Photo: Courtesy of Magnificent Culture

The Chinese version of the play Les Misérables was performed at the Théâtre National Populaire in Lyon, France, over the weekend, drawing an enthusiastic response from local audiences. 

All tickets of the production, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and France, have been sold out two months in advance. Nearly 99 percent of the audience are French, while the production includes a number of French artists, cultural scholars, and media representatives.

Jointly directed by Jean Bellorini, head of the Théâtre National Populaire, and Chinese director Zhang Rui, the show features an all-Chinese cast. Despite the language barrier, the production's impact transcended, with the audience offering sustained applause during the intermission and cheering wildly at the finale. The cast returned for five curtain calls to express their gratitude. 

The show will return to Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts for its final performance.