Liu Baoluo (1907-1941) was a Chinese drama actor as well as a theater activist. He was born into a poor family inChangsha,HunanProvince.
Liu went to theChangshaNormal Schoolin 1925 where he began to accept the progressive theories. After the failure of the First Civil War in 1927, Liu was discontent with the dark Kuomintang (KMT) government and left forShanghaito seek the truth. When he passed byNanjingin the autumn of 1928, he watched a lot of dramas likeTragedy on the Lakeand began to love this art form. In the autumn of 1929, he joined the Shanghai Art Society led by the Communist Party. In the dramaAll quiet on the West Front,he acted as the hero Paul.His vivid and enthusiastic interpretation of the character was very much admired by the audience. Hence he changed his name to Liu Baoluo (Paul in Chinese).
In the spring of 1931, Liu was the secretary of the Left Wing Dramatist League, and later he promoted the left-wing dramas and organized a lot of performances inShanghaiandHangzhou. Meanwhile, he also performed in a lot progressive dramas. In July 1932, he was arrested due to his active work in promoting progressive dramas. After he was freed in the winter of 1935, he continued to engage himself in progressive dramas. After the War of Resistance Against Japan, together with Shao Quanlin and Yu zhongwu, etc., he organized a mobile troupe to perform in a lot of places in the east ofZhejiangProvince. As an actor, a playwright and a director, he produced a lot of patriotic dramas, reflectingChina's resistance against the invaders.
In the spring of 1940, Liu went to the revolutionary base led by the New Forth Army and once directed the New Forth Army Troupe. In January 1941, he was the dean of the Opera Department of Central China Lu Xun Art School, where he trained a lot of dramatic talents. Meanwhile, he also created a lot of dramas reflecting the life of the revolutionary base. During this period, he did some experimental work on drama, which contributed significantly to the drama movement of the base. Unfortunately, Liu died in a firearm discharge accident during a performance in 1941.
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