Chinese-speaking expat cast to debut 'Shawshank' in Pingshan

Video by Xu Shuntian

The Chinese rendition of Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns’ stage adaptation of “The Shawshank Redemption,” featuring a cast of Chinese-speaking expatriates, is set to premiere at the Pingshan Theater in Pingshan District, Shenzhen, on Jan. 4, 2024. 

Produced by Shenzhen, crafted by Pingshan, and performed by Longma Studio, the play stars 11 expat actors hailing from eight countries: Finland, Canada, the U.S., France, Argentina, Italy, Russia and Australia. 

Directed by the veteran Chinese actor Zhang Guoli, this production marks a groundbreaking moment as Stephen King's classic story will be entirely performed in Chinese by all foreign artists.

Following its debut at the Pingshan Theater, the play is scheduled for performances at the Shenzhen Poly Theater on Jan. 12-14, with subsequent showings in Shanghai and Beijing. 

A scene at the press conference for Chinese play "The Shawshank Redemption" held yesterday at Pingshan Theater in Pingshan District.

Leading the cast are James Clarke and Mark Rowswell, portraying Andy Dufresne and Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, respectively. They are joined by Andy Friend, Matt William Knowles, Shawn Moore, Andrey Lazarev, Matti E. Lehtonen and others. All these actors have either pursued education in China or been living and working in the country for many years. During a press conference at Pingshan Theater yesterday, the attendees were awed by the cast's proficiency in Chinese. 

Rowswell, a Canadian artist better known in China as Dashan, is widely esteemed for his exceptional xiangsheng performances and his role as a cultural ambassador bridging China and the West over the last three decades. He expressed at the press conference that the enduring appeal of "The Shawshank Redemption" worldwide lies in its profoundly human narrative. "It encompasses not only a tale of escape from confinement but also one of spiritual redemption," he noted.

He also revealed that this innovative production has integrated elements unique to Shenzhen, including high-tech elements, and he eagerly left these details for the audience to experience during the premiere. 

Australian actor Clarke concurred, emphasizing that the play, which delves into potent themes such as hope and friendship, assures the audience of numerous surprises.

Beijing-born-and-raised U.S. actor Friend, who first visited Shenzhen in 1983 during his studies of Chinese painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, stated that the play is created through an opportune convergence of timing, place and people. He praised Pingshan as an apt locale for cultural development.

A poster for Chinese play "The Shawshank Redemption."

The cast arrived in Shenzhen earlier this month for intensive rehearsals at Pingshan Theater. U.S. musician Shawn Moore, responsible for composing music for the drama and also taking on a role, said the month-long rehearsals in Pingshan have provided an excellent opportunity for him to refine the musical details since he could exchange ideas with the cast together.

Yao Yi, chairwoman of Longma Studio, said that the selection of Chinese-speaking foreign actors for the play is intended to convey the message that culture transcends boundaries. Furthermore, with a 15-year history, the studio has been actively exploring inventive methods to adapt text-based dramas to modern theatrical sensibilities to engage audience members.

Back in June, Pingshan District signed a collaborative agreement with the studio to collaborate on producing outstanding original works, initiating artist-in-residence programs, fostering cultural and artistic exchanges, nurturing the theater industry, and endeavoring to establish Pingshan as a prominent theatrical hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

According to Li Jinghua, Communist Party of China secretary of Pingshan District Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau, Pingshan District and Longma Studio are establishing a theater base on Maluan Mountain, with plans underway to roll out further outstanding productions in 2024.