Reviving the classics

Revolving around famed Peking Opera actor Wei Liansheng, the play portrays how Wei experiences the peak of fame and the depths of despair. Eventually, his tragic love affair with Yuchun, a concubine of a bureaucrat, costs them both their lives.

"Wu's script is well-known, and I've been intrigued by it since I was a young actor," recalls Feng, 62. "There have been many adaptations, from movies to TV dramas. We discussed the idea of restaging the play for more than a decade. This isn't just a revival, it is a reinvention."