The Theatres that Time Never Forgot
Since ancient times,people have enjoyed themselves at the theatre.Here we'll visit two historical theatres,one in the East and one in the West,and listen to the stories each has to tell.
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The Deheyuan Grand Theatre,located in the Summer Palace in Beijing,was built in the Qing Dynasty for the royal family.It is regarded as the place where Peking Opera developed into its current form.Great masters of Peking Opera,such as Yang Xiaolou and Tan Xinpei, performed on the stage here.The theatre has three floors.From top to bottom,they are the Fu stage,the Lu stage and the Shou stage.In English,they are called the Happiness stage, the Prosperity stage and the Longevity stage.The stages have special doors for actors to jump out of the floor,and equipment to help them fly through the air.A well and five ponds under the Shou stage are used in water scenes.They also serve to make sound effects louder.
Today,visitors to the Deheyuan theatre are still amazed by its structure and beautiful paintings.
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The first Globe Theatre was created by a group of actors,one of whom was William Shakespeare.It opened in London in 1599 and became a huge success,until it burnt down in a fire in 1613.The Globe Theatre we see today is by the River Thames,close to the site of the original building.
As in Shakespeare's day,the cheapest tickets are the standing tickets under an open sky.The big difference is that audiences today can watch plays with both male and female actors: acting in Shakespeare's time was a job for men only!
The theatre has a round shape and the stage area has three main elements:a blue roof painted with stars,the stage itself and a hidden door in the floor.
If you are a fan of William Shakespeare,you must come to the Globe to see a play.As Shakespeare himself said,"All the world's a stage."
Translation to be continued~