Sign of the Thames

As anticipation builds for this year's London Olympics, the first of a series of plays set in the British capital has hit the stage at the People's Art Experimental Theater.

The series of four plays, dubbed "London Saga," kicked off on February 2 with I Love London. Adapted from a true story, the drama follows Chinese student and protagonist Li Longwen's experience studying in London. Despite following his dream, Li finds life in London is quite as rosy as he imagined. The other three plays in "London Saga" are Black Angel, Chinatown Legend and The Magic Mirror.

Li Bohua, a playwright and actor who graduated from the University of the Arts in London, is at the directing helm of the plays. He said his goal was to shine the spotlight on the cosmopolitan capital's culture, society and people as seen through the eyes of Chinese students. "Ahead of the London Olympics, I want to give people interested in visiting London a clear idea of the city so that they can get a glimpse of what to expect," Li explained.

The plays are all in Chinese for their Beijing debut, however they had a low-key premiere last year in London, where they were performed in English. "We didn't want a grand premiere because we were afraid of disapproving feedback from people in Britain," Li said. "The audience mostly comprised of London locals, and they offered suggestions to make the plays more authentic."

Li said about a third of the stories are based on his own experience in London, while the rest are based on the experiences of his friends. "It's hard for Chinese people to live in London because many are lonely and isolated from society. I had a male friend who worked hard for more than a decade there, but struggled to survive," Li recalled.

While Li might have had a tough initiation to life in London, he insists he has fond memories of the city and doesn't seek to only focus on his negative experiences. "Misunderstandings and envy exist everywhere in the world. They exist between city people and folk from the countryside, foreigners and Chinese," Li continued. "We just want to tell people though China keeps developing, many people from the country are still chasing their dreams overseas."

Li's five-year stint in London saw him strongly influenced by plays penned by Shakespeare, who he considers the world's greatest playwright. He has even drawn inspiration from the master, using elaborate costumes and writing thoughtful, Hamlet-esque monologues for his characters. "I think plays nowadays lack critical thinking," Li went on. "They aim to be popular by using buzzwords and humorous plots, but I think the essence of a great play lies in profound thought. Characters should come across as multi-dimensional through their monologues that should hint at how the play will unfold, and provide insight into the inner heart of the character."

Wang Ning, who plays Li Longwen in I Love London, said the play offers a window into life as a Chinese student dealing with culture shock. "Li Longwen coveys the experiences of a student living abroad," he said. "The cultural differences and other troubles that arise from competition with local people exist everywhere overseas."

After its run of 24 shows, I Love London will pass the baton onto Black Angel in May, while Chinatown Legend and The Magic Mirror will take to the stage in September and December respectively.

Where: People's Art Experimental Theater, 3/F, 22 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng district

When: Until February 12, 7:30 pm

Tickets: 60 yuan (students)/120-280 yuan

Contact: 8563-8588