The Year of 2017 coincides with the 110^th Anniversary of the creation of Chinese drama. NCPA specially rolls out invitational exhibitions of “Works by famous Chinese Contemporary Directors” and “Works by Young Directors”, in order to share the fruit of domestic drama creations in recent years.


From March 9^th to March 11^th, young director SHAO Zehui’s work Leave Before Getting Old will be performed at NCPA Multi-functional Theatre as the fifth participating work of “Works by Young Directors” series. From March 15^th to March 18^th, stage director CHEN Xinyi’s large-scale historical drama SHANG Yang will be performed at NCPA Theatre, and re-present the image of SHANG Yang, a reform pioneer who broke the outmoded conventions at the expense of his life during the Qin Dynasty.

In 2008, Leave Before Getting Old was adapted by young director SHAO Zehui basing on a true story of MA Hua, a volunteer teacher at western China. Through simple and plain stage design, two actors alternately play the leading role and tell a moving story: In 2003, the 30-year-old young poet MA Hua was tired of secular life, went to the foot of Meili Snow Mountain in Yunnan province alone, and became a teacher at a local primary school. Although the rural environment was poor, MA Hua took pleasure there. He gave classes, wrote poems and played the guitar so that he felt contented and happy. Two years later, MA Hua prepared to return to the city and his school for a different life. Unfortunately, he was involved in an accident and his jeep rolled into Lancang River, and he was gone forever.


Stage director SHAO Zehui simplified the plots and made this “monodrama” to honour his bosom friend MA Hua. He said, “Leave Before Getting Old is the title of a poem, which expresses MA Hua’s idea on his own life expectation. But this thought unfortunately comes true. He has really gone, What I really hope is that this drama can strike a chord for more young people and inspire them to reflect upon the significance of life.

SHANG Yang depicts the hero's reform during the Qin dynasty and eulogizes his heroism and courage

On March 15^th, large-scale historical drama SHANG Yang, directed by the famous Chinese drama director CHEN Xinyi and produced by Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, will be presented at NCPA Theatre. Unveiled in 1996, drama SHANG Yang depicts SHANG Yang’s reform during the Qin dynasty, presents the fruit of his reform and eulogizes his heroism and courage, with no fears to death. Stage director CHEN Xinyi commented, “Two thousand years later, we currently need to call for spirit of the giant, for strong will and the courage to give up”. Therefore, she slightly changed the ending of SHANG Yang in the drama to help audience to reflect on the significance of both reform and history.


In addition, as a Chinese first-level actor YIN Zhusheng will play the role of SHANG Yang. In the interview, YIN Zhusheng said, “In the rehearsal of SHANG Yang, I always have a feeling of traveling back to that time. The historical Qin Empire on the stage is watched by the audience of the 21^st century. Bridging between ancient and modern times provides every performer with happiness”.

Leave Before Getting Old as the fifth participating work of “Works by Young Directors” series

It is reported that from May to October 2017, invitation exhibition of “Works by Famous Chinese Contemporary Directors” will also invite four domestic drama directors MENG Jinghui, LI Liuyi, TIAN Qinxin and WANG Xiaoying to showcase their representative works at NCPA. At the same time, four young directors XIE Shuangnan, YANG Yang, LIU Dan and LI Minyuan will also stage their original works at NCPA Multi-functional Theatre and offer a drama feast for the audience.

Works by famous Chinese Contemporary Directors  
Schedule        Performance
Jan. 05-06        CHEN Xinyi's Shanghai Opera DENG Shichang
Mar. 07-09        CHEN Xinyi's Huangmei Opera Huizhou Woman
Mar. 15-18        CHEN Xinyi's Drama SHANG Yang
May 09-12         MENG Jinghui's Drama Amber
May 18-20         LI Liuyi's Drama Springtime in a Small Town
Aug. 16-20        TIAN Qinxin's Drama Green Snake for National Theatre of China
Aug. 24-27        LI Liuyi's Drama Uncle Vanya for Beijing People's Art Theatre
Aug. 31- Sept. 3    TIAN Qinxin's Drama Listen to Hong Yi
Oct. 27-29        WANG Xiaoying's Drama Deep Burns for National Theatre of China


Works by Young Directors  
Schedule        Performance
Jan. 04-06        Theatre San Tuo Qi L'amour
Jan. 19-21        HUANG Ying Studio Production Chinese Class
Feb. 16-19        Drama Desire under the Elms by SHEN Liang
Feb. 17-19        Drama Learn from Pigeons by ZHANG Hui
Mar. 09-11        Drama Leave Before Getting Old Directed by SHAO Zehui
May 17-19         Drama The Company Thanks (Die Firma Dankt) Directed by XIE Shuangnan
Aug. 29-31        YANG Yang's Multimedia Theatre Orange Love
Oct. 12-15        LIU Dan's Drama Being Stranded
Oct. 18-20        LI Min's Drama The Open Couple