A fresh Thunderstorm

Cao Yu is often called "the father of modern Chinese drama". He was appointed the director of the Beijing People's Art Theatre when it opened in 1952 and in 1954, the established theater staged Thunderstorm, which has since become one of the theater's most iconic productions and remains beloved by audiences.

Set in 1925, the story unfolds in a single location: the home of Zhou Puyuan, a wealthy industrialist and patriarch of the Zhou family. The play takes place over a single day, with a storm raging outside, symbolizing the emotional turmoil of the characters. Zhou lives with his wife, the gentle but submissive Fan Yi, and their two children — Zhou Ping, a college student who has become disillusioned with his father, and his younger sister Si Feng, a beautiful but naive young woman. However, the family's seemingly perfect facade hides deep secrets. When a woman named Lu Shiping arrives at the house, it is revealed that she is Zhou Puyuan's former lover. Lu, who has suffered in poverty since their separation, returns seeking closure and answers.

"In 2024, the play celebrated its 90th anniversary and there have been many versions of Thunderstorm staged in the country," says Li, 64. "This time, we are restoring the prologue and epilogue from Cao Yu's original script, reclaiming many lines that were cut in previous productions, some of which have never been heard."

"When we re-read the text, we found many lines that had been cut," Li explains. "For example, Fan Yi's classic monologue was deleted in past productions as was an important scene between Zhou Puyuan and his son. What was once a brief, transitional moment has become a pivotal scene in our production."