Taking a new role

Separately, the actor says he is glad to see public interest in high-end culture growing in recent years.

"Earlier, people used to host a banquet or go to a karaoke bar for entertainment," he says. "But now, they often focus on the arts and cultural performances."

According to him, the attendance levels at recent shows staged by the Beijing People's Art Theatre is typically more than 90 percent.

"During the Spring Festival holiday, when we expected the audience numbers to be low, we were pleasantly surprised," he says.

In the past few years, Feng has been among the performers from the Beijing People's Art Theatre who have delivered nonprofit lectures on stage drama for the public, especially in elementary and high schools.

"The purpose of these lectures is to nurture our next-generation audience," he says. "And, some of them may even develop an interest in a career on the stage."

Speaking about finding new blood for his troupe, he says it is urgent that they train more young actors.

"Our generation will soon retire," he says. "So, we train young people through more practice. And we get them to regularly read scripts aloud in public, as a common complaint we hear about young actors is that they cannot deliver their lines well."

He also says that the revival of stage dramas will help the TV and film industries improve.

"The value of veteran performers is now being emphasized by audiences," says Feng.

"People are bored by screens filled with 'fresh meat'," he says.

In China, "fresh meat" is often used to describe actors with pretty faces and poor performing skills.

Feng, who studied acting in Germany from 1989 to 1991, is a big fan of global cultural links.