bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Leisa Tyler

IT'S A TYPICAL Sunday afternoon at the Bashu Theatre. Every seat in the first 20 rows is filled with elderly Sichuanese wrapped in synthetic fur and clutching cups of green tea as they gossip and wait for the show to begin. In a bare room backstage, Zhang  Juhua applies the final touches to her elaborately painted face: snow-white skin lit up by thick black lines outlining almond eyes and a mass of ruby red smudged in-between.

Zhang  is about to play a concubine in the rendition of Iron Dragon Mountain, a typical Sichuan opera where debauchery, death and deceit are played out against the backdrop of regal China. The story follows the plight of a dead emperor's eldest son, who is convinced the concubine, a mistress of his brother, has killed the emperor in an attempt to seize the throne. Determined not to weaken the ancestral lineage with non-royal blood, and over the duration of about two hours, he attempts to disarm her. Realising the good son has unveiled her devious ways, the concubine turns her fluttering eyelashes towards him. 'All the  heroes cannot pass through the gates of beauty without falling,' declares the good son's minder as his master begins to sway under the  allure of the concubine's temptations.

A high-pitched singing begins and the concubine dances. Twisting and twirling, her ornamental cape swishing and swirling, she enthrals the audience, who although  familiar with the storyline, have left their  cups of tea and are now  on the edge of their seats in anticipation  of the next move.

Straining under the pressure, the good son seems to lose control, almost verging on the brink of madness. Snapped back  to reality by his minder, he  manages to resist her charms and regains his composure, sending the concubine into her own state of madness. The precious royal lineage is restored and the plebeian and now frenetic concubine is dragged into the new emperor's dungeons.

With records dating back to the Qing dynasty, Sichuan opera and theatre - which is similar to Beijing opera in terms of costumes and singing style, but tells uniquely Sichuanese tales - has a long and vibrant history. Chengdu was once riddled with troupes such as the Bashu, their opera houses scattered throughout stone and wood neighbourhoods. Back then, courtyards were filled with elders passing folklore on to the younger generation. However, competing for attention with China's accelerated burst into the 21st century, many of the traditional troupes are now struggling to survive.

Drawing its storylines from myths, legends and tall tales dating back to feudal China, theatre has long held an integral place in Sichuan's cultural fabric, not only as entertainment, but also as a way of outlining and exemplifying social values. 'Theatre stories illustrate what is good and what is bad,' Zhang  says. 'They teach people how to behave in Sichuan culture, how to be a good person and respectful to those around you, and how to overcome fear and enduring hardship in order to follow your dreams.'

For Zhang,  acting is not a job, but a lifestyle. 'I always wanted to be an actress. When I was little, there were many, many theatres. Big, elaborate theatres.  And being an actress was a respectable occupation,' she says. 'But now, young people don't like to go to the theatre. The government does nothing to promote it and as a result it's dying.'

Less than 10 years separate the 34-year-old Zhang  from the  young people she describes as 'belonging to another generation', but their worlds seem light years apart.

Zhang  was only a child when the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976 and Sichuan's story-telling tradition embarked on a profound renaissance. Making up for time lost during the Cultural Revolution - when all types of theatre and the retelling of historical accounts, apart from a select few theatres  staging  revolutionary modern Beijing opera, were  repressed - the number  of troupes in Chengdu mushroomed. Sunday was family theatre day, and it was then  the seeds of Zhang's  career were sown. 'I would wait all week for Sunday when my father would take me  to the theatre. For him it was like a new beginning, finally free to participate in the old ways again. For me it was the fabulous costumes and the way actors could captivate their audience.'

The boom days didn't last.  Smothered under the weight of modernisation and the digital age starting in the 1990s, scores of Chengdu's traditional theatres either closed due to a lack of funding or were forced to reinvent themselves as tourist attractions. The performances created for foreigners do incorporate local flavour into their acts - like the hypnotic changing faces, where actors transform their identity by changing masks at the speed of light, spitting fire, hiding knives, acrobatics and mimed comedy skits. However, with ticket prices starting at  100 yuan and soaring upwards, they are well out of the reach of the local people.

But the real Sichuan opera - held in dark, musty theatres and lacking  the snazzy elements that attract the young - might not survive. For the older generation, this isn't just an art form at risk, but the very morals and ethics of their culture. 'Social values taught in theatres were once the backbone of our culture,' says a man named Lee who, at fiftysomething, is one of the youngest  viewers in Iron Dragon Mountain's audience. 'Now that local theatres are being replaced by bang-bang western computer games and movies, who's going to teach the young?' Lee says, voicing a concern  of the old school theatres of Sichuan province.

It's a fear that has prompted the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Bureau to  address the issue. It runs the Sichuan Opera School, which trains students in the art, and is researching pre-Cultural Revolution theatre techniques and plays.  The bureau  has also introduced courses on  Sichuan opera's history, classics and logistics into universities and  schools, and putting on performances in these institutions.  It has also taken several troupes under  its wings, funding their development and monitoring quality. However, as troupes primarily perform in tourist venues and for government dignitaries, the price of a ticket is still out of reach for  most of Chengdu's 9.9 million citizens.

The Bashu is the only theatre in Chengdu giving regular daily opera performances to local people. But, relying as it does on an elderly audience to pay the actors'  meagre wages and upkeep, its future is shaky. Aware that the future of Sichuan's theatre is uncertain, the cultural bureau is trying to reinvent  the traditional acts to suit a modern palate and a rapidly changing culture.

Meanwhile, Zhang  is determined to keep the  art form alive. 'As long as the audience still loves me and the older people come to watch the show, I don't mind acting like a concubine.'



Disappearing Act