Beijing People's Art Theatre

　　The Beijing People's Art Theatre was established on June 12, 1952, as a Chinese drama troupe. The theatrical master Cao Yu was its 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 famous play "Dragon Beard Ditch" was its foundational work, soon followed by performances of Cao Yu’s "Thunderstorm," "Sunrise," and "Beijing People," as well as Guo Moruo’s renowned play "The Tiger Tally." By the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, the performance style of the Beijing People's Art Theatre had largely taken shape, and it unveiled eight major productions—including "Teahouse," "Cai Wenji," "Camel Xiangzi," and "Aesop"—as a gift to the National Day celebration, a feat unmatched in Beijing at the time. At the same time, dozens of directing, performing, and stage art artists, 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 plays on tour to Shanghai, where the performances caused a sensation throughout East China.

　　Beijing People's Art Theatre

　　The theatre has been nurtured by literary giants such as Guo Moruo, Lao She, Cao Yu, and Jiao Juyin, and has been home to a constellation of artists including Shu Xiuwen, Yu Shizhi, and Ying Ruocheng. It has consistently adhered to a realistic creative approach, drawing inspiration from various schools of drama both in China and abroad—especially from the traditions of Chinese opera—to forge a distinctive Beijing People's Art style characterized by authenticity, depth, simplicity, subtlety, vivid character portrayal, strong life-like atmosphere, harmonious and unified stage imagery, and a rich national identity. Major productions over the past 40-plus years have included "Cai Wenji," "Guan Hanqing," "Teahouse," "Thunderstorm," "Danxin Pu," "Xiao Jing Hutong," and "Death of a Salesman," among others. "Teahouse" has been performed in numerous countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, generating strong international acclaim. The theatre’s productions have been hailed as "the model of Chinese spoken drama." In the 14 years before the Cultural Revolution, the Beijing People's Art Theatre achieved the remarkable feat of staging a total of 121 plays of varying scales.

　　The theatre currently operates three main venues focused on spoken drama performances: the Capital Theatre, the People's Art Small Theatre, and the People's Art Experimental Theatre. The theatre’s Stage Art Production Center houses a professional production base responsible for creating sets, costumes, and props for this theatre as well as other performing arts groups.

　　Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development