A new version of Hamlet, directed by renowned Chinese director Lin Zhaohua, was shown at the Europalia Art Festival in Belgium on Nov 11. Zhang Yuanyuan, Chinese Ambassador to Belgium, accompanied by his wife, attended the premiere at the Belgium National Theatre.

Without any elaborate stage design and music or luxury outfits, the new interpretation of Hamlet featured the classic lines of Shakespeare’s prose and excellent performances of famed artists from Beijing People's Art Theater, including Pu Cunxin, Gao Yuanyuan and Chen Jin.

Centered on the theme of “to live or not to live”, the director revealed his unique perspective of the revenge story flawlessly, while the insanity and humaneness reflected from Pu’s performance won great applause from the audience.

After the show, Ambassador Zhang and his wife went backstage and took photos with crew members.

By Xia Ling