Between 1932 and 1933, entrusted by
the CPC, some dramatists went deep into factories and plants in Shanghai. During this period, modern Chinese
drama also went to the countryside. Xiong Foxi (1900-1965), who engaged in the
theater in the early years, went to Dingxian
County, Hebei Province in 1932. There he started a five-year experiment with
peasants' drama.
Xiong Foxi was one of the famous drama
educationists, playwrights and pioneers of the new drama movement in the early
period.
At first, he made a tour of performance
among the peasants. Then, he decided to help them establish their own troupes
when he was sure that the peasants could identify with this new dramatic form.
About one hundred peasants' drama troupes were organized within only one or two
years as a result of his efforts. These troupes performed such plays as
Bugle, Butcher and Transition.
The dramatic activities in the rural areas
often took place in simple places such as open grounds and temples. The
performance shortened the distance between the actors and the audience so that
the actors could step out of the earth stage and go into the crowd of audience.
At the same time, the audience could also step onto the stage as if to take part
in a mass meeting.