On the afternoon of Oct 26, the inaugural Ouyang Yuqian Awards was announced and awarded at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Guilin Festival. The Best Actor award went to Zheng Junchi for his role in the musical The Impossible Trial, while Xin Zhilei won Best Actress for her performance in the play Prima Facie.

Established in 2024 by the Central Academy of Drama, the Ouyang Yuqian Awards honors the legacy of Ouyang Yuqian, the academy’s first dean and a pioneering figure in modern Chinese theater. Known for his profound contributions to drama directing, education, film, traditional opera reform, and dance studies, Ouyang is celebrated internationally for advancing higher drama education in China.

The award recognizes young talents under 40 who promote traditional culture through outstanding stage productions across drama, musical, and opera genres. This biennial award series was open nationwide, receiving 59 submissions across China, including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

Following a rigorous evaluation, 22 productions from 17 prominent theater groups reached the finals. Winners were honored in categories including Best Script, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Stage Design, highlighting the achievements of emerging voices in Chinese theater.

A view of the award ceremony. [Photo/Guilin Daily]