From January 16 to 17, 2025, the original Chinese Production “Hero” was successfully performed at SUIS Gubei. Based on the experience gained from last year’s absurd comedy “Haha Land”, this year’s “Hero” made bolder attempts in story creation, dramatic style, and teamwork, offering the audience a unique theatrical feast.
1 月 16 日至 17 日，备受瞩目的中文原创话剧《大圣归来》在协和古北校区的舞台上精彩上演，赢得满堂喝彩。回首过往，去年那部荒诞喜剧《快乐星球》的演出经历，已然化作宝贵的经验财富。在此基础上，今年的《大圣归来》可谓是鼓足干劲，在故事编创环节精心雕琢，力求情节跌宕起伏、引人入胜；于戏剧风格的塑造上大胆创新，展现出别具一格的艺术韵味；在团队合作方面更是齐心协力，配合得愈发默契无间。给观众呈现了一场别开生面的戏剧盛宴。
A Deeper Storyline
故事立意更加深刻
As a classic mythological figure, the tale of Sun Wukong and the Tang Seng’s journey to the West is well-known. However, what happens to Sun Wukong after he attains the true scriptures and becomes the Victorious Fighting Buddha? This question opens up vast dramatic possibilities. “Hero” seizes this opportunity, innovatively exploring the narrative by presenting Sun Wukong’s reincarnation as a human, experiencing human emotions and desires. This exploration of self-awareness and inner struggle allows the audience to engage in familiar myths in a new light, imbuing traditional stories with contemporary significance.
孙悟空作为经典神话人物，唐僧师徒四人西天取经的故事几乎是家喻户晓，但孙悟空在取得真经成为斗战胜佛后又会经历什么？这一点有着巨大的戏剧想象空间。《大圣归来》正是抓住了这一空白点，大胆创新，以孙悟空转世为人、体验七情六欲为主线情节，探索人的自我认知和内心挣扎，让观众在熟悉的神话中感受到不一样的思考与启迪，赋予了传统故事全新的时代内涵。
Diverse Dramatic Elements
戏剧元素更加多元
In portraying the inner world of the protagonist, Sun Xiaomai, the play incorporates a greater number of elements from physical theater. Through the expressive body language of the actors, the characters’ emotions and psychological states are vividly presented, breaking away from the traditional dialogue-centric format of plays. This approach offers the audience a fresh visual and emotional experience. Additionally, the lighting and sound design emerge as significant highlights of the production. The meticulously crafted lighting effects, sometimes bright and warm, other times dark and mysterious, are closely aligned with the narrative’s progression, creating varied atmospheres and emotions. The well-timed sound effects further enhance the drama’s impact, immersing the audience in the characters’ world.
在呈现主人公孙小麦的内心世界时，该剧引用了更多肢体剧的元素，通过演员们富有表现力的身体语言，将角色的情感与心理状态生动地展现出来，打破了传统话剧以对白为主的单一表现形式，为观众带来了全新的视觉与情感体验。同时，光影与音效设计也成为该剧的一大亮点。精心设计的灯光效果，时而明亮温暖，时而幽暗神秘，与剧情的发展紧密配合，营造出不同的氛围与情绪；而恰到好处的音效则进一步增强了戏剧的感染力，让观众仿佛身临其境，沉浸在剧中人物的世界里。
Student-Led Cast and Crew
演职人员由学生主导
The cast and crew of this play are predominantly composed of students, including actors, lighting and sound technicians, stage designers, and even some directing roles. They put their imagination and creativity to full use during the creative process, infusing their understanding of drama and insights into human life into the production. This not only provided students with a platform to showcase their talents and develop their skills but also reflected the commitment of SUIS Gubei to fostering independent learning and innovative spirit among students. The students’ continuous learning and growth through practice showcased their youthful vitality and professional competence.
这部话剧的演职人员几乎全部由学生组成，从演员到灯光音效，从舞美制作到平面设计，甚至连部分导演工作都是由学生们完成的。他们在创作过程中充分发挥了自己的想象力与创造力，将自己对戏剧的理解和对生活的感悟融入其中。这不仅为学生们提供了一个展示自我、锻炼能力的平台，也体现了协和古北对学生自主学习与创新精神的培养。学生们在实践中不断学习、成长，展现出的青春活力与专业素养令人刮目相看。
This year marks the fifth anniversary of SUIS Gubei’s exploration of Chinese drama. From initial classic interpretations to original short plays, and now to this magnificent original production, and even its participation in external competitions, each step has witnessed the growth and development of the Theatre discipline at SUIS Gubei. The successful performance of “Hero” not only represents a brilliant interpretation of theatrical art by the students but also vividly embodies SUIS Gubei’s spirit of exploration, creation, and inheritance in the field of drama education. It is believed that in the future, the drama education at SUIS Gubei will cultivate more outstanding theatrical talents, continuously injecting vitality into the development of campus culture.
