Chinese Traditional Theatre in the UK: Interview with Joanna Zenghui Qiu on the 10th Anniversary of the UK Chinese Opera Association

In 2025, the UK Chinese Opera Association marks its 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of bridging tradition and innovation in Chinese opera. Founded by Joanna Zenghui Qiu, a former performer with the Mei Lanfang Opera Troupe, the Association has become a cornerstone of Chinese cultural life in the UK. Inspired by her lead performance at the British Museum’s first Chinese New Year event during the 2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange, Qiu established the Association to preserve and promote Chinese opera on British soil. Through performances at venues such as Buckingham Palace and grassroots programs like “Chinese Opera Fans’ Home” the Association has flourished as both an artistic platform and a diasporic community hub.

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