Theater production follows in Eileen Chang's footsteps

In Search of Her Footprints: Eileen Chang, a play by the Zhejiang Drama Troupe, was staged at Beijing Comedy Theater on Oct 13.

Inspired by the famous Chinese writer, the production took the audience into Chang's literary world, bringing the intricate and complex characters from her work to life.

The stage was divided into three sets depicting different time periods, each conveying the stories and emotions of different phases of Chang's life.

The first set was Shanghai in 1943 — Chang's literary golden period — a time in which every corner of the city brimmed with stories. Combined with the performances onstage, it was like a portal that transported the audience back to glamorous, turbulent old Shanghai.

The second set was in an apartment in the United States in 1994, and reflected the writer's later life. By then, Chang had faded from the public eye, and was leading a secluded, reclusive life.

In the center of the stage was a set inside a live broadcast studio in 2020. In it, contemporary fans celebrated the 100th anniversary of the writer's birth, passionately discussing her work, and sharing their own interpretations and insights. Some were moved by Chang's portrayal of love, while others marveled at her depictions of human nature.

The Beijing performance was part of an ongoing nationwide tour.