今年是协和古北探索中文戏剧的第五年。从最开始的经典演绎到原创短剧，再到如今的原创大戏，甚至走出校园参加校外比赛，每一步也都见证了戏剧学科在协和古北的发展壮大。《大圣归来》的成功演出，不仅是学生们对戏剧艺术的一次精彩诠释，更是协和古北在戏剧教育领域开拓、创造与传承精神的生动体现。相信在未来，协和古北的戏剧教育将培养出更多优秀的戏剧人才，为校园文化的发展注入源源不断的活力。
Reflections from Cast and Crew
主创团队感言
Scriptwriter 编剧
Ms Angel Tang 汤老师
This is a courageous and challenging attempt. The play has a complex structure, intertwining themes of family, nation, and philosophical concepts, making it quite difficult for students to fully grasp the characters. However, each student has put in their utmost effort and deepest passion, rehearsing repeatedly and making progress each time, ultimately presenting the play beautifully!
这无疑是一次既勇敢又充满艰难挑战的尝试。这部剧所选取的主题颇为深刻，巧妙地将家国天下的宏大情怀与深邃的哲学概念融合在了一起，这对于学生们而言，想要透彻地理解剧中人物着实不是一件易事。然而，每一位同学都全身心地投入其中，付出了最大程度的努力，怀揣着对戏剧最深沉的热爱，不厌其烦地一次次投入排练。在这个过程中，他们不断取得进步，凭借着坚持不懈的付出，最终将这部剧完美无瑕地呈现在了众人眼前，令人赞叹不已。
Director 导演
Ms Liv Jiang 蒋老师
“Hero” embodies the dedication and effort of many students and teachers both on and off stage. Since I was able to assemble such a talented cast, I feel like a very fortunate director. I hope that this production offers valuable experiences for the participating students and allows the audience to truly appreciate the joy of drama.
《大圣归来》凝聚了台前幕后很多学生和老师的心血。从剧本的精心打磨，到舞台场景的用心布置，再到每一次排练时大家全情投入的身影，无一不彰显着大家对这部剧的热爱与付出。而我，有幸能够将这样一群怀揣着戏剧梦想、满怀着热忱的人汇聚在一起，组建起这个充满活力与创造力的剧组，这着实让我觉得自己是一个无比幸运的导演。在这个过程中，我收获了太多的感动与成长，也深知这份幸运背后承载着的责任与期望。希望《大圣归来》这部戏能够让参与其中的学生有所收获，也让前来看戏的观众们感受到戏剧的乐趣。
Assistant Director 副导演
Thomas Chen (11LM) 陈俊亨
Pioneer, Create, and Legacy.
I am truly honored to participate in the creation of “Hero” as the first student director in the school’s history. I approached this challenging task with the spirit of a pioneer and a learner, actively collaborating with various units to complete it. I hope the passion displayed by all staff, both onstage and behind the scenes, will be passed down throughout history. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire cast and especially Ms Jiang and Ms Tang for their trust and the opportunity they provided me.
开拓，创造，传承。
深感荣幸，以学校历史上首位学生导演的身份参与《大圣归来》的创作工作，以开拓者和学习者的姿态，与各合作单位积极协作，并成功地完成了这一挑战性任务。期望所有工作人员在台前幕后所展现出的热忱和寄情能够船沉下去。衷心感谢全体剧组成员，以及蒋老师和汤老师给予我的宝贵机会和对我的充分信任。
Actor 演员
Brian Lin (11SUE) 林庭均
I am very grateful for the support and guidance from Ms Tang, Ms Jiang, and Thomas Chen all the way. The recommendations and help that were given to me when I couldn’t get into character eventually helped me to open the door to XiaoMai’s heart. At the same time, I used to be nervous, forgetting lines at first, and I couldn’t really present the most natural XiaoMai. However, words can’t express how much I am grateful to all the other members in the crew who helped to repeat the scene over and over again when I couldn’t find the correct emotion. They always offered kind words of support and encouraged me with warm smiles. I was highly influenced by their emotions during the process and all these things intertwined to make the final XiaoMai. It’s an honor to be a member of this crew and I wish all the best to all!
