Shen, Yili is a National Class A Actor, Ms. Shen is a graduate of the Shanghai School for Traditional Theatre and joined the Shanghai Kunju Company after graduation. She holds a Master’s degree in School of Arts in Shanghai Theater Academy.. Ms. Shen specializes in the refined maiden (guimendan 閨門旦或五旦) role type. She has performed leading roles in plays such as “The Peony Pavilion,”
She is the lead refined young maiden role type (guimengdan 閨門旦) in the Company. Ms. Shen’s repertoire includes traditional kunqu plays, such as “The Peony Pavilion (牡丹亭),” “Jade Hairpin (玉簪記),” “The Palace of Eternal Youth (長生殿),” “A Beauty above the Wall (牆頭馬上),” “The Purple Hairpin (紫釵記)” etc., and kunqu episodes, such as “Dream of Butterfly: Match Making (說親),” “The Peony Pavilion: Interrupted Dream (驚夢) and Pursuing the Dream (尋夢), “The Phoenix Mountain: Princess Florets (百花贈劍), etc.
She was the winner of 2017 Plum Blossom Award for her category in China. She also received numerous nationally recognized awards in China, including the White Orchid Buds Award. She has devoted her enthusiasm and efforts on advancing kunqu arts by working with different form of arts. In 2009, she performed with BBC symphony orchestra for a new work of “The Peony Pavilion” and received high praise. As a leading kunqu artist, she has been teaching young generation and is truly an outstanding artist in the realm of kunqu.