The People's Theater of Wuhan will be training a new batch of apprentices this year. The young trainees are aged 14 to 16 years old and are to undergo learning for the next three years.
The students will have to start exercises by 6 am, then have breakfast at 8:30 am and will study for the rest of the day. Lessons would be in opera, dance and vocal music.
Internship at the People's Theater starts at the fourth year of study, and only after that would they be professional puppeteers. Most of the students drop out at this period or are sent out.
Out of the 18 apprentices enrolled this year, only 10 are expected to finish.
Some of the theater's puppeteers left the theater due to low income. Now that there is a mandate to revive cultural heritage, the theater company is excited.
The origins of the art of puppetry in China was enriched to the Han Dynasty. Puppet shows were done with opera singing, theater and painting.
It became the most popular form of entertainment in the past. Puppet shows would be held during festivals, Chinese New Year or sacrificial rituals.
Puppet shows in China are in the form of shadow puppets, rod puppets or marionette show. The puppets in Wuhan are manipulated by rods.
In shadow puppet shows, dolls which are manipulated by sticks, are moved against the light. They usually tell stories that have lessons on fidelity and honor.
Marionette Theater is where puppets carved out of wood are manipulated by strings or wire. The puppeteers are shown to the audience.
The Marionette is seen usually outside temples and is used to tell stories to teach a religious lesson.