"The greatest asset of any stage production lies in the script," Yang says. "Actors should use their imagination, but they should never invent what the playwright did not write."
To deepen the theater's understanding of the play's historical setting, the creative team consulted drama scholars and experts on China's labor movement. They revisited decades of criticism on Thunderstorm and immersed themselves in the social realities of the 1920s.
Research also took them beyond the rehearsal room.
Yang and actor Liu Hui traveled to Harbin, Heilongjiang province, to visit a bridge mentioned by the character Lu Dahai in the play, a seemingly small detail that Yang believes enriches an actor's understanding, regardless of Cao Yu's original intention.
The theater also visited Wuxi, Jiangsu province, to learn about the city's early industrial development and prominent family businesses, and toured the Cao Yu Memorial Museum in Tianjin.
"These experiences stay with the actors, quietly taking root in their minds, enriching their imagination and lending greater depth to their performances," Yang says.
Historical authenticity extended into rehearsals. Actors frequently arrived wearing cloth shoes, long gowns and qipao (traditional long dresses) so that everyday movements — walking, sitting or simply crossing the stage — would gradually become second nature within the world of the play.
For Yang, every detail ultimately serves one purpose: revealing the emotional truth already embedded in Cao Yu's writing.
The production also represents another passing of the torch.
Liu Hui takes over the pivotal role of Zhou Puyuan, joined by Liu Wenyi as Fanyi, Gong Yuquan as Zhou Ping and Huang Wei as Lu Shiping. Together, they inherit characters shaped by generations of legendary performers while seeking interpretations that speak to contemporary audiences.
"Every actor at the Beijing People's Art Theatre knows the history of Thunderstorm, so stepping into Zhou Puyuan naturally comes with pressure. But director Yang encouraged us to return to Cao Yu's script and discover the character for ourselves. That gave me the confidence to find my own interpretation," says Liu Hui.
"Through our research and discussions, I began to understand the social constraints and emotional isolation she (Fanyi) lived with. That changed the way I approached every scene. I hope audiences will see not only her intensity, but also her vulnerability," says actress Liu Wenyi.
"The moment the makeup was finished and I put on the qipao, my posture changed without me thinking about it," Liu Wenyi adds. "The clothes affected how I walked, how I sat and even how I spoke. They helped me understand Fanyi's elegance and restraint."
