The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre have signed an agreement to collaborate on a new Chinese production of Henry V in 2016.
The production will be based on the RSC’s Chinese translation of Shakespeare’s Henry V which is currently being developed. Playwright and SDAC artistic director Nick Yu is leading the pilot project with RSC artistic director Gregory Doran and Professor Zhang Chong, a Chinese Shakespeare expert from Shanghai's Fudan University.
Henry V will be translated into a version “accessible for contemporary audiences”. It will be the first project in the RSC’s initiative to translate all Shakespeare’s plays in the First Folio into Chinese. A parallel project will involve Chinese classics being translated into English.
Gregory Doran said, “we’re delighted to be working with Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre on their new production of Henry V, based on a translation developed in our rehearsal rooms. We learn so much about one another’s culture through sharing the stories we tell.
“This will be a fantastic opportunity for Chinese artists and theatre makers and the RSC’s theatre makers and technical teams to work together to share skills and experiences, and build a new understanding of theatre in both cultures.”
RSC associate director Owen Horsley will direct the Chinese production of Henry V while an RSC creative team led by Owen will work with SDAC to stage it in Shanghai.
Nick Yu added, “we’re so pleased to be bringing Shakespeare to new audiences and connecting theatre practitioners, writers and educators in both countries. Through collaboration we will all gain a deeper understanding of each other's culture, traditions and society, and increase knowledge of industry practices.”
Henry V will première at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre in November 2016.