Reviving classics to retell timeless stories

Originally penned in 1942 by playwright Wu Zuguang, the play was first performed in the 1950s and revolves around famed Peking Opera actor Wei Liansheng. Wei goes through both the peak of fame and the depths of despair. His tragic love affair with Yuchun, a concubine of a bureaucrat, costs them both their lives.

"We decided to revive this play because it's very beautiful and captures the emotional complexity of beauty intertwined with sadness," says Feng.

This classic will return to the stage at the Capital Theatre — the home of the Beijing People's Art Theatre — at the end of April, offering a fresh take that speaks to contemporary audiences.

The second major restoration is Lao She's Rickshaw Boy, which will be restaged in July. This production will serve as a symbol of the Beijing People's Art Theatre's ability to keep its classic works dynamic and relevant for new generations.

Feng also notes that the artists of the theater have started reviewing old videos and materials about Lao She's Rickshaw Boy, which premiered at the theater in 1957.

"We will take our young actors to Beijing's hutong areas to learn about the history of the work. The revival will be loyal to Lao She's original piece and presented based on the theater's first edition of Rickshaw Boy," Feng notes.

"The theater, with a history of over 70 years, is now going through a critical transition between old and new actors, with many senior actors retiring and young actors joining us," Feng says. "Through restaging, we want to provide opportunities for younger actors and directors to engage with these iconic works, allowing them to work with established artists, reinterpret, and continue the traditions of Chinese theater."