Established in 1980, the Directing Department is a crucial base for cultivating advanced talent in Chinese opera directing. It offers programmes in Chinese Opera Directing, Film and Television Directing for Chinese Opera, and Film and Television Performance. The department has produced a large number of highly skilled professionals for the fields of Chinese opera, film and television, and arts education in China. With a strong faculty and rigorous teaching standards, the department ensures the overall quality of education and has established a unique teaching system with distinctive characteristics.
The Chinese Opera Directing programme emphasizes a comprehensive curriculum. It begins with theoretical courses in Chinese opera directing, focuses on creative directing courses, and is complemented by foundational and elective courses in Chinese opera performance. Teaching activities revolve around courses such as "Chinese Opera Elements," "Chinese Opera Sketches," "Chinese Opera Plays," and "Graduation Projects." This approach forms a unique talent cultivation model that develops students' comprehensive abilities in Chinese opera directing through a progression from specific to general, and simple to complex.
The Film and Television Directing for Chinese Opera programme starts with theoretical courses in film, television, and Chinese opera directing, centres on creative directing courses, and includes foundational courses in both film directing and Chinese opera performance. Students first grasp the basic theories, knowledge, and skills of film and television directing while also mastering the aesthetic principles and creative methods of Chinese opera arts.
The Film and Television Performance programme is built on the foundation of film and television performance creation. Students also explore and understand the creative methods and principles of Chinese opera performance, thereby broadening their performance repertoire and enhancing their acting techniques and abilities. Additionally, students in this programme must acquire knowledge of directing, which is closely related to film and television performance. Graduates thus systematically master the performance principles and techniques of the Stanislavski system, learn the methods and techniques of Chinese opera performance, and understand the artistic characteristics of directing. This teaching model deepens and expands the professional content of film and television performance, improving the overall quality and comprehensive abilities of the graduates.