Ghaffar Pourazar: Peking Opera Star

Pourazar has made a name for himself as the first foreigner to train rigorously in Beijing opera. Recently, he participated in the Heping Cup competition in Tianjin, where his experiments performing in Shakespearean garb were enthusiastically received by audiences. We decided that we just had to learn more about the English Monkey King.

How did you become so interested in Peking opera?
I was a 3-D animator researching movement, mime, physical theater and dance for my character animations. There is nothing out there that can compare with this style of movement, the training and the skills.

Which Peking opera has the most bizarre plot?
A play about an old humpback walking with a stick because one leg is much shorter than the other, but his incredible kung fu skills save the day and make for awesome entertainment. Sadly, it is pointless to mention these plays because only a few experts know about them.

Do you think your career in Peking opera has brought the UK and China closer?
I’ve entertained every British ambassador to Beijing and their VIP guests including dukes and duchesses and ministers. I’ve taken Beijing opera performances and educational tours to universities and theaters around the UK. To be honest, people have received awards from the Queen for much less. Some anecdotes: The Duke of Gloucester wanted to learn Beijing opera movements and musical instruments, Roger Moore was over the moon about the English Monkey King performance adapted to reflect HIV issues for UNICEF, and Elton John almost fell over encountering the Monkey King in his home.

At the Heping Cup, were you surprised that judges allowed you to wear Shakespearean costume?
No one had ever done this in the competition’s 20-year history, and they could have disqualified me for not wearing Beijing opera costume. But since all the newspapers and TV and radio stations were reporting about my performance, they had no choice but to accept my conditions.

Does the Chinese audience really laugh when you wear the Peking opera costume?
I can hear the giggles when a “big nose” laowai comes out made-up and dressed in Beijing opera costume. My skills may put the audience in their place, but no matter how well a foreigner performs, he will never ever look the part, unless he is playing a Xinjiang character. That is why I specialize in the Monkey King. With a painted face, this issue does not come up.

What makes Peking opera better than Shakespeare?
Shakespeare respects, values and preserves words, poetry and literature, but Beijing opera respects, values and preserves movement, music, singing and dancing on top of that.

Watch Ghaffar’s performances at www.tudou.com.

This article originally appeared on page 62 of the December issue of the Beijinger.

Click here to see the December issue of the Beijinger in full.

Photo courtesy of Ghaffar Pourazar