The thesis will be divided into the following parts: the introduction will focus on the objectives of the research, review of literature, and the blueprint of methodology. Chapter One will define some basic concepts and introduce the historical background. Chapter Two will explore the relationship between modern city and the Avant-garde drama in terms of "modern city", thus leading to four relevant parts: new ways to understand space and time, cultural transformation, global spectacle and new media. Chapter Three will turn to the definition of the Avant-garde drama, discussing the relationship between the specific areas of drama (drama practitioners, motives of the drama, stage scenery, spectatorship, and body) and the modern city. Chapter Four will analyze in details the cases in two metropolis: Beijing and Shanghai, particularly comparing their cultural background, production situation, the type and quality of the production and the spectator groups. The variation of the urban culture influences the production choices of the Avant-garde drama; while the Avant-garde drama reflects the cultural transformation of different cities. In addition, this chapter will briefly analyze the drama as a carrier of cultural interaction of cities, and I will conduct a comparative study in this interchange and interaction. The results of the above research will be concluded in the final chapter. / The thesis will discourse on the context of contemporary mainland China, and analyze the inner tensions lying in a complex matrix of contending relationships between the modern city and the Avant-garde drama. I will try to explore the characteristics, situation, evolution and future possibilities of the dramas in the context of modern urban society, while probing into the situation and symptoms of modern Chinese cities in relation to the Avant-garde drama. I will find out the construction of the power relationships concomitant with the cultural transformation in mainland China from 1990s, and will explore the possibility of the Avant-garde theatre as a public space as well as the modern city's stimulation and facilitation of this possibility. / 李婭菲. / Advisers: Thomas Luk; Natalia Chan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: A, page: 1840. / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 214-230). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / School code: 1307. / Li Yafei.

張秉權. / 論文(博士)--香港中文大學, 1999. / 參考文獻 (p. i-xvi) / 中英文摘要. / Available also through the Internet via Dissertations & theses @ Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Zhang Bingquan. / Lun wen (bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 1999. / Can kao wen xian (p. i-xvi) / Zhong Ying wen zhai yao.

本文以清代宮廷演劇制度的完善與興替、宮廷大戲《昭代簫韶》的創作與演出為中心，探討其中帝王性情、意識形態的投射與帝國形象的建構；試圖對宮廷演劇繁盛與變遷的原因、《昭代簫韶》文本與演出的意涵、宮廷與民間演劇的交流與影響等問題，作出新的解釋。 / 現有研究強調清朝帝后喜好戲曲娛樂、宮廷舞臺壯麗輝煌，以及晚清宮廷演劇變革等等。本文認為，清代宮廷演劇實有更多豐富的內涵有待更深入的研討。帝后的倡導及參與，自是推動清代宮廷演劇繁盛的重要原因，但在滿足帝后娛樂的同時，宮廷演劇也用於朝廷儀典；戲曲教化與國家儀式的功能相互結合。 / 清代宮廷演劇，在元明清雜劇傳奇及亂彈之外，還有適應現實需要而奉旨編演的大戲與節戲。宮廷大戲，規模龐大，情節複雜，排場繁縟，在中國戲曲史上十分獨特。創作於乾嘉之際的《昭代簫韶》，取材於明代演義小說《北宋志傳》，鋪寫楊家將輔宋抗遼事。通過特定情節與人物穿戴，《昭代簫韶》參與了清代正統華夷的論述，並含有重評歷史與訓諭臣民的深意。此部大戲將褒忠誅奸的昇仙入地與軍陣鬥法的神道描寫，與觀劇現場的君臣秩序相結合，形成舞臺上、下戲曲與現實的呼應，道德教化寓意明顯。 / 本文對清代宮廷演劇制度變遷與宮廷大戲《昭代簫韶》演出史的考察，還特別關注戲曲在宮廷與民間的流動與影響。尤其是外學伶人進入與退出宮廷，使得宮廷伶人的規模與組成發生改變，這不僅影響到大戲的演出形式與藝術呈現，也使得宮廷演劇處於對外開放與吸收融合的狀態。清代戲劇便在宮廷、文人與民間三方面，均臻繁盛。 / Theatrical performance played an important role in the Qing court culture. This thesis discusses the evolution and change of the court theatre institution throughout the Qing Dynasty. In the contexts of court entertainment, political activities and cultural policy, the creation and performance history of the grand theatre piece, Zhaodai xiaoshao, or The Glorious Music of a Brilliant Age, from the Qianlong-Jiaqing to the Guangxu period serve as an adequate example. In this case study, we can explore the nature of the Qing emperors and Empress Dowager Cixi, state ideology and the construction of the Empire’s image. / Most existing research in Qing court drama and theatre focuses on the Qing emperors’ great passion for theatre, the three-tiered grand stage in the imperial palace and the wealth of props and costumes, as well as the repertoire change in the late Qing, especially the formation and development of Jingju or Peking Opera. This thesis arguesthat given its rich contents and relevant contexts, the Qing court theatre deserves far more research both in breadth and in depth. The participation of the imperial power undoubtedly promoted court theatre. Theatrical performances at court became not only private entertainment for the imperial family; they also appeared in state ceremonies with special ritual significance. In addition, the grand plays like the 240-scened Glorious Music of a Brilliant Age projected the images and instructions of the emperorsto enlighten the subjects, for particular needs in political circumstances. / The Glorious Music of a Brilliant Age was based on the story of the Yang Family Generals in the Northern Song Dynasty. Usingthe concept of destiny, the grand play established the plot in which Song defeated Liao and the Taizong of Song completed the unification of the Hans and non-Hans. This is not the real history. However, the play reflected the transition from the early Qing of the northern ethnic-group regime to the mid-Qing of the unified Chinese dynasty. It showed the Manchu emperors’ intent to construct a political orthodox position for their empire. Through the specific costumesof its characters, this history play revealed the ethnic and identity issues among the audience in the Qing court. It teaches the audience and later, readers to be loyal subjects. / In the performance history of The Glorious Music of a Brilliant Age, it is also important to note the institutional evolution of the court theatre, especially the folk actors flowing inside and outside the court. These actors’ movement created opportunities for exchange between the court theatre and the public theatre. For instance, during the Hundred Days Reform, Zhaodai xiaoshao was adapted from its original Kun-Yi music to the Pihuang music under the command of the Empress Dowager Cixi to be performed by the eunuch actors and famous celebrities from the capital theatre. The adaptation and performances of this play, when closely examined, expressed the "ideal" parent-child and monarch-subject relationship which the Empress desired Emperor Guangxu to observe, given the reality of tension between the two at that time. In other words, the performances at court theatre often serve the political purpose of communication, indoctrination, as well as integration. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / 胡光明. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 255-281). / Abstracts also in English. / Hu Guangming.

Liao Weichun. / "August 2004." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 249-268). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.