The Bard's "Twelfth Night" gets teen edition in China

A teenagers' version of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" debuted Thursday in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province.

The children's edition puts more emphasis on seeking happiness than on romance, according to Zhejiang Drama Ensemble, which put together the adaptation as a gift to a national children's drama festival and to International Children's Day.

In the play, actors dressed in European-style costumes play on a rotating stage surrounded by pillars. The adaptation is filled with Chinese songs, which give it a tint of musical.

Wang Wenlong, head of the ensemble, said the adaptation was made to help the teenagers better enjoy the classic. It was also an effort to link Chinese theater with the international stage, he added.

In recent years, adapted version of Shakespeare's classics have been staged frequently in China, including "Hamlet" and "King Lear," but a teenage edition is something quite new.

Zhong Hao, director of the play, said he chose "Twelfth Night" because it can generate laughs among teenagers since it is a comedy with a relatively simple storyline.

The play was the opening event at a national festival for teen drama, which attracted 23 competitive plays from around the nation, including "Cinderella" and "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

The festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Zhejiang provincial government, runs until June 10. Endi