A fresh Thunderstorm

When Chinese theater director Li Liuyi decided to create a stage adaptation of Cao Yu's legendary 1934 play Thunderstorm, he aimed to breathe new life into a work that has captivated generations. Most importantly, his bold reimagining marks a return to the play's literary roots and a profound rethinking of its aesthetic and emotional core.

On Dec 25, Li appeared at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing to announce his new rendition of Cao Yu's masterpiece premiering at the venue from Wednesday to Jan 12.

The production, commissioned by the Hong Kong Arts Festival, seeks to honor the legacy of Thunderstorm while exploring its relevance in today's world, revealing the raw and complex human emotions at the heart of the play, according to So Kwok-wan, program director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society.

After its NCPA premiere, Li's version will be staged in other Chinese cities, including Chengdu in Sichuan province, Chongqing and Shanghai from January to February.

It will be staged at the Hong Kong Arts Festival from March 3 to 9, then performed in Singapore from March 28 to 30.

Featuring a stellar cast of celebrated Chinese actors and actresses, with set and costume design by award-winning Hong Kong art director William Chang, Li's adaptation is not just a revival but a reawakening, as So describes it.

Cao Yu's real name was Wan Jiabao (1910-96) and Thunderstorm was his debut play, written during his final year at Tsinghua University. The play was published in 1934 when he was just 24 and became an instant success. It has since been described as one of China's most enduring dramas of the 20th century.