Thirty-two stage dramas from across China will begin a mammoth eleven-theatre Beijing tour from April to mark the 100th anniversary of Chinese drama, according to a press conference held in Beijing yesterday.

Beijing residents will be able to see nationwide, as well as six stage masterpieces from Beijing.

Experts carefully selected the line-up from the 74 proposals put forward by provincial theaters across the country.

Drama enthusiasts can look forward to seeing the National Theater Company of China perform Man and Wilderness, the Beijing People's Art Theatre play Family, the Tianjin People's Art Theater's Roar to the Sky and the Shanxi Modern Drama Theater's The Beginning of the Autumn.

The drama festival will be one among many events to be held to celebrate the centenary of Chinese drama, with seminars and a grand celebration also on the cards in Beijing later in the year.
 
(CRI January 10, 2007)