From Shanghai to Liuzhou, the musical “To Youth” tells the story of industrial aid construction-Xinhua

“You have become the most beautiful scenery here, all the symphony of steel is celebrating your birthday, you are a kind of crystallization, the crystallization of Pujiang and Liujiang…” A few days ago, Guangxi’s first industrial theme musical “To Youth” was staged in Nanning. Lead the audience to experience the prosperous years of Guangxi’s industrial development.

　　This is the scene of the musical “To Youth”.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Qinggang

“This is a memoir of youth, the starting station is Shanghai, and the final station is Liuzhou.” said Wang Jianjun, deputy director of the musical. “To Youth” in the 50s of the last century, Shanghai Youth Party members supported Guangxi’s industrial construction as the background of the story, paying tribute to the dedication spirit of the older generation of Liuzhou workers who “dedicated their youth and their lives, and their children and grandchildren”.

　　This is the scene of the musical “To Youth”.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Huan

In 1958, in response to the call to aid the construction of Guangxi’s industry, the protagonist Geng Dake and a group of young Shanghai workers and technicians came to Liuzhou. They were not afraid of hardship and wrote the glory and dream of an industrial city in the red age. Romantic love, strong family affection, self-confident national sentiment, fistful family and national sentiments… It is vividly displayed in a high-pitched song and a strong dance.

　　This is the scene of the musical “To Youth”.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Huan

After more than half a century of hard work, Liuzhou has now become an important industrial town in southwest my country, with an industrial system covering industries such as automobiles, steel, machinery, and chemicals.

In the musical, the singer Wang Kai plays the protagonist Geng Dake. “The young people of that era made huge sacrifices for the development of the motherland. The hard work of our ancestors has created a good life for us now. I hope that everyone can choose their own path at the crossroads of life and give full play to the value of life.” Wang Kai said.

Musical screenwriter and director Zhang Jigang said that when he was investigating the abandoned factory workshop, the empty workshop and huge machine tools gave him inspiration for his creation. Cement and metal constitute the basic symbols of this musical. “Musical drama is an art form that everyone is willing to accept. Through the integration of multiple elements and dynamic exhibitions, the story can be told more vividly.”

“The blood of youth stirs our youth power, and the beauty of youth shows our youth power. If your youth does not have a dream, it will not burn, and if your youth does not have a desire, it will not bloom…” At the end of the play, the audience stood up Cheers and applause to the stage.

Reporter: Huang Qinggang, Zhao Huan

Editor: Chen Dongshu