“CROCODILE,” a stage play written by Chinese literature Nobel laureate Mo Yan, is set to make its debut in Suzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province, on May 3, according to the studio Magnificent Culture.

It is the first original drama script penned by Mo, who spent over a decade crafting the story. Its plot revolves around the protagonist, Shan Wudan, and a crocodile he receives as a gift for his birthday.

Shan keeps replacing the fish tank over the next 10 years, giving the reptile more space to grow until it became a four-meter-long behemoth.

The crocodile is a symbol of human desire and the complexity of human nature, said Mo. “Desire is the motivation that makes all things multiply, and the devil that destroys all things. It makes everything beautiful but produces all the evils as well,” he writes in the drama.

During the launch event at the Beiguo Theater in Beijing Normal University on Jan. 11, Mo expressed his lifelong connection with drama since childhood.

“I’ve been a loyal drama fan since childhood. I’ve watched many dramas and opera works, and even played some small roles, which left a deep memory of the stage,” he said.

“Therefore, I feel like I should write several plays to repay what theater has brought to me.”

Wang Keran, director of “Crocodile,” said: “‘Crocodile’ is an exceptionally rare script that I have come across in my 20 years’ career in the theater industry.” He noted that there is a special “protagonist” in the play — light. “Each character is chasing the light in their hearts,” he says.

The theatrical production of “Crocodile” features a star-studded cast, including Taiwanese actor Winston Chao, Beijing actress Zhang Kaili and Hong Kong actress Sheren Tang.

Chao, in his 60s, plays the role of protagonist Shan. He said: “I think the character I’m portraying is highly talented and ambitious, but he couldn’t resist temptation, and in the end, he succumbed to his desires. Playing this role at my age, I feel I can truly understand it.’”

Celebrated for his imaginative and humanistic fiction, Mo won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2012. His passion for drama is not new. His unpublished novel, “Divorce,” was originally written as a drama script. He has also written award-winning plays, including “Our Assassin Jing Ke” and “Farewell My Concubine.”

“Crocodile” will tour around China from May to September, visiting cities including Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Shanghai and Beijing. (China Daily, Xinhua)