How Peking opera actors train for decades and never stop practising their art

It is a Sunday afternoon in early September, and Zhang is leading The Masked Heroine, a play from the Song School of Peking opera, founded in the early 20th century as part of the centuries-old art form. It is the 30-year-old actress’ first time starring in the role in a full production, but also the fruit of over a decade of hard work that started when she was a child.

“Ever since I first started learning this play, I’ve dreamed of performing it in full,” she says.

Growing up in Hebei province in northern China, Zhang first encountered Peking opera when she was seven and saw children practising at a cultural centre. Fascinated, she joined them – and realised she had the talent and determination to pursue the art professionally. After primary school, Zhang left home for a theatre school in East China’s Jiangsu province.

Most performers in Peking opera start training at a very young age to build physical strength and flexibility. The repetitive practice leaves participants soaked with “sweat and tears”.