Beijing People's Art Theatre

Beijing People's Art Theatre

Established on June 12, 1952, the Beijing People's Art Theatre is a Chinese drama troupe. The theatrical master Cao Yu was the theatre's first director. Over the past nearly 50 years, the Beijing People's Art Theatre has traversed a glorious path, much like our capital city. Lao She’s renowned play "Dragon Beard Ditch" was its foundational work, and soon after it successively staged Cao Yu’s "Thunderstorm," "Sunrise," and "Beijing People," as well as Guo Moruo’s famous play "Tiger Talisman." By the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, the Beijing People's Art Theatre had largely formed its distinctive performance style and presented eight major productions—including "Teahouse," "Cai Wenji," "Camel Xiangzi," and "Aesop"—as a tribute to the National Day, a feat unmatched in Beijing at the time. Meanwhile, dozens of directing and performing artists and stage designers, represented by Jiao Juyin, Ouyang Shanzun, Diao Guangtian, Yu Shizhi, Xin Chun, and Song Yin, also gained nationwide fame. Two years later, the Beijing People's Art Theatre took five major productions to Shanghai, where the performances caused a sensation across East China.

Beijing People's Art (Theatre)

Nurtured by literary figures such as Guo Moruo, Lao She, Cao Yu, and Jiao Juyin, and home to a roster of artists including Shu Xiuwen, Yu Shizhi, and Ying Ruocheng, the theatre has consistently adhered to a realistic creative approach. It draws inspiration from various domestic and international drama genres, especially traditional Chinese opera, forming what is known as the “Beijing People's Art style”—characterized by authenticity, depth, simplicity, subtlety, vivid character portrayals, rich life-like atmosphere, harmonious and unified stage imagery, and a distinct national flavor. Major productions over the past 40-plus years include "Cai Wenji," "Guan Hanqing," "Teahouse," "Thunderstorm," "Loyal Hearts," "Xiaojing Hutong," and "Death of a Salesman." Among them, "Teahouse" has been performed in numerous countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, generating strong international acclaim. The Beijing People's Art Theatre’s plays have been hailed as “the model of Chinese spoken drama.” In the 14 years before the Cultural Revolution, the theatre achieved the remarkable feat of staging a total of 121 plays of varying scales.

The theatre currently operates three main venues primarily for spoken drama performances: the Capital Theatre, the People's Art Small Theatre, and the People's Art Experimental Theatre. Its affiliated Stage Art Production Center has a professional production base responsible for creating sets, costumes, and props for this theatre and other performance troupes.

No. 22 Wangfujing Street, Beijing | Tel: 010-65246789

Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development