On August 30, 2024, the Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) issued the Announcement of the Selection Results for the First National Short Play and Sketch Comedy Competition. The original short drama Please Don't Forget, directed by Liu Qiong, a professor in the Acting Department of the Drama School at YNAU, stood out among hundreds of entries from universities and professional troupes across China. It was the only work from Yunnan Province to be selected.

Among the 42 works selected, YNAU was the only academic institution represented; all other entries were from professional troupes. This highlights the significant progress YNAU has made in aligning its talent cultivation and artistic creation with industry standards.

Some of the finalists of the Announcement of the Selection Results for the First National Short Play and Sketch Comedy Competition issued by the MCT

The original sketch comedy Please Don't Forget was directed by Liu Qiong, a national first-class actor and a master supervisor at the Drama School of YNAU. The play was written by Ma Qianli, a graduate student enrolled in 2019 specializing in drama and film screenwriting, and was performed by an ensemble of both undergraduate and graduate students from the Drama School.

Stills from the performance of Please Don't Forget

The sketch draws inspiration from real-life events involving firefighters in Yunnan Province. The performance captures the story of three firefighters in a fire station, who, while preparing their New Year's Eve dinner, reminisce about their past years of service. Their rare moment of peace is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of one firefighter’s mother, setting off a narrative about a mother who never forgets her son, firefighters who remain steadfast in their mission, and a community that honors its fallen heroes. Previously, this sketch was selected for the 16th Yunnan New Drama (Program) Showcase and the drama finals of the 6th Yunnan University Student Art Exhibition, where it earned a second prize across the province.

Stills from the performance of Please Don't Forget

The sketch will represent Yunnan Province at the first national short play and skit offline showcase, which will take place in Changsha, Hunan Province, in October 2024. The production team has already started refining the performance to ensure it achieves the best possible impact on stage.