Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Dramatic Art Center

The drama version of the Chinese classic novel The Dream of the Red Chamber, adapted by scriptwriter Yu Rongjun, was staged in Beijing for the first time from Friday to Sunday.      

Produced by the Shanghai Dramatic Art Center, the drama first premiered in September 2021. It was a breakthrough attempt by the Center to bring this classic literature to the stage and present it as a complete play.

It was challenging and difficult for the creative team to explore innovative means of expression on the contemporary stage while retaining the spiritual core of the original piece. 

An updated version was staged for this Beijing tour as the drama's chief producer Tian Shui considered the tastes of young people. 

"It has been three years since the premiere. And we hope to innovate more for young audiences, so we made adjustments and upgrades in terms of stage presentation, lighting and costumes, and sound effect," said Tian.  

"I hope that the drama is thoughtful and able to convey power and inspiration," said scriptwriter Yu said.

Director Cao Yan said he hopes that "the true soul of the characters in the play will trigger feelings in the audience. With compassion, they will experience ups and downs, gatherings and separations, joys and sorrows, as well as emptiness."

First published in 1791, Dream of the Red Chamber is one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature. Written by Cao Xueqin and Gao E of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it narrates a story through the perspective of Jia Baoyu, a young man from a wealthy family, and his tangled relationship with his two female cousins Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai. It's an epic showing true love and the complicated ancient Chinese society from all angles.