On December 14^th-22^nd, LIN Zexu, an NCPA drama commission co-produced with the Guangzhou Dramatic Arts Centre, will be staged at the NCPA theatre. On November 13^th, a press conference was held to announce the production team and leading cast of this drama. Director WANG Xiaodi and choreographer HUANG Doudou were present in company with performers PU Cunxi, XU Fan, GUO Da and GUAN Dongtian to share the drama’s highlights and rehearsal progress with media.

This year, the NCPA and Guangzhou Dramatic Arts Centre cooperate to produce the drama commission LIN Zexu on the occasion of the 180^th anniversary of Burning of Opium Stocks in Humen & the 70^th anniversary of the Founding of the PRC.

Drama Commission LIN Zexu looks back at the history and portrays a group of people in the upheavals of a crumbling empire. LIN Zexu is played by performing artist PU Cunxi, who played numerous central roles in classic dramas, such as the senile and befuddled King Lear in the NCPA production King Lear, and the unworldly PU Siluo in The Tempest. Distinguished actress XU Fan will act ZHENG Shuqing, wife of LIN Zexu. As old partners on the stage, she and PU Cunxi have played opposite each other marvelously in Wotou Courtyard and RUAN Lingyu of Beijing People’s Art Theatre’ repertoire. Actor GUO Da, will play the role of WANG Ding, a friend and mentor of LIN Zexu, for his first cooperation with the NCPA. Veteran actor HONG Tao has finished his performance in another NCPA drama commission The Crossroad, and he is going to portray Daoguang Emperor in LIN Zexu, an ambitious but doomed ruler. Peking opera artist GUAN Dongtian, who has been cooperating intimately with the NCPA, will act QI Shan, an important role who serves as a powerful rival to LIN Zexu in the royal court. In addition, the NCPA drama ensemble and some performers of the Guangzhou Dramatic Arts Centre will present wonderful performances in the drama as well.