Abstract:

The "Training Class for Chinese Opera Writers" established by Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture in 1956 was the first Chinese opera education organization in Shanghai after the establishment of the People's Republic of China with the mission of "cultivating Chinese opera writers". Due to the relatively rare historical records, few scholars have provided detailed and complete explanations for this training course. By combing through the historical archives collected by the Shanghai Archives, this paper aims to restore the true appearance of this training course. The establishment of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture Drama Writing Training Class not only greatly improved the writing literacy and creative level of the majority of students; but also prompted the emergence of a craze for setting up screenwriting training classes in various regions; additionally, it provided valuable experience for the cultivation of talents in Chinese opera screenwriting. The unique experience accumulated in the process of cultivating talents for traditional Chinese opera writers is worth learning from and promoting by the organizers of contemporary Chinese opera education.

Key words: Chinese opera writers, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture, The People's Republic of China, training classes, historical contributions