Similarities and differences

Liu Lei (Ray) and He Ju have now arrived. We met them at Heathrow on Saturday and left them to explore Bayswater and Notting Hill, where they’re staying, on Sunday. Yesterday was spent in a whirlwind of meetings including Birmingham Rep, Yellow Earth Theatre and a freelance education practitioner who has worked extensively with major organisations such as the Barbican and English National Opera. We criss-crossed London, showing them the vibrancy of Soho and the South Bank, and the rich diversity of Bethnal Green. It was interesting to learn more about the new writing process in China and to compare notes. Whereas it can take one to two years to develop a new play in the UK, with the writer supported by a dramaturg or director, in China the process is much shorter and once a writer delivers their script, the commissioning theatre might decide to hire another writer to revise it. Today, both Ray and He Ju will be involved in a writers’ workshop at Theatre503 led by Natasha and Paul Robinson, joint Artistic Director of 503 with support from Gene David Kirk. There’s a good mix of writers coming and the plays generated through the workshop will be rehearsed and performed over the next two days.

Meanwhile, our thoughts were very much with the Chinese people when we heard about the massive earthquake in Sichuan Province. We’ve been to Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, many times and wanted to check that our friends at the Sichuan People’s Art Theatre were safe. We also were in touch with Neocha, the design company based in Shanghai, who told of tall buildings swaying and being evacuated – almost 1,000 miles from the epicentre.