Past performance

"We all called him 'Uncle Jinyun' when he was the president of the theater," says Tang, who is also director of the play.

"He is warmhearted and loves working with young people. When I came to him with the idea of turning Yongdingmen Li into a play, he agreed and started to revise the script. We made lots of changes, deleting some plot points while adding new ones. He is very patient and works with us to make the characters and the lines appealing to today's audiences."

One of the most challenging parts of presenting the play was training young performers to speak Beijing dialect, Feng Yuanzheng adds.

He also says that the theater is going through a period when its older generation of actors are retiring and new performers are joining.

"This new play, blending tradition with innovation, highlights the evolving nature of Beijing-themed drama, and explores new ways to portray the city's culture. The production not only tells a compelling story but also serves as a platform for young talent to shine, ensuring that the theater's legacy continues to thrive in modern times," Feng Yuanzheng says.