By Raymond Zhou for The Telegraph, 21 October 2015
The first production of Shakespeare in was staged in 1902 when, in an effort to better understand English history and language, students at Shanghai St John College put on The Merchant of Venice in the original English.
The story of Antonio, Portia and Shylock also produced the most popular Chinese-language dramatisations in the early 20th century, when the curtain was raised on 20 or so plays. However, these were Shakespearean stories based on Charles Lamb’s children’s books. Often the actors were only given the plot, no dialogue.
They were supposed to improvise. The emphasis on narrative had an unintended benefit, however, as it often brought out the contemporary relevance of the stories. The Usurper, a 1916 production based on Macbeth, was a not-so-subtle swipe at the president-turned-emperor Yuan Shikai.
The lead actor was arrested on the grounds of inciting unrest and rebellion and was sentenced to death. Fortunately for him, Yuan died suddenly and his regime fell before he could be executed. The first professional Chinese production based on William Shakespeare’s own text, albeit in translation, took place in 1930. Again it was The Merchant of Venice. Painted backdrops depicted Italian scenes and the actors wore Western costumes.
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