It's not every day that Yu Jinhao, a 43-year-old corporate leader who lives and works in Tianjin, finds himself standing in front of a crowd of strangers, crouching low, arms dangling by his side, and hopping across a stage while scratching his head and emitting monkey grunts.

Before the laughter subsides, he has transitioned again, this time into a crocodile lying flat on the ground and snapping imaginary jaws with exaggerated ferocity. His voice deepens as he growls, sending a ripple of surprise through the audience.

Finally, he curls up and wiggles like an earthworm, his body undulating awkwardly.

He straightens up, his face flushed, smooths out the crumples in his pants, and says with a shy grin: "I released my inner animals and now it is your turn."

Yu was taking part in the first class of a theater training program created by singer-songwriter Xiao Ke. The program is free, and open to amateurs under the age of 45.

Opportunity knocks

In early November, Xiao Ke, whose real name is Ke Zhaolei, announced the theater training program at the Xiao Ke Theater in Beijing's 798 Art Zone.

From hundreds of applicants nationwide, 100 students were selected to take part in five weeks of training, with eliminations along the way. The 15 eventual winners will get the opportunity to act in 15 performances of Xiao Ke's popular musical production, Wenwende Xingfu (Stable Happiness), starting on Dec 14.