Theatrical bridge across time: Shakespeare, Tang brought to life at PKU

A delegation from the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. visited Yenching Academy of Peking University in Beijing on Oct. 27 for a cultural exchange celebrating two iconic playwrights: Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare. Students from both institutions also performed excerpts from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Peony Pavilion."

A dialogue on the renowned playwrights Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare is held at Peking University, Beijing, Oct. 27, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Yenching Academy of Peking University]

The event comes ahead of the 410th anniversary of both playwrights' deaths next year. These two literary giants who lived during the same era and profoundly captured the essence of human experience, continue to resonate with global audiences today. 

Although less well-known globally than Shakespeare, Tang Xianzu — often called the "Shakespeare of the East" — is celebrated for "The Peony Pavilion," a Ming dynasty (1368-1644) masterpiece exploring love, dreams and emotion through poetic language.

"Both Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu are representatives of the great human spiritual strength. It is the shining of the two countries' brilliant stars in human history and makes us live on the land of proud human beings," said Yenching Academy Dean Dong Qiang in his opening remarks, praising the achievements of both playwrights.

Professor Michael Dobson of the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham, also highlighted their unique historical parallel. "Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare are contemporaries, both Renaissance playwrights. Remarkably, Chinese theater thrived alongside English theater's golden age."

Professor Emily C. A. Snyder, who directed the Chinese play performed that evening, reflected on the cultural dialogue: "This collaboration is a conversation and a shared experience. It's not just that Tang Xianzu's and Shakespeare's works speak to each other, especially as we perform them live with real people today."

Professor Emily C. A. Snyder from the University of Birmingham delivers a speech during a dialogue on Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare at Peking University, Oct. 27, 2025. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]

Three students from Yenching Academy — director Luca Bustani Wood, lead actress Isabella Concetta Gualano, and artistic director Kristina Ming-xue Gilje Chiu — spoke on behalf of the Midsummer cast, thanking the behind-the-scenes teams for their contributions to script, stage and costumes.

The evening concluded with two performances: Yenching Academy students presented a scene from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with lively humor, followed by Birmingham University students performing an English version of "The Peony Pavilion" that blended Kunqu opera with Western theatrical expression, captivating the audience with its fusion of Eastern and Western traditions.

Students from Yenching Academy of Peking University perform a scene from "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Oct. 27, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Yenching Academy of Peking University]

Students from the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham perform a scene from "The Peony Pavilion," Oct. 27, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Yenching Academy of Peking University]