Recently, Feng Yuanzheng, the director of Variations énigmatiques, the new play currently being performed at Beijing People's Art Theatre, appeared again as the director of two upcoming plays at the theatre. One is Beneath the Red Banner, which will be staged again on December 31 at the Capital Theater, and the other is Romulus Der Grosse, Beijing People's Art Theatre's first small theatre production of 2025, set to be performed on January 18 at the theatre's experimental stage. On December 30, a media meet-and-greet was held for Romulus Der Grosse, where Feng Yuanzheng, as the director, was joined by the lead actors Yang Mingxin, Lu Lu, Jin Han, Zhou Shuai, and other creative team members. Feng shared: "This production is an experiment by two generations of artists from Beijing People's Art Theatre. The most important thing is to maintain the high quality, standard, and artistic appreciation that Beijing People's Art Theatre is known for. We also hope to continue showcasing the growth of the younger generation of artists and their relentless pursuit of art."

Romulus Der Grosse is a representative work of Swiss playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt, described by the author as a "non-historical four-act historical comedy." Premiered in 1949, the play has enjoyed enduring popularity for over half a century and has gained worldwide acclaim. The play carries Dürrenmatt's distinctive absurdist style and, while using the final stage of the Western Roman Empire as its backdrop, conveys deep philosophical reflections beneath its absurd comedy.

Feng Yuanzheng has a strong personal connection to this classic. In the early 1990s, after returning from his studies in Germany, he watched director Lin Zhaohua stage the play. He regretted not being able to participate at that time and had hoped for years to bring the play to the stage again. Earlier this year, during the Beijing People's Art Theatre's artistic assessment, four young actors presented segments from the play, and everyone was impressed. As a result, the theatre decided to support this play as part of their young actor training program. The Chinese title of the play removes "Der Grosse" from the original title Romulus Der Grosse, signifying a return to a more human-centered portrayal of Romulus.

Feng Yuanzheng expressed that in recent years, Beijing People's Art Theatre has staged many highly praised small theatre productions, and Romulus Der Grosse will be another valuable attempt. He believes that while the play tells an absurd story, it is, in fact, very real: "I always say that avant-garde or absurd theatre is the most realistic expression. Anything absurd is actually the most real. Finding new ways to express these ideas with modern interpretations is a very valuable exploration. This attempt will also be significant in expanding the artistic diversity of Beijing People's Art Theatre."

Translator: FENG Haoxuan

Reviewer: BAI Jing