Kiln site takes center stage in romantic drama

On June 6 and 7, the premiere of The Cizhou Kiln, a stage drama produced by Hebei Performing Arts Group and presented by the Hebei Drama Theatre, was held in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province.

Supported by the China National Arts Fund, the play draws on over a millennium of Hebei's Cizhou kiln heritage and incorporates the regional opera style, Wu'an Laozi, a traditional folk opera form originating in Wu'an, Hebei province, to re-create the artistry and spirit of traditional craftsmanship.

Set in Cizhou's Guantai town during the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), the story follows Li Yan, a painter's son who becomes stranded at a kiln site. With the help of Zhang Ji'er, the kiln master's daughter, Li finds work and love. Facing betrayal and hardship, the duo ultimately revives the kiln industry, integrating literati painting techniques into ceramic folk art, illustrating Cizhou kiln's evolution and cultural significance.