The Whole Night Meeting in Sanwan, a play produced by the National Theatre of China are presented in Shanghai as part of the ongoing China Shanghai International Arts Festival. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"The play is created for today's young audiences," Wang adds. "People above the age of 45 in China are often familiar with the history of the Chinese Communist Party, but young people often turn away as soon as they hear about 'revolutionary themes' or 'patriotic stories', believing it will be boring and sermonizing."

The play has been performed more than 30 times in Beijing and Hunan province since it premiered in Beijing in May.

"I saw young people stepping out of the theater excitedly discussing the story, and had people tell me that they could employ the strategies and decisiveness of Mao in their corporate careers," Wang says.