From January 8 to 12, 2025, the renowned play Thunderstorm by Cao Yu, directed by Li Liuyi and starring Hu Jun, Lu Fang, Li Hong, Miao Chi, Li Xiaomeng, and others, will have its world premiere at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. This production, commissioned by the Hong Kong Arts Festival, will then embark on a tour to cities including Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. On December 25, the cast and creative team of Thunderstorm held a media event at the National Centre for the Performing Arts to share the creative process behind this "different version of Thunderstorm."

Written by Cao Yu at the age of 23 in 1934, Thunderstorm caused an immediate stir upon its release, establishing Cao Yu's outstanding position in the history of Chinese drama. Ninety years later, Li Liuyi directed this new stage adaptation of Thunderstorm based on the 1936 edition of the play, published in a standalone book. Renowned set designer and multiple-time Hong Kong Film Award winner Zhang Shuping once again collaborated with Li Liuyi, following their work on the play Hamlet, taking on the costume and stage design for Thunderstorm.

For many years, Li Liuyi has directed numerous domestic and international classics with his "pure theater" concept. His distinct ideas and aesthetic approach always bring a fresh perspective to the audience. Li Liuyi is also the contemporary Chinese director who has staged all of Cao Yu's major works. For this version of Thunderstorm, his artistic vision is "to return to Cao Yu, return to literature, return to the play itself." Li's approach is not to simply replicate the original work, but to offer a profound reflection and reconstruction of Chinese theatrical aesthetics, striving to establish a performance philosophy for this era. Li Liuyi revealed that this version of Thunderstorm does not include the character Lu Gui, but has added the prologue and epilogue that were omitted in many previous versions. He also restored several classic lines that were cut from the original script, including the monologue of Fan Yi and the confrontations between Zhou Puyuan and his son.

Li Liuyi also emphasized the importance of "returning to theater": "In practical terms, this means focusing on the aesthetics, literature, and philosophy of performance. Therefore, our actors must possess wisdom, genuine emotion, and the courage to take on the challenge. They must bravely realize their understanding of the characters, the literature, and life itself to reach a higher level of artistic expression."

Translator: FENG Haoxuan

Reviewer: BAI Jing