Amateur director Wu Jinfu (right) works on the shooting of a self-directed drama in this undated photo. The farmer living in Jiangxi province so loves traditional opera he has instigated the staging of several, for the entertainment of fellow villagers.

A rural Chinese opera lover has exchanged his hobby for his vocation, shooting a number of operatic dramas and enriching his fellow villagers' farming lives.

Fifty year old Wu Jinfu started writing and directing operas in 1994. His works enjoy a high popularity among locals living around the Taotang village in eastern China's Jiangxi province.

Throughout the years, the active amateur director has been spearheading a prolific team of local villagers, producing dozens of operatic works and staging them thousands of times.

All of the operas are based on ancient Chinese legends, really hitting home with the locals.

To cut the cost of frequent staging, Wu Jinfu makes VCDs of each drama and lends them to anxious audiences.

The VCDs also are in hot demand. One 74 year old villager, Wu Jucai, says that he borrows them whenever he wants to relax.
 
(CRIENGLISH.com March 2, 2007)