Chinese adaptation of a Russian play premieres in Beijing

Zhang Wankun, a veteran actor with Beijing People's Art Theater, plays the role of Raznitsky. Zhao Xiaochuan, also an award-winning actor with the National Theater of China, the role of Izumrudov.

Director Xu Xiaopeng has been writing and directing original Chinese plays since he graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 2000. It is the first time for Xu to adapt a foreign play into a Chinese version.

The Chinese adaptation is loyal to the original script, which moves back and forth between tragedy and comedy. For Chinese audiences, one of the best known works by Korovkin is the TV drama Poor Anastasya. Born in 1963, Korovkin is also an actor. It is the first time that Korovkin's works have been adapted into a Chinese play.

The play was supposed to premiere at Wuhan Qintai Grand Theater, Hubei province, in May before it was scheduled to undertake a national tour throughout the year. However, due to the pandemic, the premiere and national tour were postponed.