Every role matters

The Yisu Art Troupe has a tight daily schedule. Rehearsals for a new show are sometimes completed in less than a month, with the production immediately taking to the stage.

The troupe currently comprises 55 performers. For each production, nearly every performer from the group appears on stage in different roles.

Qu said: "There is a tradition among performers at Yisushe. No matter how important your role was in the previous production, if now you are only playing a minor part, you must still do your best."

When more than one production is due to be staged, rehearsals take place at the same time.

"At our busiest, we rehearsed for three productions. Preparations for one took place in the rehearsal room, for another in a shack, while a dressing room was used for the third," Qu said.

He believes that Qinqiang Opera offers a special way to connect Shaanxi culture and the public.

"Traditional Chinese opera has rules to follow. In every aspect of a Qinqiang production, from costumes and stage designs to performance, the authentic elements should be preserved well," Qu said.

The stage designer for the Yisu Art Troupe, Zhang Zhaohui, a native of Xi'an in his 50s who joined the Yisu Grand Theater in September 1995, said: "Every part in a Qinqiang Opera should be vividly portrayed and blend into the performance. If not, it's redundant and should be dropped."

Wang Zhiqiang, a 29-year-old drummer with the troupe, treasures the opportunity to work with it.

"We have a great atmosphere for artistic creation and rehearsals, and I feel fulfilled when I see the reaction of audiences. Through our devotion to Qinqiang Opera, many of us have become friends away from the stage," he said.