'Red Crag' resonates with young audiences

At Tongji University's auditorium, thunderous applause erupted as the cast of Hongyan, or Red Crag, took their final bows. Many students gave the cast a standing ovation, cheering and applauding, with some wiping away tears of emotion.

From June 11 to 13, the stage adaptation of Red Crag was performed at Tongji University in Shanghai. Directed by Wu Yuze of the China Railway Art Troupe, it drew a strong response that reflects a broader trend: more than six decades after the publication of the classic revolutionary novel, the stage version is finding renewed resonance among younger audiences.

The production has attracted increased attention this year as China marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

Based on the 1961 novel of the same name, the play depicts Communist revolutionaries imprisoned in Chongqing in the years leading up to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Scenes such as Jiang Jie embroidering a national flag in prison, Little Radish Head, a child prisoner, secretly passing messages behind bars, and Xu Yunfeng, an underground Communist Party member, facing execution with composure, have long been part of China's cultural memory.

For Wu, the new adaptation places faith at the heart of the story.

"People today face many uncertainties," Wu said. "Whether it is personal values, beliefs, or confidence in the future, many are searching for inner spiritual strength to support themselves."

To reach younger audiences, the creative team — whose average age is around 30 — updated elements of the staging while remaining faithful to the original story.

"Many audiences tend to associate 'red classics' with a fixed set of expectations," Wu said. "We wanted to challenge that by creating something more engaging — a play audiences can truly enjoy and immerse themselves in."

The adaptation highlights espionage and suspense elements. Lighting design, multimedia effects and tighter scene transitions are also used to heighten dramatic tension throughout the performance.

"The novel revolves around underground Communist operatives," Wu said. "Our goal is to make sure that every scene moves the story forward and keeps audiences eager to find out what happens next."

For actress Wang Wei, who plays Jiang Jie, preparation meant extensive field research in Sichuan and Chongqing.

She traveled to Zigong, the hometown of Jiang Zhujun — the real-life inspiration for Jiang Jie — where she visited memorial halls, studied archival materials, and toured the school that the revolutionary once attended.

Over nearly six months, cast members also visited sites such as Zhazidong and Baigongguan prisons in Chongqing, studied the script repeatedly and worked through historical documents together.

Wang said the field research helped her move beyond a symbolic interpretation of the role.

"Jiang Jie is not only a fearless revolutionary. She is also a wife and a mother," she said. "It is precisely because they were ordinary people who still made extraordinary choices that they became heroes."

Wang recalled a scene in which Jiang Jie watches guards tear up a photograph of her child.

Though she initially forces herself to look away, having prepared for death as a revolutionary, the sight of the torn photograph awakens her maternal instinct. Before walking to the execution ground, she quietly gathers the fragments and holds them tightly in her hand, carrying the image with her into her final moments.

"I also have children, so I completely understand that feeling as a mother," Wang said. "For her, that kind of longing and sorrow can be even more painful than physical torture."

Playing Jiang Jie has also changed Wang beyond the stage, leaving her more grounded and confident."When I face difficulties in life or work, I often think about how they would have handled similar situations," she said.

For actor Cao Wei, who portrays Xu Yunfeng, the challenge lies in expressing calm in the face of death.

One line from the play has stayed with him: "Death is such a powerless threat to a revolutionary."

"His calm comes from his deep belief that victory will come," Cao said. "Although Chongqing had not yet been liberated, he could already see the dawn of victory."

The role has also reshaped how he sees his profession.

"There was one moment when I suddenly realized I am not only an actor," he said. "Through theater, we are passing on the spirit of the revolutionaries to new audiences."

He said audience reactions often reinforce that sense of connection. In Chongqing and Chengdu, viewers frequently remain seated after performances. Some bow; others wave silently before leaving.

"You can see it in their eyes — they truly relate to these characters and what they represent," Cao said.

The play has also left an impression on younger members of the cast.

Among them is Wu's daughter, who plays Little Radish Head. Wu said she knew little about the historical background before joining the production. After taking part in the play, however, she began asking when she could join the Communist Party, and when she could bring flowers, candy and toys to the character she portrays.

"To her, Communist Party members are the bravest, smartest and strongest people," Wu said.

For Wu, moments like this reflect how widely the production has resonated. "At first, we were simply setting out to create a good play," he said. "But over time, we realized it can work like a spark, quietly influencing young people."

Premiered in Beijing last June and performed at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee in late September, the production has since toured cities including Chengdu in Sichuan, Changsha in Hunan and Nanchang in Jiangxi, and will continue touring universities and railway bureaus across the country.

"We hope audiences can find something they truly believe in," Wu said. "Above all, we intend to showcase the ideals, resilience and unwavering faith embodied by the revolutionary heroes. Once you hold fast to this revolutionary belief, life feels more meaningful."