Theaters in Cyprus and China expand cultural exchanges — Cyprus Mail
In Cyprus and China, theaters are using international productions, creative exchanges and performance broadcasts to introduce audiences to other cultural traditions. In particular, the Cyprus Theatre Organisation Thoc has included productions of “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Wuthering Heights” and “The Seagull” in its upcoming season.
As Cyprus Mail reports, Thoc is seeking new formats of cooperation, primarily with other members of the European Union. The organization said such interaction should help renew and enrich theatrical production in Cyprus through productions, exchanges, staff training and international promotion programs for theater development.
Performance broadcasts in China
In China, high-definition broadcasts have become one of the formats for distributing theatrical productions. During a performance of Rickshaw Boy in the summer at the Beijing People’s Art Theatre, nine high-definition cameras and 17 audio tracks were used. Nearly 6,000 students and teachers from eight universities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region watched the live broadcast on campus screens.
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Feng Yuanzheng, president of the Beijing People’s Art Theatre, said that thanks to the “stage-to-screen” format, artistic resources are becoming available in different regions. High-definition video versions of classic productions have also been released by the National Theatre of China, the National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre.
Greek drama and British productions
Chinese theaters are also turning to ancient Greek drama: audiences were presented with productions of “The Birds” and “Oedipus Rex.” Over three decades, director Luo Jinlin has adapted ancient Greek plays into Chinese and combined Greek drama with bangzi, a popular art form in northern China.
In Cyprus, audiences watch broadcasts of British theater productions, usually with Greek and English subtitles. This year, Limassol’s Rialto Theatre screened William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” directed by Robert Hastie, deputy artistic director of London’s National Theatre, while the Nicosia Municipal Theatre screened “Dr. Strangelove,” based on Stanley Kubrick.
