Love gets uncorked in actor's directorial debut

Chinese actor Liu Duanduan made his directorial debut with the stage play Where Will You Go?, which premiered in Beijing on Nov 5, uncorking a nuanced exploration of love, memory and the complexities of modern relationships.

The production is an original work supported by the fourth edition of the National Theater of China's Young Directors Development Program. It is produced and performed by the National Theater of China.

Exploring contemporary intimate relationships, the play looks beyond conventional romantic conflicts to examine how love intersects with social anxiety, personal memories and self-perception. A bottle of wine serves as both the catalyst for the story and a link between the present and the past, bringing the characters' unresolved feelings, regrets and differing attitudes toward relationships to the surface.

Better known for his screen roles, Liu brings his understanding of performance to his first directorial project. Setting the characters in familiar, everyday situations, he uses seemingly ordinary conversations, subtle exchanges and emotional confrontations to gradually reveal the complexities underlying their relationships.

The cast delivers understated performances, relying on nuanced expressions, body language and natural dialogue rather than overt emotional displays. Their interactions capture the tension between intoxication and sobriety as the characters confront both one another and their own memories.

Music also plays an important role in the production. The theme song, Singleism, produced by musician Hu Haiquan, complements the play's exploration of love and independence.

The minimalist stage design combines sharply contrasting black-and-white elements, with an angular white frame defining the performance space. Together with carefully arranged lighting, the set transforms between domestic interiors and a psychological landscape, blurring the boundaries between reality and memory.

The play is currently running in Beijing, with eight performances scheduled through Nov 15.