Cao Yu's Sunrise gets a fresh look with young cast

Cao Yu's Sunrise, one of the most significant and celebrated works in modern Chinese theater, has been adapted into a new version by the Beijing People's Art Theatre. This adaptation, featuring a young cast and a fresh interpretation, runs from February 13 to 22.

Written by Cao Yu in 1936, the play has been staged continuously for nearly 90 years since its creation. Set in Shanghai during the 1920s, the play follows the central character, Chen Bailu, a courtesan, who is caught in despair and tragedy. The story explores the tension between Chen and a wealthy, powerful man, Fang Dasheng, as well as other characters who are part of this complex web of relationships, including their emotional turmoil, betrayal, and the devastating consequences of their actions.

Renowned playwright Cao Yu was the first president of the Beijing People's Art Theatre. When Capital Theatre was launched in 1956 — becoming the home of the established theater — Sunrise was staged as the opening play. Since then, the Beijing People's Art Theatre has produced several versions of Sunrise, with artists offering different perspectives and interpretations, allowing the classic to resonate with contemporary audiences.

In 2021, as the Beijing International Theatre Center—a new branch venue of the Beijing People's Art Theatre — was inaugurated, a newly reinterpreted version of Sunrise served as the opening production of the new venue. Directed by Feng Yuanzheng, this version starred young actors such as Lu Lu, Yang Mingxin, Yu Zhen, and Lei Jia. The new character interpretations and unique narrative perspectives deeply resonated with modern audiences. The contemporary stage design, with its symbolic beauty, focused on the inner world of the characters, bridging the space between reality and imagination.

According to Feng, a renowned actor, director, and also the president of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, this production features a whole new generation of the theater, thanks to last year's tour in Shanghai, which received positive feedback. From October to November 2024, the theater embarked on a large-scale tour to Shanghai, with Sunrise representing the new generation of actors and actresses.