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Nuo theatre, Nuo drama, Nuo opera, or Nuoxi (儺戲;傩戏) is a traditional theatrical art popular in many regions of China. Characterized by features such as ferocious masks, distinctive attire and adornments, a distinctive performance language, and mysterious scenes.

The opera is a religious performance intrinsic to Nuo folk religion, which is a variant of Chinese folk religion with its own system of temples, rituals, orders of priests, and gods that is interethnic and practiced across central and southern China.

The purpose of Nuo theatre is to drive away devils, disease and evil influences, and also to petition for blessings from the gods. Singing and dancing are included in Nuo theatre, and performers wear costumes and masks.

Nuo theatre is a direct and important expressive medium of Nuo culture. Other forms of representation of Nuo culture include Nuo dance (傩舞; 儺舞), Nuo song (傩歌; 儺歌), Nuo sacrifice (傩祭) and Nuo ceremony (傩仪; 儺儀) and others. The unique symbol of Nuo theatre, the masks, are considered a treasure of Chinese folk art.

Nuo theatre has a considerable repertoire, which varies from region to region. Nuo dramas are usually based on well-known Chinese historical events or folk stories such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Water Margin and the story of the Dragon Kings. Some famous repertoires of Nuo theatre include Lady Mengjiang, Seizing the Yellow Devil, and Story of Mount Liang.

Nuo theatre is popular in rural areas in Guizhou, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, and Guangxi. It is also popular in the regions inhabited by other minorities, such as the Hmong, Tujia, Dong, and Yao.

By Melinda Butterfield

“Our government makes life unbearable for people in their countries, they feel they have no choice but to leave, and then they make it just as miserable for them here."