Members of the Wulian New Era Maoqiang Art Troupe stage the opera Selecting a Son-in-law in Wangshituan village in Wulian county on Oct 17. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Staying relevant

Sun, who retired from a Maoqiang Opera troupe in Gaomi, the hometown of Nobel laureate Mo Yan, started working with the newly established New Era troupe in 2018 and has been its director since.

With over 40 years' experience of Maoqiang Opera, Sun says that it is a great responsibility to inherit and reform the century-old opera so that it better reflects lives today.

As a result of the efforts of Sun and her colleagues, China's first Maoqiang Operathemed film, The Laughter of Huashi Village, was completed and shown in 2020. The film tells the story of villagers being lifted out of poverty, and was invited to participate in the 4th and 5th China Quyi Film Promotion and Commendation Ceremony in 2022.

Sun also worked on an anti-corruption Maoqiang Opera drama, Cold-faced Secretary, which highlights clean governance by showcasing a township Party secretary. It won third prize in the drama category of the 13th Mount Taishan Literature and Art Award in Shandong last December.

"When Cold-faced Secretary was shown in Rizhao city, I could see some members of the audience bursting into tears because it really touched their hearts," Sun says, adding that the drama is now touring the city to help spread the anti-corruption message.

In 2022, she was invited to take part in State broadcaster China Central Television's Lantern Festival Gala, performing excerpts from the Maoqiang Opera, Zhao Meirong Observing Lanterns, and marking a new high for the art form.