On September 3rd, the opening ceremony of Beijing International Theatrical Center was held in Beijing People's Art Theater, which marked the trial opening of the new theatre. Wang Hong, Vice Mayor of Beijing, and Wang Ning, Vice Chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and President of the National Center for the Performing Art attended the event.

Located to the east of Beijing Capital Theater, Beijing International Theatrical Center is one of the key projects in building Beijing into a center for international exchanges. The whole construction area is approximately 23,000 square meters and its architectural style is simple and modern. There are two professional drama theaters in the center, a 700-seat medium theater and a 200-seat small theater. The medium theater is named "Cao Yu Theater" to pay tribute to Mr. Cao Yu, the first President of Beijing People's Art Theater and a playwright. It also symbolizes the artistic spirit of Beijing People's Art Theater, which has been passed down from generation to generation. The small theater located on the third floor continues to use the name "Small Theater of Beijing People's Art Theater," the name of a theater in the south of Beijing Capital Theater, which represents the lasting memory between the artists of Beijing People's Art Theater and the audience.

"The Beijing International Theatrical Center represents the dreams and efforts of generations of people working at Beijing People's Art Theater. It will help the theater create, showcase and bring together better stage works in the future, and better serve the capital's cultural development," says Ren Ming, president of Beijing People's Art Theater. The center staged Sunrise, a classic play written by playwright Cao Yu and directed by Feng Yuanzheng on the night of the opening ceremony and will soon debut new renditions of Cao's two other works, Thunderstorm and The Wilderness.

(Reporter: Niu Chunmei)