Ni Dahong (L) in the drama.
The first Chinese version of Israeli drama “Requiem” will tour to Shenzhen in December. Starring veteran actor Ni Dahong and actress Sun Li, the show premiered in Beijing in July.
“Requiem,” written and directed by Hanoch Levin, is based on three short stories by Anton Chekhov — “Rothschild’s Violin,” “Misery” and “In the Ravine.”
Beset with illness, an old couple in a remote village regrets the lives they have lived through. A young mother tries to seek a cure for her dying baby but fails. A bereaved wagoner has no one to talk to but his horse. The stories are rather sad.
Premiering at the Cameri Theater of Tel Aviv in 1999, the play deals with the philosophical topic of life and its meaning and creates a poetic structure by using symbolic and expressive images. Audiences will see trees in the desert, falling snowflakes and Death dressed in a black robe while carrying a lantern. Also featuring Levin’s unique sense of humor, it’s the last play Levin directed. It won the Israeli theater awards for play of the year, playwright of the year, director of the year, as well as awards for costume and lighting design, among others. Translated into English, French, German and many other languages, it has toured to many countries.
The Chinese adaptation employs young Israeli director Yair Sherman, and the choreography, lighting, costume design and music are all contributed by artists from Israel.
Ni, born in 1960, is best known for his roles as Sima Yi in the historical TV series “Three Kingdoms,” based on the classical novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” by Luo Guanzhong.
Sun, born in 1982, is hailed by netizens as China’s “Queen of Television.” In 2018, she became the youngest Chinese actress to win the “Grand Slam” after winning the three biggest awards — the Flying Apsaras Awards, the Golden Eagle Awards and the Magnolia Awards.
Scan the QR code to buy tickets:
Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 19-20
Tickets: 180-880 yuan
Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, intersection of Wenxin Road 5 and Houhaibin Road, Nanshan District (南山区后海滨路与文心五路交界处深圳保利剧院)
Metro: Line 2 or 11 to Houhai Station (后海站), Exit E