Growing up in a family of opera performers, Wang Xiaoying, former Executive Vice President of the National Theater of China (NTC), developed a keen interest in stage performance from an early age.
“I’ve actually been involved in the arts since 1975. I was part of the Chizhou Art Troupe in Anhui Province, singing, dancing and acting in operas,” he told Beijing Review.
In 1977, China’s college entrance examination resumed after a 10-year suspension due to the impacts of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Going to university was a dream Wang had longed for. The next year, the dream came true as Wang was admitted to a polytechnic university. However, instead of thrilled, he felt trapped in a dilemma.
