The Covetousness

Adapted from a rarely performed scene in Tang Xianzu’s Ming Dynasty masterpiece. The Dream of Nanke, this production brings back a nearly lost gem of Chinese theatre. With only fragmentary scripts and oral accounts surviving, our team spent months researching ancient scores and historical materials, reconstructing the piece with scholarly care and artistic integrity. It is a dream on the edge of waking, where loyalty clashes with destiny. Performed by a huadan (female warrior) and hualian (painted-face male role), the piece breaks conventional casting, blending intense physicality with emotional depth — a rare portrayal in the world of Chinese opera (Kunqu). This is not just a revival, but a reawakening of a forgotten cultural dream. Performed in a traditional Chinese operatic vocal style with Chinese and English surtitles. Workshops are also offered — an opportunity to explore Kunqu up close; details via the Rotunda Theatre.