The drama commission DENG Shichang is a full-scale drama featuring a “historical personage”, produced by the NCPA as a follow-up to the drama commission LIN Zexu. The drama will premiere to mark the 130th anniversary of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC.
Faithful to the historical fact, the drama tells a story about DENG Shichang, a famous patriotic general, setting an aspiration in his boyhood, joining the army in his youthful days and giving his life for the motherland when middle-aged. The storyline reveals the Beiyang Fleet’s brilliant achievements, its crushing defeat in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, and the heart-breaking pain caused to the Chinese people by the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. The drama draws attention to DENG Shichang’s fearlessness of death, making it something that will forever admonish the Chinese people to fight for national rejuvenation. Major historical events are adopted as the main storyline to depict the decorous feeling of the hero, aiming to create a magnificent epic in homage to the national hero and in an effort to gather strength for advancement.
Presenter/ Producer: National Centre for the Performing Arts
Perfomed by NCPA Drama Ensemble
Executive Presenter/ Chief Planner: WANG Ning
Drama Artistc Director: XU Xiaozhong
Chief Producers: LI Zhixaing, LIU Lan, ZHU Jing, WANG Cheng, ZHANG Yao, GUAN Jianbo, LI Jin
Executive Producer: ZHANG Yao
Playwright: LI Baoqun
Director: WANG Xiaodi
Set Designer: JI Qiao
Lighting Designer: XING Xin
Costume & Hair Style Designer: LI Ruiding
Video Projection Designer: HU Tianji
Music: YU Li
Movement Designer: YAO Xiaoming
Sound Designer: WANG Hao
Props Designer: JIN Jifeng
Lead Performers
DENG Shichang: WANG Lei
LI Hongzhang: ZHANG Yechuan
DING Ruchang: GUAN Dongtian
Shuimeizi: LI Xiaomeng
Empress Dowager Cixi: SHE Nannan
Cast (order by the sequence of appearance)
DENG Shichang: WANG Lei
Boy DENG Shichang: ZHANG Mingyi
Father of DENG Shichang: ZHANG Mingyi
FANG Boqian: HAO Rongguang
LIN Yongsheng: LI Haoyang
LIN Taiceng: ZHANG Xuewen
LIU Buchan: LUZifeng
DING Ruchang: GUAN Dongtian
CHEN Jinkui: LANG Yingbo
Empress Dowager Cixi: SHE Nanan
Prince: WU Song *
LI Hongzhang: ZHANG Yechuan
Ito Sukeyuki: FENG Yang *
Mother of DENG Shichang: PAN Shaquan
Wife of DENG Shichang: WANG Qianyu *
Shuimeizi: LI Xiaomeng
Chief Eunuch: SHANG Zhensan
Japanese Soldiers A & B: WANG Sirui, FANG Zihao
The Navy of Qing Dynasty: LIAN Zheng, ZHANG Yinghuan, GUAN Qiang, WANG Tong, WANG Hongfu, WANG Zhen, YANG Shuhui, LIU Dongdong, XU Song, WANG Xu, LYU Jiaxu, YAN Bingyao, YAN Fangzheng, MA Qingquan, SUN Hanyao, SHANG Zhensan, WANG Sirui, FANG Zihao
*NCPA Drama Ensemble
Deep under the sea is the rusty and bullet-scarred Zhiyuan Ship. DENG Shichang’s heroic soul is guarding the ship, as well as his undying dream.
Waterfowl chirping, the boy DENG Shichang dreams of flying high like a roc.
Wave roaring, the young battalion commander DENG Shichang goes to Europe to pick up the Zhiyuan Ship and dreams of becoming the world’s best admiral.
The Beiyang Fleet ranks first in Asia. Japan mobilises the nation and raises a huge sum of money to buy the most advanced warships. But at the very moment, the Qing Dynasty is just preparing for the 60th birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi, with the naval expenditure diverted for the construction of the Summer Palace. After its establishment, the Beiyang Fleet does not buy a ship or gun at all, whereas their old warships are already seriously worn.
DENG Shichang travels thousands of miles back home. He gives an account of various malpractices in front of his father’s memorial tablet and swears to his father - I’ve failed to fulfill my filial duty, but I will surely give up my life to serve the country.
On parade at sea, DENG Shichang takes the lead in calling for additional expenditure for advanced warships, only to be reprimanded. LI Hongzhang feels embarrassed, actually.
The Sino-Japanese War breaks out. Flying in the face of danger and boasting of his military service, FANG Boqian gets rewards from the imperial court. On the eve of his departure for the battlefield, DENG Shichang bids farewell to his family members and then gets on the Zhiyuan Ship with determination to die.
In the fierce battle on the Yellow Sea, DENG Shichang drives his ship to dash into the Japanese ship Yoshino. Ship exploding, DENG Shichang refuses to stay alive alone, and he sinks to the bottom of the sea with his beloved ship.
The Beiyang Fleet meets complete failure. China and Japan sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki with each other.
In the depths of the sea, DENG Shichang’s heroic soul is still guarding his Zhiyuan Ship with the hope that the later generations will find out a way to save the country and make it stronger.