Li Ruru. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"The 400th anniversary presents the perfect opportunity to revisit, re-imagine and reposition Tang for a contemporary audiences both in China and the UK as a contemporary of Shakespeare and as a master storyteller in his own right," says Ansell.

Rachel Turner, a 21-year-old student from University of Leeds, plays three roles in the production.

She decided to extend her stay in China for a year to study at Shanghai Theater Academy.

"This is a new experience for me and I hope that this performance will be the start of joining our cultures as well as our societies," says Turner.