FOUR new plays will be staged in the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre in the coming drama season ?the “Fresh Zone??which marks the appearance of a group of young actors and playwrights, known as the fifth generation of dramatists in modern China.

Yang Shaoling, general manager of the centre, explained the division of the five generations: Xia Yan, Tian Han and Cao Yu, founders of modern Chinese drama, make up the first generation; the second generation was influenced by the Russian dramatic tradition which brought the theories of Stanislavsky to China; the third generation came to the front of the stage in the early 1980s with China’s reform and opening up policy; and the fourth generation experimented with various dramatic schools from home and abroad, widening the tastes of the Chinese audience.

The fifth generation, according to Yang, is not limited by any one school or theory. Bringing modern styles to Chinese drama, they are cultivating their own fans.

The first production of the new season is “Telephone Equation? the maiden work of playwright Zhao Lian. The play reveals the dilemmas and traumas of modern marriages and relationships. The director Cao Yan hopes to analyze realistic problems in the production instead of just presenting another white collar drama.

“Lederfresse?is a modern German play. Earlier this year, the German Consulate-General in Shanghai launched its first co-operation with the Dramatic Centre, providing seven German plays. Young director Zhao Feifei chose “Lederfresse?(Leather Face), the maiden work of Helmut Krausser.

The play depicts the gloomy life of a young couple, but Zhao tries to turn the dark tale into a comedy.

The third play, “The Bride? is a production inspired by Russian writer Anton Chekhov’s short story of the same title. It will be presented by a young troupe from Beijing.

The fourth in the season, “Dog’s Face? is the first original physical theatre production by local artists. It is part of a serial dramatic work named “Urban Taboo? presented by artists from Singapore, India, Japan and China.

Telephone Equation

7:30pm, August 19-22, August 31-September 5

D6 Space

80 yuan

Lederfresse

7:30pm, August 26-29, September 9-12

D6 Space

80 yuan

(For 120 yuan, a joint ticket for the two plays is available)

Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre

288 Anfu Lu

Tel: 6473-0123