This May, London-based Jingkun Chinese Arts will present a distinctive programme of Chinese opera at Brighton Fringe 2026.
The programme will include the revival of a nearly lost classical Kunqu work, a lively comedic performance, and an immersive hands-on workshop.
At the heart of the programme is The Covetousness, a rare Kunqu piece adapted from The Nanke Dream, one of the most celebrated dramatic works of the Ming dynasty (about AD 1600).
Long considered nearly lost, the piece survives only in fragmented manuscripts and scattered historical references. Over several months, the creative team conducted in-depth research into surviving libretti, musical notation, and archival materials, carefully reconstructing the work while balancing scholarly rigour with theatrical expression.
The result is not merely a revival, but a reactivation of a work absent from the stage for centuries. Set within a dreamlike narrative where loyalty, ambition, and destiny intertwine, the production unfolds through refined physical movement, expressive gesture, and rich musicality. The interplay of contrasting role types creates a layered visual and emotional landscape rarely seen in contemporary Kunqu performances.
Performed in traditional Chinese operatic vocal style with Chinese and English surtitles, The Covetousness offers UK audiences a rare opportunity to encounter a nearly vanished piece of theatrical heritage.
Their other performance, Chunxiang’s Schoolroom Prank, provides a striking contrast. It highlights the playful and comedic dimension of Kunqu, a genre more often associated with elegance and restraint.
This production preserves the poetic wit of the original while presenting it through a fresh and dynamic stage interpretation. The quick-witted character Chunxiang disrupts the order of a traditional schoolroom through lively dialogue, rhythmic timing, and spirited performance.
Through detailed movement, musical phrasing, and expressive acting, the piece reveals a rarely seen comic vitality within Chinese opera. Performed in Chinese with bilingual surtitles, it serves as an accessible and engaging introduction to the Kunqu tradition.
In addition to these two stage performances, Jingkun Chinese Arts will also offer an interactive workshop inviting audiences to step inside the world of Chinese opera. Participants can try on costume elements, explore face design and make-up, handle stage props, and learn how characters are physically constructed through movement and gesture. Guided by professional performers, attendees engage directly with the form in an open and relaxed environment.
Conducted in English, the workshop is highly interactive and suitable for all audiences, offering a rare opportunity to experience Chinese opera from within.
Dedicated to reactivating traditional Chinese opera for contemporary audiences, Jingkun Chinese Arts goes beyond performance. The company engages in research, reconstruction, and creative reinterpretation, bringing works that have nearly disappeared from the stage back into live theatrical experience.
In 2026 Brighton Fringe will return for our 21st year, running from 1 May – 31 May. Committed to helping the arts flourish, throughout May, Brighton Fringe welcomes local, national and international performers and audiences as it showcases creativity in Brighton, Hove and beyond.
If you like this article, why not read: London’s First Chinatown Revealed at St Anne’s Church Limehouse Exhibition