我非常感谢来自导演和编剧的一路支持与指导，在我无法演出一个状态时的细心教导，帮助我打开通往孙小麦内心的那扇门。同时，在一开始我也会忘词，紧张，无法真的演出最自然，最符合情景的孙小麦。但是，言语已经无法表达我有多感谢剧组里的所有其他人了，他们在我无法进入状态时一遍一遍地重复着那段戏，也在一直支持与鼓励我，他们在演绎过程中也感染了我，这些所有东西交织在一起，才促使了最终的孙小麦，非常荣幸能够成为这个剧组的一份子，愿我们后会有期！
Actress 演员
Kyra Chan (11NP) 陈裕绚
At first, I couldn’t immerse myself in my role “ZhuRuiXue” as her cheerful personality was out of my comfort zone when acting. Through everyone’s joint efforts, we not only presented a perfect stage but also helped me to take the first step out of my comfort zone. I am truly grateful and honored to have cooperated with everyone and I hope to cooperate with them again.
刚开始的时候，我着实不太容易代入 “朱瑞雪” 这一角色，她是那种有着张扬个性的邻家小妹，开朗又阳光的人物设定，完全不在我以往演戏所习惯的舒适范围之内。不过，在老师的悉心指导以及大家齐心协力的帮助下，我成功地突破了自己的舒适区，最终呈现出了一场堪称完美的演出。我由衷地感到荣幸，能够参与到《大圣归来》这部作品当中，心里也特别期待着下次还有机会能和大家一起合作！
Kyra Chan is on the left 左为Kyra Chan
Actor 演员
Jackie Wen (11SUE) 文钧
Theatre is both a study and a life for me. While taking IB Drama, I also actively participated in the Chinese production. First of all, I would like to thank the three directors for their outstanding contributions to “Hero”. I have learned a lot in this play. For example, this is the first large-scale physical theater production in my current theater career, which tests my position, movement and emotion on stage. This experience has allowed me to learn a lot of drama knowledge and enrich my acting experience. Finally, I would like to thank the three directors again, and especially screenwriter Ms Tang for providing such a perfect script.
戏剧这门学科对我来说既是学习也是生活，在选修IB戏剧的同时，我也积极参与了两部学校的中文原创剧目。首先在这里非常感谢三位导演编剧对《大圣归来》的杰出贡献，我在这部戏剧中学到了许多，比方说这是我目前戏剧生涯中第一次大规模的演绎肢体戏，这其中非常考验我在舞台上的走位，动作以及情感。这次的演绎经验让我学习到了很多戏剧的知识，也丰富了我的演绎经验。最后再次感谢三位导演和编剧，特别感谢编剧汤老师提供了一个如此完美的剧本。
Actress 演员
Judy Xu (11VK) 许欣琳
Thank you, “Hero”, for being the first production where I got to play an antagonist who talks in Sichuan dialect. I’m not from Sichuan, so I asked my local friends for help and even was lucky to visit Chengdu. I really love my character as the Green-haired monster character. Its unique traits brought out a different side of me. Finally, I hope this production brings the audiences not only joy, but also their own thoughts.
感谢《大圣归来》成为我第一个当反派且角色还讲四川方言的剧。我自己并不是四川人，因此接触角色的期间我寻求了很多当地朋友的帮助，还有幸实地探访了成都。我很喜欢绿毛怪这个角色，它鲜明的人物特征释放了我的另一面。最后，我希望这部剧不仅给大家带来了欢乐，还有自己的思考。
Judy Xu is on the left 左为Judy Xu
Actor 演员
Venlouce Zhao (11LF) 赵毓灏
When I watched “Haha Land” a long time ago, I really wanted to perform on stage
After I stepped into N407, my heart was finally relieved
Every Thursday afternoon was so relaxing and happy
Rehearsal was Tiring
Mistake was Appearing
Time was Flowing
When my fingers touched the curtain.
“Then who do you want to go with?”
SHA GU SHAN
Assemble!
很久以前在看《快乐星球》的时候，特别向往自己也能在台上表演
脚步踏进N407的时候，悬着的心终于放了下来
每周四的下午真的十分放松，十分开心
排练很累
出错很多
时间很长
当手指触及幕布的时候
“那你想和谁去”
我是
沙古山
Venlouce Zhao is on the right 右为Venlouce Zhao
Actress 演员
Nina Zhang (10RP) 张北
Theatrical arts have always held immense significance for me, serving as a means of expressing my personal interpretation of characters and a rich source of experience. This production, “Hero” has deepened my understanding of a mother’s role, allowed me to explore new facets of my abilities, and, most importantly, helped me form new friendships and a strong sense of belonging. To me, that is why drama productions are exceedingly important. Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ms Jiang, Ms Tang, Thomas Chen, and all members of this production for your inspiring guidance and collaboration. Thank you for this incredible opportunity, and I wish you all the best!
