Annual theater exhibition to play in Beijing and Leshan

The China Original Drama Invitation Exhibition, a prominent event showcasing Chinese productions, opened at the National Theatre of China on Friday.

For its 10th year, the event will be staged in two cities: Beijing, and for the first time, Leshan in Sichuan province. Fifteen plays for bigger theaters and 10 productions for smaller venues will be performed in the two cities between April and September.

Da Zhai Men, or The Grand Mansion Gate, produced and performed by the National Theatre of China, opened the event, and will be performed until May 5.

Since its debut in 2013, the play has been a sellout. Adapted from the popular TV drama of the same title, the two-and-a-half-hour performance follows the story of the Beijing-based Bai family through one of the most politically tumultuous periods of modern Chinese history, from the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) until World War II.

The stage version, written by Liu Shen and directed by Guo Baochang and Li Xinling, has toured nationally over the past decade. It will be performed by famous actors, including Liu Peiqi, Wang Xin, and Chang Yuhong.

"Da Zhai Men is a model of storytelling, and we will continue to cherish it, constantly refining and improving it," said Tian Qinxin, a veteran director, and also president of National Theatre of China.

According to Tian, since its establishment in 2015, the China Original Drama Invitation Exhibition has been committed to promoting the vibrant development of the genre.