Founded in 1992, t he Asphodel Theatre Company (Compagnie du Théâtre des Asphodèles) became in 15 years one of the main European companies specialized in Commedia dell' Arte .

Proposing a revisited version of this performing art able to form a perfect balance between tradition and modernity, the Asphodel Theatre Company's new play is based on the aesthetic encounter between the Commedia dell' arte and the Chinese Opera .

Indeed, these two dramatics forms have the elements of immediate acknowledgment of the character as the mask, the make-up or the costume.
The play « Harlequin Travels in China » symbolizes the encounter of these two cultures that have considered body movement as an art in their respective continents and where a variety of disciplines are performed.

The goal of this long-term project is the exchange and the transmission of knowledge.

A cast of ten Chinese and European actors, all of whom are musicians and acrobats, invite the audience to witness a love story set against impossible odds: that of a Chinese princess and the son of a Venetian merchant.

Upon the revelation of a murder plot, Azure Pearl is spirited away to Venice and left to fend for herself. Disguised as a harlequin, she meets the young Venetian, Orazio , and falls in love.

From Venice to Beijing, a thousand adventures unfold. Among menacing plots and duels, love songs and wild dancing, their trek abounds with many a disguise and gibes Italian style. Met with intolerance by some and ignorance by others, it is up to them to prove that their feelings for one another are genuine and capable of transcending cultural differences.

To make the play understandable by everyone, focus will be made on universality and timelessness of body movements.

1992 年成立的 水仙花 劇團在過去 15 年成為歐洲主要的劇團之一 ， 專門創作即興喜劇 ( Commedia dell' Arte ) 。

在結合傳統與現代表演藝術的大前提下， 水仙花 劇團的新作是即興喜劇和中國大戲的純美相遇。事實上，這兩種藝術形式在面具、化粧和戲服方面已互相呼應，相得益彰。
《 丑生 遊中國》像徵兩種文化的相遇，兩者均視身體動作是藝術的一種，並有多種的演繹技巧。

這項長久的合作計劃旨在交流和傳遞知識。

演出的十位演員有來自中國及歐洲，他們本身全都是樂手和雜技表演者。劇情講述一名中國公主與一名威尼斯商人的兒子之間的一段困難重重的愛情故事。

當喑殺計劃被揭露， Azure Pearl 便被人拐到威尼斯並遺下她一人自謀生計。為求生她扮成丑角，之後遇上了年輕的威尼斯男子 Orazio ，二人墮入愛河。

由威尼斯到北京，種種的奇遇一一展開。他們的旅途除了危險的陰謀和鬥、情歌和狂熱的舞蹈 外，也充滿了許多的偽裝和意大利式的幽默。他們的戀情有些人完全不能接受，其他的人又不理解，惟有靠他們自己去證明他們雙方的感情是真摯並且能超越文化的分歧。

劇目表現出兩個傳統文化豐富多采的共通處，並且以國際化和不受時間影響的身體動作為主，讓每位觀眾都能明白。