A FRESH THUNDERSTORM

Theater director breathes new life into legendary play with bold reimagining while returning it to its roots, Chen Nan reports.

When Chinese theater director Li Liuyi decided to create a stage adaptation of Cao Yu's legendary 1934 play Thunderstorm, he aimed to breathe new life into a work that has captivated generations. Most importantly, his bold reimagining marks a return to the play's literary roots and a profound rethinking of its aesthetic and emotional core.

On Dec 25, Li appeared at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing to announce his new rendition of Cao Yu's masterpiece premiering at the venue from Wednesday to Jan 12.

The production, commissioned by the Hong Kong Arts Festival, seeks to honor the legacy of Thunderstorm while exploring its relevance in today's world, revealing the raw and complex human emotions at the heart of the play, according to So Kwok-wan, program director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society.