The Fujian Province Liyuan Opera Inheritance Centre production of Red Wedding Bed is based on Chen San and Wu Niang, a love story that originated during the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279). The production is based on one of the oldest surviving vernacular (Teochew) opera scripts, dating back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
Chen San, a scholar from Quanzhou in Fujian province, travels to Chaozhou in Guangdong and meets the beautiful Huang Wu Niang at a Lantern Festival fair, and it is love at first sight.
Wu Niang later throws down lychees wrapped in a handkerchief from her pagoda to express her affection. Chen San, meanwhile, disguises himself as a mirror polisher, visits her home and deliberately breaks a family heirloom so he can stay as a servant to repay the debt, and in doing so be close to Wu Niang.
As in any classic love story, the course of true love does not run smoothly, and the pair must overcome a series of obstacles before finally uniting.
