Project seeks to inject new blood into China's theaters

"All of the 15 actors are professionals with acting experience. The latest training class for actors has been prepared for two years and those enrolled will keep on the tradition of the theater," says Feng, adding that in 2021, new theaters will open, which will increase the number of venues under the umbrella of the Beijing People's Art Theater from the current three to five.

"More venues means more shows, which need more actors. Some of the best actors with the theater, including Pu Cunxin and Yang Lixin, have retired or will retire in a few years. These new actors will dominate the stage one day," Feng says.

The need for young playwrights was also echoed by Liu Tong, president of the Jingju Theatre Company of Beijing, during the launch ceremony. Jingju, or Peking Opera, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2010.

Liu says all traditional Chinese operas, about 438 in total, require new, original scripts to give them a modern appeal. He says what traditional Chinese operas need is not just young playwrights, but also young theater talent to help keep the old art forms alive.