Just for laughs

In the fall of 2012, Nishida Satoshi, a Japanese exchange student from Kyoto, was captivated by a double act comedy show at Beijing Language and Culture University.

Nishida found the performance electrifying yet familiar, reminiscent of manzai, a comedic style from Japan's Kansai region.

It set him on a journey to learn more about the Chinese-style crosstalk, or xiangsheng, one of the most popular forms of comedy in China.

"If I can use Mandarin to elicit laughter from local people, that would be an extraordinary achievement," Nishida says.

For Yegor Shyshov from Ukraine, a similar revelation occurred at a Mandarin-speaking competition in 2010. He marveled at a group of internationals who spoke Mandarin fluently and made the audience laugh heartily.

"I couldn't grasp half of their jokes at the time," he says. "But I was astonished that foreigners could deliver such emotionally compelling Chinese."

Driven by their shared ambition to learn the Chinese language through humor, the two foreigners from across the world embarked on a similar path, training with the renowned xiangsheng artist Ding Guangquan, who began accepting foreign apprentices in 1989. Ding passed away in 2018.

For comedian Tina Huang, who is of Chinese and Russian descent, Chinese cross-talk helped put her in the limelight. Together with Chinese xiangsheng artist Yan Jiabao, Huang gained recognition at a 2016 show at the Beijing Radio and Television Station with their performance, Love, To Be In or To Be Out.

Huang's authentic Beijing accent and engaging stage presence made a lasting impression, marking her foray into the xiangsheng scene.

Through cross-talk lovers Nishida, Shyshov, Huang and many others, a groundbreaking show, Xiangsheng Encounters Foreigners Cross-cultural Crosstalk, emerged. The program debuted in 2019 in Beijing's vibrant 798 Art Zone, a hub for contemporary art in Chaoyang district. It offered a platform for Chinese xiangsheng actors to work with foreign comedians passionate about Chinese culture.

The unique mix showcased a novel cultural dimension of the traditional art form, combining xiangsheng with various international influences and languages.

Yan, who founded the program's team, says that its early days were modest, consisting of just seven or eight members.

"At times, we had to invite xiangsheng performers from outside our group to complete a show," he says.

Over the years, the troupe has expanded significantly. It now counts nearly 50 members, covering Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and Oceania. They currently perform at the GG2077 Space Station theater in Beijing's China World Mall.

Breaking barriers

Despite its rich history, xiangsheng faces challenges such as creative slump, shortage of talented performers and dwindling artistic standards, and revitalizing the art form requires a collective effort and willingness to adapt, Yan says.

"For cross-talk to win the affection of audiences, it needs to keep up with the times in both content and format," he says.

Many fans say the cross-talk show pioneers a new format that transcends the traditional art form, presenting a comedy variety show that blends stand-up, sketch comedy and original cross-talk.

But the path to the creative breakthrough was not always smooth. Yan recalls early performances at the 798 Art Zone, where the performers struggled to draw audiences.

"Sometimes only a few people would buy tickets and, with our friends included, there were barely a dozen people in the audience," he says.

Still, those trying times fueled the comedians' determination. "Accepting something new always takes time," Yan says.

Adaptability is essential in the field, especially given the team's diverse cultural backgrounds, and unlike traditional xiangsheng in which the partners of a performance are fixed, their team constantly reconfigured its lineup, requiring members to adjust and collaborate effectively, he says.

Huang also emphasizes the importance of "cultural conflict" in their work.

"All our performances are built on cultural differences and there wouldn't be any creative friction without them," she says.

"It's this friction that fuels our inspiration."

Striking chords

In July 2023, the team hosted a performance featuring renowned xiangsheng artist Jiang Kun, who was deeply impressed by the onstage collaboration.

"I had never seen anything like it before," Jiang says. "So many foreigners engaging in lighthearted banter while showcasing genuine cross-talk."

This performance attracted the largest and most diverse audience yet, with attendees from Russia, Ukraine, Japan and the United States. For Yan, it highlighted how laughter can transcend differences and unite people in joy.

The cultural blending enriches the comedy scene, as elements from different backgrounds come together on the stage, and Yan says that they have recently incorporated other cultural themes into their cross-talk performances, such as Japanese manzai and Russian poet Pushkin's lines.

"Some foreign friends come to watch our shows and we include interactive segments to make them feel at home," Yan says.

"They see familiar faces from their own countries, creating an atmosphere that feels like a party. This offers a unique perspective for foreigners studying or working in China, showing them that there's joy to be found here."

As a traditional Chinese performance art, xiangsheng can also weave cultural nuances that deepen foreign performers' understanding of Chinese society.

"My master always told us that performing cross-talk involves more than just memorizing lines; it requires experiencing the culture firsthand," Nishida says.

He recalls visiting a well-known traditional Chinese medicine store to grasp the essence of TCM and better understand the terms related to the herbs for cross-talk.

Shyshov recounts a touching moment after a xiangsheng competition, when an elderly audience member praised their work.

"The audience member told us that what we did was cross-talk in its truest form," Shyshov says.

Looking ahead

The value of live performances has never been clearer in an age dominated by digital screens, Yan says.

"By attending shows in person, audiences support the art form in its most authentic and rewarding way," he adds.

At the performance venue, comedy lovers gather like family, sharing joy and laughter. Over time, xiangsheng has woven itself into the lives of its performers, providing emotional fulfillment that transcends financial gain, he says.

Yan also acknowledges the need for financial stability to nurture their creative efforts in a competitive landscape.

"A steady stream of ticket buyers is essential for retaining talent and fostering innovation," he says.

Nishida is confident of the unifying power of comedy. "I understand how challenging it is for a Japanese person to learn cross-talk in China, but my master Ding always emphasized that art knows no boundaries," he says.

Xiangsheng has given him the opportunity to meet young Chinese performers and friends from around the world, according to Nishida. "Before coming to China, I never imagined I would stand on stage and make a Chinese audience laugh," he adds. "Being Japanese or Chinese doesn't matter. We must first understand each other. To me, this is a truly magical connection."

Shyshov looks to the future of xiangsheng with hope.

"I hope that years from now, when we can no longer perform, our students will become the teachers. This art form must be passed down through generations," Shyshov says.

Huang echoes the sentiment and wishes for the continued growth of their collaborative efforts. "We hope what we've created together, like a cherished work or even a child, can flourish," she says.

Yan expresses a simple yet profound goal. "I want to accompany these foreign friends who love Chinese comedy, attract more foreigners to China and inspire even more people abroad to appreciate our culture," Yan says. "If our cross-talk show achieves this, then we've succeeded."

He points to a world where shared futures and connections are vital. "What does it mean to have a community with a shared future? It's about everyone sitting together, joking and laughing, regardless of nationality or ethnicity," Yan says.

Lu Huimin and Xu Yuxincontributed to this story.