Current location:world >>
Popular Chinese crosstalk comedians bring laughter, cultural charisma to London
world28694People have gathered around
IntroductionGuo Degang is a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian who has over 15 million followers on ...
Guo Degang is a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian who has over 15 million followers on China's video-sharing platform Douyin.[Photo/Xinhua]
Thunderous laughter and applause almost blew off the roof of an auditorium in London's ExCeL Exhibition Centre on Saturday night, when a punchline by Guo Degang, a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian, landed with an audience of thousands.
Along with Guo and his partner Yu Qian, a handful of comedians from the De Yun She Performance Group performed Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy, with both jokes about life anecdotes and traditional crosstalk episodes.
"Laughter is contagious and that is what makes the art form of crosstalk comedy powerful," said Guo, a leading character in both the performance group and the industry.
Guo and his group started their first overseas tour in Australia in 2011. Since then, they have performed in places including the United States, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore. This was the group's second time performing in London.
"The outcome of our years of international tours has made me realize the enduring vitality of traditional art," he said, adding that such performances can help overseas Chinese overcome homesickness through "voices in their mother tongue" and introduce traditional Chinese culture to a broader audience.
"Ever since I started learning Chinese, I've been interested in Xiangsheng," Christian Elliott, an audience member who has been learning Chinese for more than five years, told Xinhua. He wanted to see how much of the show he could understand given that there is a difference "between knowing conversational Chinese and knowing 'full' Chinese."
Elliott added that such an experience can help him learn more about the Chinese culture, history and the way people from a different background think.
Saturday's show was also the first public appearance in London for a few younger-generation performers, among whom was Meng Hetang, who joined the group in 2008.
Meng said that young inheritors of time-honored art forms, like himself, need to not only adhere to and promote tradition, but also innovate to keep pace with modern times. He performed his recently-created episode during the show.
In recent years, crosstalk comedy is becoming increasingly popular in China, especially with young people. Guo alone currently has over 15 million followers on China's video-sharing platform Douyin, while other fellow performers have several million followers each.
With London being the first stop of its Europe tour this year, the group was expected to perform in cities including Glasgow, Paris, Milan and Madrid in the upcoming month.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Planet Pulse news portal”。http://sierraleone.mybodyonelife.com/html-40f799171.html
Related articles
Not just for trolls! Four
worldA four-bedroom house which sits under a bridge has hit the market for just under half a million poun ...
【world】
Read moreCommanders release Shaka Toney after he was reinstated following a gambling suspension
worldASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Commanders released defensive end Shaka Toney on Monday, four day ...
【world】
Read moreInsider Q&A: Trust and safety exec talks about AI and content moderation
worldAlex Popken was a longtime trust and safety executive at Twitter focusing on content moderation befo ...
【world】
Read more
Popular articles
- Scarred UNESCO World Heritage site Jiuzhaigou recovers after quake
- Bill allowing parents to be fined for child's criminal offenses heads to Tennessee governor
- Masters champion Scottie Scheffler builds 5
- Baltimore leaders accuse ship's owner and manager of negligence in Key Bridge collapse
- Immersive Studio Ghibli exhibition opens in Shanghai
- NCAA ratifies immediate eligibility for athletes no matter how many times they switch schools
Latest articles
Nicaragua severs diplomatic relations with Ecuador after assault on Mexican embassy
Missouri lawmakers again try to kick Planned Parenthood off Medicaid
Jaiswal strikes form as Rajasthan beats Mumbai to stay on top in IPL
Chiefs sign coach Andy Reid, GM Brett Veach, team president Mark Donovan to contract extensions
Entire mall in Georgia is closed after 'shots are fired inside
Brit, 22, plunges to his death from fifth
LINKS
- Explainer: Understanding Inclusiveness of Chinese Civilization
- Xiplomacy: China Elevates Ties with Palestine, Pledging Support
- Explainer: Understanding Inclusiveness of Chinese Civilization
- Tourism event brings 5,000 exhibitors to Shanghai
- Happy Life in Galai Village
- Xi Meets with Mongolian PM
- World Insights: How China Strives to Improve Global Human Rights Governance for a Better World
- EHang receives production certificate for self
- Guizhou mountain tourism is peak treat
- The young and old in Suzhou enjoyed the Double Ninth Festival together in autumn outings