Cambodia & Arts: Premiere of theatrical performance “Zhou Daguan in the Kingdom of Chenla”

On Saturday, King Norodom Sihamoni presided over the premiere of Zhou Daguan in the Kingdom of Chenla, a theatrical performance dedicated to the historical relationship between Cambodia and China.

Premiere of theatrical performance “Zhou Daguan in the Kingdom of Chenla”

The premiere was held at the Chaktomuk Conference Hall, which was open to the public for the first time the following day.Those in attendance included the Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, Wang Wenbin; the Education Minister, Hang Chuon Naron; and other senior government officials.

The performance, titled Zhou Daguan in the Kingdom of Chenla, offers a historical perspective on Cambodia during the Angkor period between 1296 and 1297 through the travels of Zhou Daguan, a Chinese diplomat of the Yuan dynasty. Zhou Daguan's accounts of the Khmer people, the temples and customs of Cambodia, and the Angkor temple complexes provide a rich source of historical information.The play combines historical, cultural and emotional elements to transport the audience back to this fascinating era of Cambodian history.

Ambassador Wang expressed his delight for the performance via social media:

"It was a great honour to watch the premiere of "Zhou Daguan in the Kingdom of Chenla" with His Majesty the King! My deepest gratitude goes to the Cambodian artists whose performances vividly captured the enduring bond between the peoples of China and Cambodia.”

The performance incorporates traditional Khmer dance, classical pinpeat music, and martial arts, reflecting the richness of Cambodian heritage.The 15 scenes of the performance were scripted by Prince Sisowath Tesso and jointly directed by Professors Tith Sarith and Suong Sophak.

The production was a collaboration with the Princess Norodom Buppha Devi Dance School and was supported by the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia.

The performance was organised with the purpose of strengthening relations between the Cambodian and Chinese people, aligning with the vision of 2024 as the "Year of Cultural, Civilisational, and Interpersonal Exchanges" between the two nations.