theatre criticism (journals and periodicals)

Books of theatre criticism on contemporary Chinese drama and theatre since 1979 are rare. While some published books do contain chapters on this period, they can never stay on top of current developments. Therefore, theatre journals and periodicals are the best vehicle for understanding the contemporary performing arts. Although quite diverse in scope, the journals can be categorized by certain characteristics. For instance, some cover all of China while others emphasize individual regions, and while most cover both Huaju (spoken drama) and Xiqu (sung-drama/opera), a couple are devoted solely to the latter. Journals and periodicals can be further categorized into those that feature long and critical articles, those that contain short theatre reviews combined with a discussion/analysis of aspects of specific productions, and those that mainly publish newly written scripts. The following annotated bibliography introduces the reader to the nature and scope of theatre criticism via journals and periodicals in China. Each entry provides information by Chinese title (and English translation); place of publication; frequency of publication; the region(s) covered; and the type of materials included.

Anhui xinxi [Anhui New Drama], Hefei; bimonthly; Anhui province; short articles and scripts.

Da wutai [Big Stage], Shijiazhuang; monthly; Hebei province; short articles and scripts.

Dangdai xiju [Contemporary Theatre], Xi’an; bimonthly; Shaanxi province; short articles and scripts.

Dianshi yu xiju [Television and Theatre], Shenyang; monthly; Liaoning province; short articles and scripts.

Fujian yishu [Fujian Arts], Fuzhou; bimonthly; Fujian province; short articles on theatre and fine art.

Guangdong yishu [Guangdong Arts], Guangzhou; bimonthly; Guangdong province; short articles on theatre and fine art.

Henan xiju [Theatre in Henan], Zhengzhou; monthly; Henan province; short articles and scripts; replaced by Nanqiang beidiao [Mixed Accent] in the 1990s.

Jilu yitan [Theatre Forum in Shangdong], Jinan; monthly; articles on theatre and fine art.

Juben [Play Scripts], Beijing; monthly; China; mainly scripts with short articles.

Juying yuebao [Drama and Film Monthly], Nanjing; monthly; Jiangsu province; short articles on drama and film.

Juzuojia [Playwright], Haerbin; bimonthly; Heilong-jiang province; scripts and long articles.

Nanguo hongdou [Red Bean in Southern Country], Guangzhou; bimonthly; Guangdong province; short articles.

Nanqiang beidiao [Mixed Accent], continued from Henan xiju; containing short articles on other subjects, too.

Puju yishu [Pu Opera Arts], Linfen; quarterly, Shanxi province; short articles and scripts.

Shanghai xiju [Shanghai Drama], Shanghai; monthly; Shanghai; short articles and scripts.

Shanghai yishujia [Shanghai Artists], Shanghai; bimonthly; Shanghai; articles on theatre and fine art.

Sichuan xiju [Sichuan Drama], Chengdu; monthly; Sichuan province; short articles and scripts.

Wenyi yanjiu [Literature and Art Studies], Beijing; China; long articles on all genres of literature, theatre and art.

Xiju [Drama], the journal of the Central Academy of Drama; quarterly; China; long articles on non-Chinese drama, Huaju and Xiqu.

Xiju chunqiu [Theatre Annals], Changsha; monthly; Hunan province; short articles and scripts.

Xiju congkan [Drama Series],Jinan; bimonthly; Shandong province; short articles and scripts.

Xiju wenxue [Dramatic Literature], Changchun; monthly; Jilin province; short articles and scripts.

Xiju yishu [Theatre Art], journal of Shanghai Academy of Theatre; long articles on non-Chinese drama, Huaju and Xiqu.

Xijujia [Dramatist], Chengdu; quarterly; Sichuan province; scripts and short articles.

Xin juben [New Play Script], Beijing; bimonthly; mainly scripts with short articles.

Xiqu yanjiu [Theatre Studies], Beijing; indefinite; China; long articles exclusively on Xiqu theatre.

Xiqu yishu [Art of Chinese Traditional Opera], journal of Chinese Academy of Traditional Theatre; Beijing; quarterly; China; articles exclusively on Xiqu theatre.

Xiwen [Zhejiang Drama], Hangzhou; monthly; Zhejiang province; short articles and scripts.

Yihai [All Arts], Changsha; quarterly; Hunan province; scripts and articles on theatre and fine art.

Yingju yishu [Art of Film and Drama], Nanning; monthly(?); Guangxi province; short articles on theatre and film.

Yishu baijia [Hundred Schools in Art], Nanjing; quarterly; China; long articles on theatre and fine art.

Yunnan xiju [Yunnan Drama], Kunming; bimonthly(?); Yunan province; short articles and scripts.

Zhongguo dianshi xiqu [Chinese Traditional Theatre on TV], Beijing; periodic; China; articles exclusively about Xiqu on TV.

Zhongguo jingju [Beijing Opera of China], Bejing; bimonthly; China; short articles and memoirs.

Zhongguo xiju [Chinese Theatre], Beijing; monthly; China; short articles on all forms of theatre.

Zhonghua xiqu [Chinese Theatre], Beijing; indefinite; China; long articles exclusively on Xiqu theatre.

DU WENWEI