Chinese production of Les Miserables set for national tour

A new Chinese theater production of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables announced the kickoff of a national tour in Shanghai on Tuesday.

Produced by Magnificent Culture Co Ltd, the play, starring renowned Chinese film actor Liu Ye, is directed by French theater artist Jean Bellorini. It will have three shows at Shanghai Grand Theatre on March 1-3, followed by more performances in 13 cities around China from March to May, including Shenyang in Liaoning province, Wuxi in Jiangsu province and Changsha in Hunan province.

The Chinese production has been invited to perform abroad at the Theatre National Populaire in Villeurbanne, France, on Nov 2-3.

The literary masterpiece by Hugo features universal human experiences that are widely found all over the world, according to Wang Keran, founding director of Magnificent Culture, talking about his decision to adapt the French novel to Chinese theater. "Les Miserables is not just a national treasure of France, it is a treasure of all the human community."

Liu, playing the lead role of Jean Valjean, said that he and his French wife, Anais Martane, producer of the play, have worked together on the cultural communications between China and France for the past 18 years. The play is part of the program of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary for the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France. It is also part of a theater project of the China-France Year of Culture & Tourism 2024. 

Liu said: "It is a wonderful experience for us, a couple of ordinary individuals, to be involved in such an important historical occasion."