戏剧于我意义非凡，它既是我诠释角色的方式，更是我积累经验的源泉。参与《大圣归来》，让我对母亲角色有了更深理解，还挖掘了自身潜力，结交了新的朋友，使我有了强烈归属感。对我而言，这就是戏剧魅力。最后，我想衷心感谢蒋老师、汤老师、Thomas 陈及剧组的全体成员，感谢你们的细心指导与默契协作，也感谢这难得的机会。期待未来能够再次与你们合作！
Actress 演员
Julia Zhu (10TF) 朱蕾
I’ve learned a great deal during my time in this film crew. Initially, during the audition, I chose the role of Xiaomai. However, my understanding of emotions was rather one – sided, and I felt I overacted. When I tried to read the lines of the ordinary people, I couldn’t get into the right mood and even burst out laughing.
Now that the performance has wrapped up, I’ve not only improved my skills in delivering lines, but also grasped how to bring a character to life. So, I’m truly grateful to the directors for their guidance and recognition, as well as to my friends for their encouragement. I hope there will be another opportunity for us to work together in the same crew in the future!
我在这个剧组中收获颇多。起初试镜时，我选择了小麦这一角色，然而当时我对角色情绪的理解颇为片面，表演时便感觉有些用力过度了。在尝试念百姓的台词时，我根本代入不了相应情绪，甚至还出现了笑场的情况。
如今这部戏杀青了，我不仅在台词功底方面有了进步，还懂得了如何将一个角色演绎得鲜活生动。因此，我十分感谢导演们给予的指导与认可，也感激朋友们的鼓励，希望日后还有机会能与大家在同一个剧组共事。
Actress 演员
Angel Xu (10LA) 徐子钧
It was not until I entered SUIS Gubei that I discovered my keen interest in theatre. After participating in the school’s two performances of English and Chinese productions, I realized the unique charm of integrating music and body movements in different aspects of theatre. Thanks to all the directors and teachers for giving me the opportunity to participate in these excellent and meaningful works!
直到进入协和古北，我才发觉自己内心深处对戏剧怀有着热切的兴趣。在参与了学校举办的两场英语和中文戏剧演出之后，尽管我并未选修戏剧课程，却也深切体会到了戏剧在不同方面所展现出的音乐与肢体动作的独特魅力。十分感谢各位导演给予我这样一次机会，让我能够参演如此优秀且极具深意的作品！
Actress 演员
Chloe Sun (10WL) 孙启晨
In the production team of “Hero”, I have learned so much, so much. I truly love my character and during the rehearsal process, I have become more and more in tune with her, feeling her emotions, feeling that she is a living, breathing human being… All of this could not have been possible without everyone’s care, help and guidance for me. I really look forward to working together with all of you again!! I love drama! I love the little demon! I love “Hero”!!
在《大圣归来》剧组中，我学到了太多太多。我发自内心地喜欢自己的角色，也在排练过程越来越和她融为一体，感知她的情绪，感受到她是活生生的一个人……这都离不开大家对我的关心、帮助和指点。期待和大家再一次合作！我爱戏剧！我爱小妖！我爱《大圣归来》！
Chloe Sun is on the left 左为Chloe Sun
Actor 演员
Hanson Qian (10CY) 钱瀚琛
In the production of “Hero”, playing the role of “Father”—a character significantly older than me—taught me a lot. It was my first time to participate in the school Chinese drama production, so it was quite a challenge. At first, I didn’t fully understand the role and couldn’t bring out its “soul” in my performance. However, after repeatedly reading the script, receiving guidance from teachers, and getting encouragement from members, I gradually gained a deeper understanding of the character. I was even nicknamed the ‘old father’ by teachers and classmates. Along the way, I made new friends and significantly improved my acting skills. I felt truly thankful to Ms. Jiang, Ms. Tang, Thomas, and all the cast and crew members. Thank the director for giving me this rare opportunity to take part in such a brilliant production. I look forward to our next collaboration and wish we meet again!
