Related stories

Implementation Measures of the "Rules of the People's Republic of China on Customs Protection of Intellectual Property Rights" Decision on Amendments to the Law of Judges of the People's Republic of China Zheng Jian Fa [2004] No. 67 -- Notice of the China Securities Regulatory Commission on Several Issues Concerning Regulation of Overseas Listing of Companies Affiliated to Domestic Listed Companies Order No. 31 of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) - Provisions of Administration on Sino-Foreign Joint Films Production (the Provisions) Rules for the Implementation of Regulations on the Management of Foreign Invested Financial Institutes for the People's Republic of China (the Rules)

Exciting Modern Staging of Classic Qing Play

Beijing’s historical-drama lovers are in for a treat from April 28 to May 2 when Shanxi Modern Drama Theater stages the classic The Beginning of the Autumn at Peking University’s Centennial Auditorium. The drama recaptures the early history of China’s commerce, finance in particular, and embraces the rise and fall of Pingyao’s exchange shops, which enjoyed soaring business during the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in particular. But ultimately their power was whittled away by tough competition from then-modern foreign banks when the Qing Dynasty was replaced by the Republic of China.

The stage setting for The Beginning of the Autumn combines the culturally distinctive structures of Shanxi merchants with ongoing human plots, doors and windows being used as screens that separate the back- and fore-drops. This technique has the advantage of deepening the “layers” of the stage and aiding the movement and other activities of the characters.

Rehearsals have shown that the actors are unusually committed to the production, not least because many of them have personally experienced the kind of life led by the real-life characters of long ago.

Time: April 28-May 2

Venue: Minzugong Theatre

Admission: 400, 280, 100 yuan

Tel: +86 10 8447 7308/09