Civilized drama

Civilized drama (simplified Chinese: 文明戏; traditional Chinese: 文明戲; pinyin: wénmíng xì) was a genre of spoken-word and operatic drama that emerged in the late Qing dynasty and remained popular through the early years of the Republic of China. Drawing from traditional forms of theatre and, through shinpa, Western dramatical conventions, the genre emerged in the early 1910s as part of a broader push towards modernization. Major troupes, mostly established by Chinese dramatists who had studied in Japan, were established in Shanghai and found success. The genre peaked in 1917, and fell into disfavour by the mid-1920s.

Conventionally, civilized dramas drew from traditional theatrical forms by emphasizing improvisation over detailed scripts and, at first, relying solely on male performers. At the same time, they introduced unprecedented levels of realism through detailed set pieces and special effects. Stories were diverse, and included original compositions as well as adaptations of foreign tales. Thematically, early works promoted nationalism and anti-Qing sentiments, before expanding to include family melodramas and contemporary events. Several civilized drama performers and writers subsequently contributed to early Chinese cinema; the genre also influenced huaju, a form with higher levels of realism.