A time to dream

Then-premier Zhou Enlai praised the production. And, in 1962, the play was made into a two-episode film featuring the same cast. However, the film was not shown widely on the mainland until 1978.

In the 1980s, when reform and opening-up was underway, Xu Yulan and Wang Wenjuan established a troupe within the SYOT specifically for A Dream of the Red Mansions. And, today, the company presents 200 performances a year.

SYOT now consists of two troupes - one dedicated to the creation of new plays, while the other produces traditional repertoire.