Iconic play returns to stage

"When I returned to the dormitory that night, we took a long walk together. It was winter, cold and dark. Since the drama academy is located near Nanluoguxiang lane, in a popular hutong area, we were walking through narrow alleys, which were very quiet," Huang recalls.

Both in their 20s, the two aspiring scriptwriters found themselves contemplating life's deepest questions: What is the meaning of existence? What makes life worth living? These questions gave birth to To Be Continued.

At the heart of the play is its minimalist structure: no elaborate sets, no complex soundtracks — just five actors playing 44 roles in an empty space, with a cappella harmonies as the only accompaniment.

Despite the simple framework, it places immense demands on the actors.

Since its premiere in 2009, the play has received widespread attention and in 2012 achieved a landmark by reaching its 100th performance, staged simultaneously in Beijing and Shanghai.

The "seven-minute exercise", a ritual before formal rehearsals, has been part of the production since its inception. During the recent workshop, the 10 young actors began with a series of tai chi exercises under the guidance of senior actors who performed in the production's early years.

Through this ritual, the actors engage in physical training, deepening their understanding of their characters, and those of their counterparts, as well as of the emotions they are to portray.

Former star of the show Zhang Xiao, who now mentors young cast members, describes To Be Continued as "a physical play where all the performances are externalized. But at the same time, the actors must reach a level of absolute authenticity and belief inside themselves".

What excites Huang about the anniversary is that new faces and old friends have come together, breathing new life into a story that, despite its passage through time, continues to evolve.

"One reason for its long life span is that people still find it relevant. I try to discard old 'successful' experiences and return to the original intent, to feel how these new young actors, in the same circumstances, express themselves. I want to learn from them," he says.