Culture Beat: New drama scripted by Mo Yan to debut

Students perform in a rehearsal for stage play Crocodile. Photo: Courtesy of Magnificent Culture

A stage play written by Chinese literature Nobel laureate Mo Yan, Crocodile, is set to make its debut in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, on May 3, according to the studio Magnificent Culture. 

The drama Crocodile brings to the stage the first original drama script Mo Yan has written since winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2012. The script was conceived and carefully created by Mo Yan over more than 10 years. The story about Shan Wudan unfolds with a crocodile, a gift he receives at his birthday party. Through this growing and speaking crocodile, the story explores the deep secrets of human nature as well as the theme of desire.

"I have been a loyal drama enthusiast since I was a child. I have seen many dramas and operas at various opportunities, and I have even appeared on stage for some small roles. Therefore, I feel that I should write a few dramatic works in order to repay the kindness that drama has given to literature," said Mo Yan. 

The play is set to tour cities including Hangzhou, Nanjing, Fuzhou and Guangzhou.