Published on Aug 31, 2017

Rating:

Genre: NCPA

Dates: September 29 - October 6, 2017

Venue: Drama Theatre of NCPA

Prices: 100, 200, 300, 400, 500

Features: Gathered powerful creative team and actors, from September 29th to October 6th 2017, the NCPA will bring the legend of The Lei Family, the Royal Architects onto stage again in Beijing.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

In charge of of royal construction works of the Qing Dynasty, the LEI family has made a great many glorious and brilliant achievements over 260 years. Its members, skilled craftsmen of super talent across seven generations, made Beijing a metropolis with hard work and wisdom. The family was respected and renown for the design and building of the Yuanmingyuan Imperial Garden, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and other palaces, gardens, temples and mansions concerned.

By starting with the man-building relationship, The LEI Family unfolds the strong charm and flavour of Beijing, telling how LEI Siqi and his son LEI Yanchang see the nation go to the dogs together with the hills and gardens, and therefore show concern for it in the ruins in the late Qing Dynasty. In this way, the regime, spirit and moral integrity unique to Beijing, a historic city, is presented on the stage.

For the drama, NCPA has invited a first-class production team, including dramaturge HUANG Weiruo, director CAO Qijing and set designer GAO Guangjian. Performers of NCPA Drama Ensemble, including young artists ZHAO Ling, DONG Wenliang and WANG Wenjie, will star in the drama. The performer YANG Qi, who played “Empress Dowager Cixi” in the drama, will once again give a fascinating performance together with special guest actor WANG Jishi, a Chinese first-class performer ZHANG Shuo. They will tell a pure Chinese story in a pure Chinese artistic form.

SYNOPSIS
In the 12th year of Tongzhi Period, the Empress Dowager Cixi orders to rebuild Yuanmingyuan Imperial Garden which was burned by the British and French troops. This engineering and construction task is assigned to Lei Siqi (head of Yangshifang (architectural design workshop) under Imperial Affairs Administration) and his son Lei Tingchang. Seven generations of Lei Family serve as chief architects of the Qing Court and ritual buildings of the capital city from Kangxi Period onwards, and they are reputed as 'Yangshi Lei'. After Lei Siqi and his son accept the assignment, they actively take part in the reconstruction and intend to achieve the long-cherished wish of recovering ancestors' great works and revitalizing Lei Family. However, the country falls apart, while the masses live an impoverished life. For the purpose of reconstruction project, the Qing Government levies exorbitant taxes and levies to the people. Young Lei Tingchang witnesses that common people live in destitution, and his lover desperately sells herself with bondage to save her arrested father. Meanwhile, corrupt officials of Imperial Affairs Administration and a liar Li Guangzhao jointly collude and want to grab project funds earmarked for buying timber from Lei Tingchang. At this time, Lei Tingchang is finally disillusioned that reconstruction project is tantamount to the disaster of the State and the people. So he risks his life to reveal to the Empress Dowager Cixi. Under repeated considerations, in view of severe political struggles in the court, the Empress Dowager Cixi ultimately cancels the reconstruction project. Lei Tingchang actually makes the family's long-cherished wish come to naught. From firm opposition to his son's move at first to being forced to accept the fact, infinite sadness shrouds Lei Siqi. Lei Siqi presents his son and daughter-in-law Guizhier a full set of building model of Yuanmingyuan Imperial Garden, and tells them to preserve it from generation to generation. He says that one day, after the State goes strong and enjoys peace and harmony, three mountains and five gardens of Yuanmingyuan Imperial Garden will be rebuilt.

Tickets for NCPA Drama Commission The Lei Family are Available now!