Hometowns of ancient British, Chinese playwrights to become sister cities

The town of Stratford-on-Avon in Britain and Fuzhou City in China have signed an agreement to become sister cities here on Friday, as the hometowns of two great playwrights William Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu mark the 400th anniversary of their deaths.

Fuzhou, hometown of the renowned Chinese playwright Tang Xianzu in Jiangxi Province, donated a sculpture of Shakespeare and Tang to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, while another replica of the sculpture will be placed in a museum in Fuzhou.

"Today's event is particularly pertinent as the written work of these two literary giants has survived for over 400 years and is both loved and popular," said Chris Saint, head of the Council of Stratford-on-Avon District.

"We know that Chinese people regard Tang as their Shakespeare. We are proud of our international label as the home of the world's greatest playwright," he added.

"This is the first time I'm aware that we have a formal cultural link with China, what a wonderful opportunity we got," he told Xinhua, adding that he would like to read more of Tang Xianzu's works and expects further events to promote cultural exchange to be held in the future between the two countries.

Fuzhou is home to memorial halls, museums and theaters dedicated to Tang, and events are held every year celebrating the playwright.

"We feel that the two great playwrights have a lot of similarities in their works, though we know they never met each other. The characters they created showed their pursuit of freedom, love, well-being and justice. And their magnificent achievements give us unlimited spiritual and imaginary space," said Zhang Hongxing, mayor of Fuzhou.

Performers from Fuzhou performed selections of Tang's more renowned plays, such as Peony Pavilion and The Story of the Purple Hairpin, as well as Fuzhou's traditional folk dances.

"Today's event is historically significant. The Fuzhou delegation not only brings Tang Xianzu to Stratford-upon-Avon and to Britain, but also to all Chinese people's hearts. How we treat Tang reveals how we Chinese people evaluate our own culture, tradition and China's 5,000 years of civilization," said Li Ruru, professor of Chinese Theater Studies at the University of Leeds.

Commemorations for the two literary giants have being held so far this year in both countries, and more troupes from China are expected to perform both Tang's and Shakespeare's works in Britain in the near future. Endi