Props in Peking Opera

An actor's identity, location, and current or future activity are told through movement and pantomime, sometimes accompanied by music. All movements on stage are governed by convention and strict rules. An actor cannot improvise or move as he or she chooses.

Since there are few props in Peking Opera, an actor must pantomime some of his or her actions. While using props such as the horse whip, he or she must pantomime to communicate the activity. The majority of theatergoers in China fully understand what an actor is doing through his or her pantomime actions.

Copyright: Foreign Languages Press

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