The Merchant of Venice receives warm welcome in China

The Shakespeare's Globe Theatre brings The Merchant of Venice to China in September, 2016. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"This time we are using the same score as we did in The Globe," Bird said Chinese audiences gave a warm welcome to the play. "The actors used their voice and bodies to tell the complex stories and sometimes the complex language very well. It was really impressive," said Bai Yang, a 30-something female.

A businessman named Yu Tao, 42, also praised the performance. "The set, lighting, props, costumes were so beautiful. Although remaining true to its traditional form, it made the audience feel it was happing right now."

"There was also an interaction between the audience and the actors on stage, which was fantastic," said 30-something Liu Xiufu.

Talking about enthusiasm of Chinese audience and warm reception, Bird said: "It is more about Shakespeare. He is for all ages and all nationalities, so it is great to get such a warm reception in China. It is also fantastic to always see such a young audience in China."

To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the deaths of the two great playwrights, William Shakespeare and a Chinese playwright Tang Xianzu who died in the same year, a series of events, including seminars, forums and performances, have been held in the two countries this year.

The Globe has been engaged in a conversation with Chinese theater artists since 2012, when the Globe to Globe Festival included plays in both Mandarin and Cantonese.

In 2014, its large-scale tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream traveled to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Hong Kong, incorporating traditional Chinese instruments into its musical score.

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