THE Chinese version of Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns’ stage adaptation of “The Shawshank Redemption,” featuring a cast of Chinese-speaking foreigners, will premiere at Pingshan Theater on Jan. 4, 2024.

Clément Magar and Mark Rowswell will lead the cast as Andy Dufresne and Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, respectively. Joining them in the cast are Andy Friend, Matt William Knowles, Andrey Lazarev, Rinat Istomin, Matti E. Lehtonen, Ben Hubley, and others.

Rowswell, who is better known in China as Dashan, is widely recognized for his exceptional xiangsheng performances since his debut on Chinese TV in 1989. Over the past three decades, the Canadian has become a cultural icon, showcasing his talents as a versatile comedian, language educator and TV host, and serving as a cultural ambassador between China and the West.

Magar, who relocated to Beijing in 2008, is general manager of Fortissimo Films and has been involved in the international sales of numerous Chinese movies. Other cast members have either received education in China or have been working in the country for many years.

With Longma Studio as one of the producers, the stage drama is directed by Zhang Guoli, a veteran Chinese actor known for his work in movies, TV dramas and stage plays.

The studio said earlier that the cast comes from seven countries and the decision to use Chinese-speaking foreign actors aims to convey the message that culture knows no boundaries and the project symbolizes friendship. Through the exchange of theatrical culture, emotions are shared. Regardless of where you come from, through hard work and passion, you can establish deep connections here.

Founded in 2008 by playwrights Zou Jingzhi, Liu Heng and Wan Fang, Longma Studio has a rich experience in operating artistic spaces and has created or produced multiple outstanding dramas, experimental plays, avant-garde works, children’s plays and stand-up comedies.

Back in June, the studio signed a collaborative agreement with Pingshan District to collaborate on producing outstanding original works, conducting artist-in-residence programs, promoting cultural and artistic exchanges, nurturing theater industry, and striving to make Pingshan a theater hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Tackling powerful themes, including hope, friendship and resilience, the “Shawshank Redemption” play is adapted from Stephen King’s novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption,” and its 1994 movie adaptation is a favorite among movie lovers worldwide.

The story centers on a banker who is wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to life in the notorious Shawshank prison. He must rely on his wit and friendship to keep his hope alive. The English stage version debuted in 2009 at Dublin’s Gaiety Theater and London’s West End.

Following its premiere at Pingshan Theater, the Chinese play is scheduled to be staged at the Shenzhen Poly Theater and other venues in Shanghai and Beijing early next year.   (Cao Zhen)