Epic journey through Lao She's world

Voyage of Life, a Chinese stage production inspired by the life of celebrated writer Lao She, premiered at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center on Friday.

After its run in Beijing from Friday to Sunday, the play will embark on a nationwide tour.

Directed and adapted by Huang Ying, Voyage of Life tells the story of Chang Shun, a poor Beijing native during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and Minguo period (1912-49). The play traces the turbulent yet ordinary first half of his life. Born into poverty and burdened with family hardship, Chang Shun endures social upheaval, personal loss and life-and-death struggles, gradually learning to confront change and seek his own path.

Ice and snow serve as key visual motifs in this production. Created in collaboration between set designer Li Biao and director Huang, the stage design evokes a stark yet poetic impression of old Beijing.

As the story unfolds, snow gradually blankets the stage, as the audience follows Chang Shun's journey — from his birth and childhood to his eventual departure to a distant land. In the semi-immersive theater layout, audience members seated in the front rows find the snow stretching to their feet, drawing them deeper into Chang Shun's emotional journey.

"As I came to better understand Lao She's literary value and cultural legacy, I realized how grand and monumental he was, but also how distant he seemed," says Huang, a Beijing native.

"His journey mirrors that of many ordinary people — a long search that eventually leads to finding purpose in life."

Voyage of Life is supported by Beijing Culture and Arts Fund and was staged as part of the ongoing Grand Performances in Beijing Seasonal Productions.