On the evening of May 30, the 8th Annual Drama Festival of the School of Finance, titled “Passing on the Torch: Discussing Nankai,” was successfully held at the Music Hall in the Datong Student Center. Organized by the Nankai University Youth League Committee and hosted by the School of Finance, the festival featured performances by the School’s student drama troupe and the “Patriotic Three Questions” promotion team. They presented two captivating dramas, Zhang Boling and The Ordinary Wonders, offering a visual and auditory feast for the audience. Vice Party Secretary and Vice Dean of the School of Finance, Gao Shan, Youth League Secretary Yang Qi, counselors, and over 200 student viewers attended the performances.

As the spotlight illuminated the stage and the actors took their positions, the two dramas began amid enthusiastic applause.

The drama Zhang Boling focused on the life of Zhang Boling, a renowned patriotic educator and founder of the Nankai schools. It vividly recreated historical moments from a tumultuous era, including Zhang’s establishment of Nankai, his efforts to save the nation, and his contributions to educational development.

The play used a flashback technique to unfold the story against the backdrop of urgent telephone rings, bomb explosions, and artillery fire. 

It depicted Zhang’s transition from military service to education, his struggle with financial difficulties while independently running a school, and his resolute call for patriotism during a critical period of national crisis.

The drama highlighted Zhang’s dedication to the country and his steadfast spirit in preserving Nankai’s values despite immense challenges.

The Ordinary Wonders, adapted from the famous novel by Feng Jicai, was set against the backdrop of late Qing Dynasty and early Republican Tianjin. It portrayed the lives of ordinary people in the city, reflecting the characteristics of an era through the humorous and poignant stories of small-town characters.

The play featured two main scenes—a tavern and the Han residence—depicting the schemes of a destitute painter and a tavern owner to defraud a wealthy patron, with various colorful characters adding to the narrative’s richness. 

Through distinctive dialects and stage settings, The Ordinary Wonders offered an immersive experience, vividly portraying the local customs of Tianjin’s waterways and docklands.

Members of the “Patriotic Three Questions” promotion team, Li Yifan and Zhang Yongjia, discussed the historical connection between Nankai and drama, as well as the creative processes behind the two performances.

Zhang Boling preserved the school’s historical memory, while The Ordinary Wonders provided light-hearted entertainment. Together, the dramas showcased the positive, lively, and earnest spirit of the students from the School of Finance. This year’s festival marks the eighth edition of the School’s drama events, which have previously included original and adapted works such as Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, Hello! Crazy Person, Autumn Equinox, and The Confused Theatre Troupe. Moving forward, the School of Finance aims to present even more exciting performances, enrich students’ extracurricular lives, and continue to share the Nankai story while promoting the spirit of public service and patriotism among its students.