Your current location:HOME >politics >Popular Chinese crosstalk comedians bring laughter, cultural charisma to London 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 15:28:50 Source: Internet compilationEdit:politics
Guo Degang is a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian who has over 15 million followers on
Guo Degang is a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian who has over 15 million followers on China's video-sharing platform Douyin.[Photo/Xinhua]
Thunderous laughter and applause almost blew off the roof of an auditorium in London's ExCeL Exhibition Centre on Saturday night, when a punchline by Guo Degang, a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian, landed with an audience of thousands.
Along with Guo and his partner Yu Qian, a handful of comedians from the De Yun She Performance Group performed Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy, with both jokes about life anecdotes and traditional crosstalk episodes.
"Laughter is contagious and that is what makes the art form of crosstalk comedy powerful," said Guo, a leading character in both the performance group and the industry.
Guo and his group started their first overseas tour in Australia in 2011. Since then, they have performed in places including the United States, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore. This was the group's second time performing in London.
"The outcome of our years of international tours has made me realize the enduring vitality of traditional art," he said, adding that such performances can help overseas Chinese overcome homesickness through "voices in their mother tongue" and introduce traditional Chinese culture to a broader audience.
"Ever since I started learning Chinese, I've been interested in Xiangsheng," Christian Elliott, an audience member who has been learning Chinese for more than five years, told Xinhua. He wanted to see how much of the show he could understand given that there is a difference "between knowing conversational Chinese and knowing 'full' Chinese."
Elliott added that such an experience can help him learn more about the Chinese culture, history and the way people from a different background think.
Saturday's show was also the first public appearance in London for a few younger-generation performers, among whom was Meng Hetang, who joined the group in 2008.
Meng said that young inheritors of time-honored art forms, like himself, need to not only adhere to and promote tradition, but also innovate to keep pace with modern times. He performed his recently-created episode during the show.
In recent years, crosstalk comedy is becoming increasingly popular in China, especially with young people. Guo alone currently has over 15 million followers on China's video-sharing platform Douyin, while other fellow performers have several million followers each.
With London being the first stop of its Europe tour this year, the group was expected to perform in cities including Glasgow, Paris, Milan and Madrid in the upcoming month.
Mystery artist who erected signs comparing pothole2024-05-21 15:21
South China Sea: Filipino activists, fishermen sail in 1002024-05-21 14:31
A Swiss court sentences a former Gambian interior minister to 20 years for crimes against humanity2024-05-21 14:02
Shopping complex fire inflicts tragedy on Vietnamese community in Poland2024-05-21 13:51
Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy2024-05-21 13:44
South China Sea: Filipino activists, fishermen sail in 1002024-05-21 13:34
Christina Aguilera leaves RCA Records after spending her entire 262024-05-21 13:20
PSG says Mbappé won't play against Nice in French league because of hamstring pain2024-05-21 12:51
Not so Cool Britannia! Noel Gallagher gives damning verdict on Keir Starmer2024-05-21 12:49
Van der Poel will skip mountain bike event at Paris Olympics to focus on road race2024-05-21 12:47
Brazil replaces injured goalkeeper Ederson in Copa America squad2024-05-21 15:20
South China Sea: Filipino activists, fishermen sail in 1002024-05-21 15:18
From acting to the squared circle, Emmy winner Hauser is ready to rumble for Major League Wrestling2024-05-21 14:58
Worried about going grey? You're not alone! This new men's shampoo can help you back to darker hair2024-05-21 14:41
Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro2024-05-21 14:35
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP '24: What golf was talking about the last time at Valhalla2024-05-21 14:25
Paris garbage collectors lift strike threat ahead of Olympic Games2024-05-21 13:33
Buffalo dedicates park2024-05-21 13:21
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored2024-05-21 13:12
A new South Africa health law aims at deep inequality, but critics say they'll challenge it2024-05-21 12:57