On Dec 2, 1956, novelist and dramatist Lao She (1899-1966) arrived at the Capital Theater, home of the Beijing People's Art Theater, for a reading of the script of a play he had just finished writing, titled Teahouse. Codirected by Jiao Juyin (1905-75) and Xia Chun (1918-66), the play premiered on March 29, 1958, and was warmly received by the audience. Since then, Teahouse has been performed by the Beijing People's Theater over 700 times, both at home and abroad, and is considered as a treasure of the theater in China. From Feb 22 to March 3, the three-act play is being staged once again at Capital Theater, and tickets sold out fast. "Teahouse has been a part of the development of the Beijing People's Art Theater, which is not only a treasure of the theater but also a treasure of Chinese theater," says Feng Yuanzheng, who performs in Teahouse and is also the president of Beijing People's Art Theater. "It has been staged by different generations of artists at the theater." In 1980, it became the first Chinese play to be staged abroad, with a 50-day, 25-show run in Europe and the ongoing revival marks the 125th anniversary of Lao She's birth. The story of Teahouse takes place in Beijing and presents a vivid depiction of people and life during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Liang Guanhua plays the role of the teahouse's owner, Wang Lifa. "Although I have performed this role over 300 times, I still feel that there is more to discover and I am still nervous each time I perform," he says. Pu Cunxin, who plays one of the main roles, is similarly excited. "Every time we perform Teahouse, it's a new experience, with new actors, actresses and new audience joining us."
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