Remembering the quake

Hold On (jian shou), the first play about the Sichuan earthquake, is showing at the Haidian Theater from June 15 to 17. The play is produced by the National Theater Company of China (NTCC), and performed by NTCC actors and survivors from earthquake stricken areas.

Wang Yuanfei, playwright and Sichuan native, wrote Hold On based on actual events. Director Wang Xiaoying went to Dujiangyan and Pengzhou, two towns badly damaged in the disaster, the day after the earthquake, to help survivors and experience personally the atmosphere of disaster and disrupted life there.

"The earthquake may have demonstrated the destructive power of nature, but we were also witness to the Sichuan people's toughness, tenacity and optimism," says director Wang, "Although everyone dreads such natural catastrophes, they do bring out people's innate bravery and resilience."

"As a man, I seldom cry. But over the past 20 days when watching TV reports, I've been unable to restrain my tears. Neither could I when I read the script for Hold On. What can I do to help, other than donate cash? I just hope the play will convey to the audience the goodness in human nature and let the survivors know our hearts and minds are with them," says actor Hou Yansong who plays the leading role of Lin Daogen, the village head who exhorts his fellow villagers to follow his example and "hold on" after the disaster.

Box-office proceeds of the three Beijing shows will be donated to residents of earthquake stricken areas. The show will then make a tour of Tianjin, Hunan, Guangdong and Shanghai.

Chen Jie

7:30 pm

No 28 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District

5123-3866

(China Daily 06/14/2008 page6)