Play examines a generation's tension between virtuality and reality

Delving into the complex interplay between technology, human connection, and the search for identity, Yi Ri Ding Liu (One-Day Top Influencer), the latest production by the Beijing People's Art Theatre, premiered on June 6 at the company's intimate small theater. The show will run until June 27.

Adapted from the novel of the same title by award-winning Chinese author Shi Yifeng, the play, directed by Yang Jiayin, brings to life the digital struggles, fractured familial bonds, and deep existential questions that resonate with a generation caught between virtuality and reality.

From the very first scene, the audience is introduced into a digital labyrinth that has consumed the lives of the two protagonists: Hu Xuejian, a reclusive tech expert who spends his life in online forums, and his son, Hu Xin'ou, a socially withdrawn young man who accidentally becomes a viral internet celebrity.

The stage design is not merely a traditional set but a hybrid of digital screens and physical space, embodying the novel's central theme of blurred realities. The space is divided between cutting-edge technology — smartphones, LED screens, and social media — and tangible, real-world props. Screens flicker with notifications, live comments from streams, and social media updates, creating a world where the boundaries between reality and virtuality are constantly in a state of flux. The audience, much like the characters, is immersed in this visual overload.

"Technology influences and reshapes our lives every day," says director Yang. "While we enjoy the convenience it offers, we are also left grappling with confusion and uncertainty. This production does more than entertain; it invites the audience to reflect on the emotional and social ramifications of living in the digital age."

He adds: "As the audience leaves the theater, they will feel a sense of disconnection and longing — a poignant reminder that in a world dominated by virtual connections, true human connection is increasingly rare."

Artistic director Feng Yuanzheng, also the president of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, reveals that the novel, published in March, immediately caught the creative team's attention.

"We were searching for original, high-quality scripts, and this story — addressing artificial intelligence and social media — felt deeply relevant to our daily lives," says Feng.

He also points out that Yi Ri Ding Liu follows in the footsteps of Absolute Signal, which Lin Zhaohua directed at the theater and premiered in 1982. That production is widely regarded as China's first small-theater performance.

To bring this timely narrative to life, the theater adopted an innovative creative approach, assembling a team of directors, actors and stage designers to collaborate on adapting the novel into a script. The production features three young actors who each takes on multiple roles.

"I've been a fan of the Beijing People's Art Theatre since childhood, so it's a great honor to see my novel staged here, alongside the works of my literary idols like Lao She and Liu Heng," says Shi, a Beijing native. "Every generation writes about the stories of its time, and I'm proud that mine has found its place on stage."

This marks the first time one of Shi's works has been adapted for the stage and performed at the Beijing People's Art Theatre.