Reviving the classics

"The director kept refining my lines," says Liu, who began studying Kunqu Opera at 11 and made his stage debut at 15. "In traditional Chinese opera, monologues have a certain rhythm and tone, but in modern theater, they need to be much more grounded and lifelike."

Actress Lu Lu, 28, portrays Yuchun and describes the love story as "fleeting and delicate".

Her portrayal of Yuchun draws heavily from traditional Chinese opera elements.