Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts - Theatre
Dates: August 24-27, 2017
Synopsis
For 25 years, Vanya has managed his deceased sister’s manor with his diligent and conscientious niece Sonya, and has sent all his income to Professor Serebryakov, his brother-in-law and Sonya’s father, who lives far away in the city. In the past, Vanya was very proud that he could provide for the talented scholar until the retired professor returns to the countryside with his new young wife Yelena.
The professor’s return breaks not only the balance of life, but Vanya’s illusions. He finally finds out that the professor he adores is only a mediocre person. Vanya feels regretful and angry over his wasted efforts. Sonya is also in pain, because both Dr. Astrov, whom she is in love with, and her uncle Vanya, are attracted to Yelena.
Professor Serebryakov, who is not adapted to rural life, decides to sell the manor in order to maintain his own city life. Being deceived by his brother-in-law, Vanya cannot bear the reality of being abandoned after wearing out his whole youth, and he raises his pistol towards the professor...
Eventually, the professor leaves the manor with his new wife, and continues to be supported by Vanya; while Sonya looks into the future and comforts her miserable uncle.
Credits
Playwright: Anton Chekhov
Translators: JIAO Juyin, TONG Daoming
Director: LI Liuyi
Set Designers: LI Liuyi, GONG Xun
Lighting Designer: FANG Yi
Costume/Style Designer: Laurence Xu
Cast
Ivan Petrovich Voynitsky (Vanya): PU Cunxin
Yelena Andreyevna Serebryakov: LU Fang
Mikhail Lvovich Astrov: NIU Piao (Guest)
Sophia Alexandrova Serebryakov (Sonya): KONG Wei
Alexander Vladimirovich Serebryakov: LI Shilong
Maria Vasileyevna Voynitsky: XIA Liyan
Marina: LI Zhen
Ilya Ilych Telegin: WU Peng (Guest)
Worker: WANG Ning
Stage Director:
LI Liuyi
LI Liuyi is the stage director and screenwriter of Beijing People's Art Theatre. His theory of "Pure Drama" and drama explorations are hailed as "LI Liuyi's Method" which is widely praised and researched. LI Liuyi continues cooperation with outstanding artists in many fields. He made debut with his works at invitation of numerous international festivals, and he is commissioned to create works. He is known as Asia’s leading modernist director.
LI Liuyi is the most influential contemporary drama director in China. According to Japanese modern drama master Tadashi Suzuki, "LI Liuyi is Asia's most influential stage artist in the new century". The Japanese scholars respect him as "a leading figure of the Chinese drama in the next two decades and representative of the Asian drama". Mr. TONG Daoming, a drama critic, hails LI Liuyi as "a drama director with profound understanding of the traditional Chinese opera art”. Directed by LI Liuyi, the drama Beijinger is the third milestone work of Beijing People's Art Theater following Teahouse and Uncle Doggie's Nirvana. LI Liuyi has directed nearly 50 works in the field of traditional Chinese opera, drama, opera, musical drama, ballet dance drama and modern dance drama. He is invited to perform and be commissioned for creation at numerous international festivals. At the invitation of “2009 European Capital of Culture", he directed opera The Land of Smiles in Opera House Linz Austria, and became the first Chinese drama director marching towards the European mainstream opera community. He directed "New Drama" Women Trilogy at Opening Ceremony for the Holland Art Festival, and was interviewed by the Queen of the Netherlands.
Artist
: PU Cunxin
PU Cunxin is a Chinese first-class actor, Vice Chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Chairman of China Theatre Association, Vice President of Beijing People's Art Theatre, Art Director of NCPA Drama Ensemble and member of the CPPCC. He is a seasoned actor in theatre, film and television performing arts for many years and has starred in scores of dramas, films and TV series and many times a winner of awards at home and abroad. His representative works include: dramas Hamlet, Thunderstorm, Coriolanus, Uncle Vanya, RUAN Lingyu, LI Bai, Teahouse, Sons of Heaven; TV series Police Officer, See Without Looking, Journey to Glory, and film Shower.
He has won many honours and awards, including Best Actor at the 2nd China Drama Golden Lion Award, Wenhua Award, Audience Award at the 7th Beijing College Student Film Festival, Audience Award at the 17th China Golden Eagle TV Art Festival, Excellent Actor at the 11th Huabiao Awards, Best Actor at the 13th Beijing College Student Film Festival, and Best Supporting Actor at the 12th Chinese Film Media Awards.
Presenter
: Beijing People's Art Theatre
Beijing People's Art Theatre is a national theatre with unique performance style. Built on June 12th, 1952, it was first headed by CAO Yu, the great dramatist in China. Since its foundation, there are nearly 300 plays of different forms and styles put up here. The representative plays include Hufu, CAI Wenji, WU Zetian, Longxugou Ditch, Camel Xiangzi, Tea House, Thunderstorm, Sunrise, WANG Zhaojun, Absolute Signal, Xiaojing Hutong, and so on. Of them, more than one play has been performed over 100 times, and won national "Wenhua Award (for professional theatrical artworks)", "the Best Works Award" and municipal "Gold Chrysanthemum Award" and "Literature & Art Award".
Over the past half century, the performances by Beijing People's Art Theatre have spread all over the country, and the theatre's distinctive performance style has taken root in the mass audience. In 1980, Tea House was performed in Germany, France and Switzerland, which is the first time for Chinese stage play to go abroad. Following that, a series of plays were performed in Japan, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, Egypt, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, including Tea House, WANG Zhaojun, Top Restaurant, Death of a Salesman, Uncle Goggie's Nirvana, Bird Man, RUAN Lingyu, Curio, and Wuchang Nüdiao.
