From September 18 to September 21, 2021, the math drama troupe of East China Normal University (ECNU) visited Nankai University and brought two performances of their original math play Geometry Life II - the Great Master Shiing-Shen Chern, providing teachers and students here with great audio and visual enjoyment and a tour of mathematical culture during this Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Commemorating the great master — a plan on bringing the math play to Nankai

The year 2021 marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of Shiing-Shen Chern, an internationally renowned mathematician, which makes how to commemorate Prof. Chern of primary importance for Chern Institute of Mathematics (CIM) when making the 2021 work plan.

On January 17, 2019, Prof. Chengming Bai, director of CIM, met with Prof. Shengli Tan, dean of School of Mathematical Sciences, ECNU, at China Three Gorges University. Prof. Tan introduced to Prof. Bai their math play about the great master Shiing-Shen Chern, and that it has been rehearsed by ECNU math drama troupe. Being impressed during this talk, Prof. Bai had a rough idea of inviting the troupe to perform at Nankai University. Later on, the drama troupe was widely praised for its performances at several universities and middle schools. And the play Geometry Life II - the Great Master Shiing-Shen Chern (hereinafter “Geometry Life II”), which was staged at Peking University in October, 2019, has received highly favorable reviews.

At the end of 2020, this idea was already under discussion at the preparatory meeting for making plans of commemorative activities in 2021. It was agreed by all attendees that performing the play Geometry Life II at Chern Institute of Mathematics, which was founded by Prof. Chern, makes perfect sense.

Once the plan was settled, CIM immediately contacted the ECNU math drama troupe. The two sides were in agreement about related arrangements after several discussions, and timed the performance at Nanai University for September, 2021. In June, the creative team of Geometry Life II came to Naikai to look for inspiration and choose the venue, and had further discussions with CIM about preparation of props, equipment, ticket booking and publicity. Then, everything was ready to welcome the troupe to start this tour of mathematical culture.  

Interpreting the great master — a show of the beauty of Geometry Life

On September 18, 2021, accompanied by drizzling rain, the ECNU math drama troupe led by Prof. Pan Liu and composed of 31 members arrived at Nankai University. CIM hosted a reception dinner to welcome the troupe and wished the performances a great success.

On the morning of September 19, regardless of the weariness from last night's long journey, all members of the troupe started their rehearsal before 9 am under the guidance of Chief Director Yan Li.

"Take a note of how long this may take." "Shall we readjust the music?" "You have to remember your own position. Do not stand too forward." "Your arms should be straighten."... The troupe refused to neglect any details of the sets, soundtracks, positions and movements, lines and facial expressions, etc., even though previously they have been rehearsing for a whole semester. In order to bring the best performances to teachers and students of Nankai, every member of the troupe was performing their duties conscientiously.

It's worth mentioning that, in the performance on September 20, three students from CIM would join in the play as reciters. Under the guidance of the chief director, they rehearsed and practiced over and over again using the very limited time to improve their reciting skill.

Effort and enthusiasm brought excellent performances.

The play begins at 7:30 pm on September 19. The rain was pouring down during that night, but never stopped the audience to come. More than 300 people were sitting in the theater, including many primary and middle school students. In return, the troupe put on a wonderful performance.

6 acts and 13 scenes in total, the play was a vivid interpretation of Prof. Chern's lifelong pursuing of scientific truth and his love for his motherland. On the stage, different time and space were connected by each character's experience.

"'Our hope is to witness China becoming a leading country in mathematics by the 21st century!' Prof. Chern once said. We shall head forward in his footsteps! As mathematicians, no matter in Tianjin, Beijing, Boston, Los Angeles, Berkeley or Hangzhou, we forever belong to the Chern class!" The stirring and touching performance was greeted by rounds of loud applause.

On the night of September 20, another fabulous performance was brought to an audience of more than 300 at spot and more than 170 online. The three students from CIM also completed their parts at high level.

Qingshan Yang, Secretary of the CPC Nankai University Committee, Mo-Lin Ge, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at Chern Institute of Mathematics, Zixin Hou, former president of Nankai University, and leaders of the School of Mathematical Sciences and School of Statistics and Data Science, Nankai University were present at the performances, and took pictures together with the cast of the play.

After the performance on September 20, members of ECNU math drama troupe and teachers and students of Nankai University celebrated together for the great success of Geometry Life II in Shiing-Shen Building.

Paying homage to the great master — an effort to plant seeds of mathematical culture to next generations

"How did I create math play?" On the afternoon of September 20, Prof. Pan Liu delivered a talk titled "The story of creating Geometry Life II - the Great Master Shiing-Shen Chern". He introduced in detail about how he started to write math plays and the stories behind it, as well as his expectations of math play.

As Prof. Liu mentioned in his talk, "The purpose of exploring it, by combining mathematical culture and the art of drama, is to bring mathematical culture more into students' life; to let more students become interested in learning mathematics, and then further understand the nature of math and math activities and the humanistic spirit behind math; to make math known and loved by more people. "   

The effect of the two performances at Nankai was just as what Prof. Liu expected.

Apart from teachers and students from universities, there were also many primary and middle school students watching the performances on both days. Though they might not truly understand the play, their laughter and exclamation have shown their interest aroused by Geometry Life II. It might leads them to get closer to Prof. Chern, and finally realize his scientific spirit and his love for China.

At the end of the performances, Prof. Liu's words were laden with emotion, "I hope the play will plant a seed in the heart of every child, and that one day they will also become great mathematicians just like Professor Shiing-Shen Chern."

Because of the 110th anniversary of the birth of Shiing-Shen Chern, a bridge for spreading mathematical culture was built between Nankai University and East China Normal University. The two parts managed to work in harmony in just four days. The success of two performances was a  collaborative effort, and the four-day tour of mathematical culture was marked a perfect full stop.

The four-day visit at Nankai was short but meaningful. It must have left each participant with beautiful memories, and has created limitless opportunities for future communication and cooperation in the field of mathematical culture!