Flowers in the Mirror, a production by the QFun Company and Hybridités France-Chine

OVERVIEW Flowers in the Mirror is a free adaptation of one of the greatest Chinese fantasy novels, written by Li Ruzhen in the early 19th century. This production offers audiences an imaginary journey through the unexpected search for 12 flowers found in different worlds populated by characters with strange customs: the land of black teeth, the land of the small, the land of double faces, the land of pig-snouted people… In this surprising world, everything is reversed, poetically off-kilter. For this creation, the staging focused on puppetry and mask work, underscoring the play’s poetic and satirical character. The different worlds come alive in space as a succession of living tableaux, illuminated by the watchful eye of Tang Xiaoshan. At the border between dream and reality, the characters who inhabit these worlds seem prisoners of their earthly contingencies. The encounter with Chinese tradition unfolds through a world that is at times colorful, at times dark, thereby highlighting the dichotomy of each of our countries. The act of distancing resonates here as a mise en abîme of our own depths. The modular set design is drawn like a path. This initiatory journey points us back to our own limits and to the codes imposed by our societies, and offers us a new perspective on the world around us. Flowers in the Mirror is a Franco-Chinese artistic cooperation project initiated by Compagnie QFun Theatre and Hybridités France-Chine. It is not only a cross-cultural project but also one that brings the world of adults into dialogue with the world of children. French artists work with young Chinese performers to stage a 19th-century novel while keeping a contemporary perspective. The production of Flowers in the Mirror is also conceived as part of a theater-education initiative. Team Original novel: Li Ruzhen Playscript: Wang Jing Direction: Jade Collet, Augustin Bécard, Zhao Miao Dramaturgy: Eric de Sarria (member of Cie Philippe Genty), Wang Jing Video: Elise Boual Music: Uriel Barthélémi Mask and puppetry: Guillaumit, Sébastien Puech, Sophie Coeffic (member of Cie Philippe Genty) Set design: Jade Collet Costumes: Li Kun (Dongfang Qilin) With 30 performers from Cie QFun Theatre Advisor: Tao Hong Producer: Li Haotian Co-producer: Gong Jiali, Zhang Liang Production manager: Wang Nan International co-production: Wang Jing Executive production: Sun Siyi, Qinsheng Production assistant: Du Jialing, Zhu Enqi, Guo Yuehe, Ren Xiaoming Graphic design: Wang Jiabao Communications: Annie Administration: Li Xiaoxu Production: Compagnie QFun Theatre Co-production: Hybridités France-Chine Tour January 14–15, 2022 MEET IN BEIJING Olympic Culture Festival & the 22nd MEET IN BEIJING International Arts Festival, Inside-Out Theatre, Beijing July 28–29, 2022 Guangzhou Opera House, Guangzhou August 4, 2022 Nanyang Theatre, Beijing November 19 Daliangshan International Theatre Festival, Xichang https://vimeo.com/814215075