Culture Beat: ‘Skylight’ performed in Shanghai and Beijing

Promotional material for Skylight Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre

The acclaimed play Skylight, winner of the Laurence Olivier Award and Tony Award, has captivated audiences in a dual-city performance presented by the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre. The Chinese version of the play enthralled audiences at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing from Thursday to Sunday after gracing the stage in Shanghai.

Skylight, written and premiered in 1995 by British playwright and director David Hare, explores the complex intersection of love and social values. Against the backdrop of a chilly London night, the play unravels the story of Tom, a successful restaurateur, knocking on the door of his former lover and high school teacher, Kyra, attempting to rekindle their past amid their divergent worlds.

The lead role of Tom in the Chinese rendition of Skylight is portrayed by Yang Yi, a nationally acclaimed actor who has been honored with the 17th Shanghai Magnolia Award for Best Actor. The play not only encapsulates a poignant love story but also serves as a mirror reflecting contemporary social norms and challenges.  

The play reflects the social conditions of the time by depicting how the destinies of a couple are altered by their respective values. It mirrors the social reality where the British government elevated entrepreneurs as social benchmarks, while considering professions engaged in public service such as teachers, doctors and nurses as inconsequential.

Yang expressed his admiration for the play, saying the story uses emotions as a carrier to discuss themes that are highly relevant to our current lives. 

"Living every day is an experience, just like when we rehearse a script in the rehearsal hall. You go through the script, overturning, rebuilding, and changing your thought process. Real life is like that," he noted.

Xie Chengying, a national first-class actress who plays Kyra, emphasized the spiritual strength of the character, who resolutely stands against the materialistic philosophy of today's "money-first" society, striving to uphold her own ideals.

Starting from July 7, the eight participating plays of the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre have been staged in Beijing for five consecutive months. These works include large-scale original dramas, translations of classical works, and avant-garde small theater dramas from Europe and the US, presenting a variety of theatrical productions.