wu Xing Guo uses the traditional Eastern scenic elements (line of roles, symbolic face painting, acrobatics) and Western European texts, forming a unique theatrical language. The peculiarities of his directing are examined within the Russian theatre studies for the first time. In accordance with the methodology of formal school, the article presents reconstruction of the play and analysis of scenic text from the perspective of Eastern theatre traditions, as well as the modern theatrical context. The author’s special contribution lies in the observation that in the spectacle “Lear is Hear”, Wu Xing Guo conceptually forgoes the narrative composition in order to reveal the playing nature of the theatre: his goal is not to tell the history of Lear or rendition of Shakespearian storyline. Playing ten different characters solely, and fusing in a complex role structure the Eastern and Western theatrical traditions, Wu Xing Guo exposes another storyline of “King Lear”– the pursuance of actor’s identity.