Chinese writer and Nobel laureate Mo Yan poses with a portrait of himself after the Honorary Fellowship Recognition Ceremony at University of Oxford, Britain, on June 12, 2019.  Photo: Xinhua

China's Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan's novel Frog has been adapted into a stage play that is set to debut at the Pskov Academic Drama Theater in Pskov, Russia, on April 19, according to the China Written Works Copyright Society, which exported the copyright to the novel to Russia.

Zhang Hongbo, director-general of the society, told the Global Times on Thursday that Mo Yan is one of the most well-known modern Chinese writers among readers in Russia. 

So far, six of his works have been translated into Russian and published in the country.

Zhang said the reason why the ­Russian artists chose Frog was due to its high achievements including winning the Mao Dun Literature Prize in 2011, China's most prestigious literary award.

The novel begins in the second half of the 20th century with stories taking place on the main character Wan Xin, one of the first professional midwives in China. 

The theater's art director Andrey Pronin noted that it is the first time they stage a modern Chinese literature work, according to an article from the theater's official website.

"Cultural ties with China are an important thing, and we intend to develop them. This is not an opportunistic decision, as we have been nurturing this idea for several years. I hope our performance will be able to convey the poetic nature of Mo Yan's novel... This will be another step toward creating a diverse and special play at our theater," Pronin said in the article.

Most of the cast are well known performers and honored artists of Russia, according to the director.

Zhang pointed out that the producers are planning to hold a Mo Yan cultural festival to promote the drama as well as his literature works that are on sale in Russian bookstores. 

He also noted that it is possible that the drama may also tour to other cities in the country.

"China and Russia have carried out frequent cultural exchanges over the years. In 2023, two Russian dramas are set to be staged in China. We hope people in the two countries can get to know each other's culture better through these flourish cultural exchanges," said Zhang.