THE “Bard of Avon” will be fondly remembered by China’s literary circles and the general public through the year as a series of events to mark his 400th death anniversary begins.
William Shakespeare’s plays and poems, and musicals and movies related to him will all feature in the British Council initiative, Shakespeare Lives, which was launched in Beijing on Thursday.
Born in the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare was one of the greatest storytellers of all time.
Carma Elliot, director of British Council China and also an official at the British embassy, says the yearlong program aims to celebrate the playwright’s influence on culture, education and society.
“Shakespeare is one of the world’s greatest cultural icons. Though he died 400 years ago, his legacy is enduring, thrilling audiences across the globe,” says Elliot.
A highlight of Shakespeare Lives will be the Royal Shakespeare Company’s tour of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, from Feb. 18 to March 13, with acclaimed productions of plays like “Henry IV Part I,” “Henry IV Part II” and “Henry V.”
The National Theater of China will also present for Chinese audiences, National Theater Live, a project by the National Theater of Great Britain under which plays are broadcast live worldwide from a London stage.
Among Shakespearean plays to be shown this way, “Othello” starring Adrian Lester, “King Lear” starring Simon Russell Beale and “Hamlet” starring Benedict Cumberbatch can be watched in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Suzhou and Xi’an, from January to May.
In addition, a tour of films in China showcasing some of the best adaptations of Shakespeare’s works will be curated by the British Film Institute.
A special collaboration between the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center and the Gecko theater company of the United Kingdom will introduce the world premiere of a new work in October, which links legendary Chinese playwright Tang Xianzu of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with the British dramatist.
The unnamed work, commissioned by British Council, is based on Tang’s favorite “dream” theme for his plays and Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
“Both playwrights died in 1616 and they contributed to the world by exploring human emotions,” says Li Zhixiang, deputy director of the National Center for the Performing Arts, which will bring performances adapted from Tang’s works, including his masterpiece for Kunqu opera, “The Peony Pavilion,” to Beijing soon.
“We hope to offer fresh insights into the theatrical worlds of both Shakespeare and Tang, and show how their works relate to our contemporary lives,” says Li.
The Halle Orchestra, one of Britain’s oldest symphony orchestras, will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan in July, presenting concerts based on Shakespeare’s music. Renowned Chinese cellist Wang Jian will join the tour.
“An important reason why Shakespeare’s works are still frequently adapted on stage and screen is that the playwright dealt with the basic human emotions, happiness, hatred, fear, jealousy, revenge and so on,” says Elliot.
“We all have our favorite Shakespeare moment. Mine is ‘When mercy seasons justice’ in ‘The Merchant of Venice,’” she says.
A part of Shakespeare Lives will be to encourage Chinese audiences and readers to share their “Shakespeare moment.”
In a video message to the media in Beijing on Thursday, the U.S.-based renowned playwright and theater director Stan Lai, said his “Shakespeare moment is the monologue of Prospero,” the protagonist in “The Tempest.”
Elliot says Shakespeare’s 37 plays and 154 sonnets have added more than 3,000 words and hundreds of idioms to the English language.
“Shakespeare Schools Pack” and “Exploring English: Shakespeare” are two online programs that can be downloaded for free. They especially target young people and students in China, she says.
London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama will present a multidisciplinary interpretation of Shakespeare’s sonnets, curated by famed British voice coach and theater director Patsy Rodenburg.
(China Daily)
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