For the entire month of September, theater companies from China, Russia, Israel and Canada will perform some of Chekhov's spectacular plays in Beijing.
On the first day of the festival China's state theater company performed "Platonov," one of Chekhov's early plays, in the Tianqiao Theater.
Despite the high prices of the tickets, the theatre was full and the audience (both old and young) applauded and gave the actors flowers.
This was the first performance of the play in China. "Our era is very distant from the time when Chekhov wrote his plays and novels," Wang Xiaoying, the producer of the play said during an interview with RIA Novosti. "However, our feelings and emotions are very close to those described in 'Platonov.' Maybe a new understanding of Chekhov could help us better learn about ourselves."
Chekhov's "Cheery Orchard" will be performed at the festival by two theater companies: a Russian youth theater company and the Chinese theater company.
The festival was organized by the Chinese National Theater Company and China's Ministry of Culture with the assistance of the Russian Embassy in China.
