Remembering Lao She

In 1952, Lao She wrote a play, The Willow Well, in an art form that he invented, based on Beijing's local Quyi art, and named it Quju Opera.

"Like Lao She's work, Quju Opera pieces are known for their depictions of Beijing's local culture, especially the use of Beijing dialect and the portrayal of ordinary people," says Cui Di, the director of Beijing Quju Opera Troupe.

This year the company is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the art form with a series of performances, both classic Quju Opera works and new ones. The troupe has produced a new play, The Life of Mine, based on Lao She's novel of the same name, telling the sad story of a lowly ranked policeman in Beijing during the early 20th century. It will be staged during the festival on Oct 22 and 23.

Lao She was not only influenced by Western literature but also traditional art forms, for which he wrote scripts, according to Shu Ji, Lao She's eldest daughter, who has sent a congratulatory letter to this year's Lao She Theater Festival.

"I am glad to see that the festival has added a new section on traditional Chinese operas, which will offer audiences more theater experiences."