Act one of international Chinese drama festival begins
10/10/2008 17:04
The curtain will rise on "Ming," the name of the Chinese version of "King
Lear," at the Third Festival of National Theaters China, in Beijing tonight at
the National Center of the Performing Arts.
The drama, produced by the
National Theater Company of China (NTCC), depicts a story in the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644) with a plot parallel to the Shakespeare classic.
"I adjust the
three daughters of King Lear to the three sons of Zhu Yuanzhang, first emperor
of the Ming Dynasty," said Tian Qinxin, director of the play.
"It will be
overflowing with Chinese elements in terms of stage effect, " she said.
The
play will run until Oct. 15, but tickets are hard to come by with today's
tickets sold out two weeks ago.
"Ming" is part of the NTCC's effort to mark
the 444th birthday of Shakespeare.
The festival will also show "The Taming of
the Shrew" by British TNT Theater, "Romeo and Juliet" by Mokhwa Repertory
Company from the Republic of Korea, and two interpretations of "Hamlet." One is
put on by the Russian Drama Theater named After M. Gorky Astana of Kazakhstan
and the other by renowned Chinese director Lin Zhaohua. These plays will be
staged in theaters around Beijing.
"Romeo and Juliet" from the Vilnius City
Theater from the Republic of Lithuania will conclude the festival on Nov. 2 at
the the National Center of the Performing Arts. It is a work by honored
director, Oskaras Korsunovas. It has been celebrated wherever it
plays.
Started in 2004, the international festival is put on every two years
by the NTCC.
"Patrons could expect a great line-up of outstanding dramas this
autumn," said Luo Dajun, NTCC assistant president, who is also in charge of the
gala.
"We want the festival to be a platform for different theaters from
different countries to share ideas. On our part, we have learned a lot from our
overseas counterparts in the previous festivals," Luo added.
Xinhua
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