As part of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, a theatrical adaptation of Jules Verne's “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” comes to life, symbolizing a cultural fusion between the two nations.
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A major artistic collaboration between China and France to bring “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” to life
This ambitious production is the result of a collaboration between the Comédie-Française, renowned for its creative excellence, and the talent of Chinese masters, under the aegis of the Central Institute of Modern Theater and the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Launched with enthusiasm in Beijing on December 17, 2024, this initiative represents more than just a play; it is a major artistic adventure.
Commitment to friendship and innovation
Hao Rong, president of the Central Institute of Modern Theater, expressed at the press conference the institute's commitment to promoting the sustainable development of China-France friendship. He stressed the importance of this collaboration to explore new avenues of innovation in Chinese theater and deepen the integration of production, education and research.
A key step in artistic cooperation
The French Embassy in China described this creation as a new fruitful step in artistic cooperation between the two countries. This adaptation offers a contemporary reinterpretation of Verne's classic work, inviting Chinese audiences to rediscover this pillar of French literature.
Integration into the Croisements 2025 festival
The project will also be one of the flagship events of the Croisements 2025 festival, extending the celebrations of this historic friendship between the two nations. This integration underlines the cultural and diplomatic importance of the theatrical adaptation.
Director's vision
Christian Hecq, director and actor at the Comédie-Française, was responsible for the production. Passionate about this collaboration, he described China as a “still unexplored territory” for him and expressed his impatience to work with Chinese actors. According to Hecq, this adaptation not only enriches the characters of the novel but also brings to life sea creatures who become key protagonists of the story.
Preparation and tour
Currently, creations and rehearsals are taking place in Beijing. The first performance will take place on March 20, 2025 during the 53rd Hong Kong Arts Festival, followed by a tour of several major Chinese cities. This tour will allow a large audience to discover this unique interpretation of Verne's work, and perhaps even arouse interest to the point of being entitled to its Cinema adaptation? We know that the appetite in France for works from the 19th century has returned to fashion, recently with Alexandre Dumas, the Count of Monte Cristo at the forefront. Jules Verne could also become fashionable again and with the Chinese market weighing more than a billion and 300 million inhabitants, we find ourselves dreaming…
This article explores the deep theatrical collaboration between China and France through the adaptation of “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea”. This project not only illustrates the union of artistic skills and stage innovations of the two cultures, but also strengthens diplomatic ties through art, celebrating an important milestone in their historical relations.
Source : http://french.peopledaily.com.cn/Culture/n3/2024/1223/c31358-20257099.html
Image: Monument dedicated to Jules Verne in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
