The fusion of tradition and contemporary: Chinese nuo masks and physical performance in the Xi'an Theatre’s production of ‘Zhu Erdan’ (2020)

Traditional Chinese Nuo Masks, as a core feature of Nuo Opera, serve as a vehicle for religion, folklore, and art, renowned for their unique visual expressiveness and artistic symbolism. Currently, combining such traditional cultural elements with modern theatrical styles has become an important trend in the development of contemporary Chinese theatre. The physical theatre ‘Zhu Erdan’ (2020) is a production by Xi'an Theatre and directed by Li Yao. It combines Chinese Nuo Masks with physical theatre. This study aims to analyze the interdependent and cooperative relationship between Chinese Nuo Masks and physical theatre, and to form a new performance aesthetic in the context of contemporary theatre creation. The study combines semi-structured interviews with the director and one of the actors with content analysis of the performance recordings. The findings reveal three important aspects: First, the Nuo Masks and the actor's physical performance form a close partnership, transforming from a static cultural symbol into a dynamic theatrical character. Second, the fixed nature of the Nuo Masks and the fluidity of the body complement each other, creating an innovative theatrical expression. Third, this combination creates an innovative performance aesthetic that preserves the essence of traditional culture while harnessing the expressive power of contemporary theatre. This research provides a theoretical analysis of ‘Zhu Erdan’ and offers a valuable symbiotic mechanism for the creative transformation of traditional culture in contemporary theatre.