The new children's play A Journey with Hans Christian Anderson will be staged April 2 at the China Children's Art Theater (CCAT) in Beijing, to celebrate the Danish writer's bicentenial.

Born in 1805 in Odense, 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Copenhagen, Andersen was the son of a charwoman and a shoemaker. Like the swan in his fairy tale The Ugly Duckling, Andersen rose from obscurity to fame. He died in 1875 in Copenhagen. He is best known in China for his fairy tales.

The play's director, Zhong Hao, said A Journey with Hans Christian Anderson recounts the dreams of Hulu and Haqian, the two main characters of the play. Under the guidance of Andersen, they meet a nightingale, a little mermaid and a match-selling girl, all characters from Anderson's stories.

"The play is by a young playwright, and some of the plot is unexpected yet interesting, even to an adult audience," Zhong said.

CCAT President Zhou Yuyuan said the play will mark the opening of the Weekend Theater, a special program launched by CCAT this year. Apart from staging new performances, CCAT will also set up children's audience club and teach acting to children.
 
(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2005)