Chinese play premieres in Greek capital, bringing two nations closer

The traditional Chinese play, "The Orphan of Zhao", premiered in Athens on Sunday, arousing an overflow of feelings to the audience who watched a new adaptation of the Chinese masterpiece marking the meeting of the two great civilizations.

For the first time, Chinese and Greek artists performed in their respective languages one of China's greatest tragedies on the stage of the National Theatre of Greece, proving that art has no boundaries.

Under the bilateral agreement of the national theatres of China and Greece, the much-loved story was presented to the audience incorporating two theatrical drama styles under the guidelines of the Chinese director Wang Xiaoying.

"We have a unique result: it's not completely Greek, it's not completely Chinese. It's a collision and a fusion of two cultural ideas in an exceptional play", Wang told Xinhua.

Speaking for the collaboration, the artistic director of the National Theater of Greece, Stathis Livathinos, expressed his excitement on the endeavor.

"There is something unusual in this project. The play is bilingual, culture and languages of the two civilizations co-exist in this theatrical production. Language is culture, and vice versa," Livathinos said, explaining that language could be a bridge and not a barrier.

"I think it is great interaction and exchange between the Chinese and Greek culture. It is also a profound expression of the two countries' friendship," Chinese playwright Yu Qingfeng added.