在《大圣归来》剧组中，演绎 “父亲” 这一与我年龄差距较大的角色，着实让我收获颇丰。由于是首次参与学校的中文戏剧，对我而言着实是个不小的挑战。起初，我对这个角色的理解尚浅，表演时也未能将角色的 “灵魂” 充分展现出来。不过，随着我一遍又一遍地研读剧本，加之老师的悉心教导以及剧组朋友们的热情鼓励，我渐渐对 “父亲” 这一角色形象有了更为深入的领悟，甚至还被老师和同学们亲切地称呼为 “老父亲”。与此同时，我结识了不少新朋友，在演绎技巧方面也取得了显著的进步。最后，我由衷地感谢蒋导、汤编、Thomas 以及剧组的每一位成员。感谢导演给予我这次难得的机会，让我能够参演如此精彩绝伦的剧情。期待我们下次再度合作，愿我们后会有期！
Microphone 麦克风
Gavin Gao (10KF) 高乾朗
We are a group of backstage magicians… We turn the knobs, controlling machines on stage significantly larger than even ourselves. Although from the audiences’ perspective, we may not be as noticeable as the actors illuminated under the bright spotlights, it is our presence that brought the scene to life, making the production more dramatic and dynamic.
During the tight rehearsal and preparation period, we have actively cooperated with the director’s team, making on-the-spot adjustments to the stage settings and performance details just to bring this fantastic Chinese play to life. What stood out to me the most was the interaction of us and the character, the Green Monster, during the actual production. Who would have thought us, as the backstage Tech Team, would have dialogues with the actors? This moment brought joy and surprise to the audience and was one of the most creative parts of the production.
Finally, thanks to our wonderful production, “Hero”, we have finally been granted another opportunity to perform our magics.
我们是一群充满神奇力量的后台 “魔法师”。我们操控着旋钮，驾驭着那些体积比我们肉身大数倍的舞台机器。从观众的视角来看，我们的存在感或许的确比不上那些在舞台上被追光灯照耀着的演员们，然而，正是我们的存在，才让舞台场景变得立体形象，也使得戏剧表演更加丰满生动。
在这十分紧凑的时间里，我们与导演组默契配合，面对一个个临时调整的情况，齐心协力完成了这部精彩绝伦的中文戏剧。在此次演出中，最让我印象深刻的当属绿毛怪与我们的互动环节了，毕竟谁能料到后台工作人员也会有台词呢？全场观众都因这一独特设计而感受到了欢乐与惊喜，这无疑是这部剧中极为新颖且出彩的一部分。
最后，由衷地感谢《大圣归来》剧组再次给予我们这群 “魔法师” 又一次施展本领的机会。
Lighting 灯光
Tracy Zhuang (10JJ) 庄禾惠
Taking part in the theatre production “Hero” as members of the Tech Team has filled us all with great pride and gratitude. Managing intricate lighting and music setups and precisely positioning heavy spotlights required lots of practice and precise coordination. The sudden appearance of problems like headset signal instability and audio distortion also put us under great pressure. With time running out, we all tried our entire best, fearing any mistakes. Although behind-the-scenes work is often overlooked, when Sun Xiaomai chose not to be driven by his own desires, accepting eternal loneliness along with his responsibility in the plot, greatly moving the audience, we deeply felt that all our efforts were worth it.
None of this would have been possible without the guidance of our teachers and the support of actors and crew. Thank you, everyone, for your dedication which created this brilliant work!
在《大圣归来》这部作品的制作过程中，我们技术团队深刻体会到了挑战与收获如影随形。灯光控制本就复杂，既要精准把握其变化，又要与音乐配合得当，同时，繁重的追光任务更是容不得半点马虎，需要我们全神贯注地去操作。尤其是期间还突然出现了耳麦信号不稳定以及爆音等问题，这无疑给我们增添了巨大的压力。
当时的时间十分紧迫，我们每个人都全力以赴，时刻紧绷着神经，生怕出现任何差池。虽说幕后工作常常容易被大家所忽略，可当看到剧中孙小麦终于明白事理，不再仅仅满足于一己私欲，而是毅然决定承担起永世的孤独以及应尽的责任，进而让观众们深受触动、为之动容的那一刻，我们深切地感受到，此前所有的付出都是无比值得的。
这部作品能够取得成功，离不开编剧老师精心构思的剧本，离不开导演的悉心指导，离不开演员们精彩的演绎，同样也离不开幕后同学们默默付出的心血与给予的大力支持。在此，由衷地感谢大家齐心协力，共同成就了这部熠熠生辉的作品。
tech support 技术支持
Photo by
Andrew Chen 10RP
William Yang 11SUE