Actor Yu Shaoqun and actress Cheng Lisha play leading roles in the Chinese drama Returning Home on a Snowy Night. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"What does a 'classic' mean? A classic stands the test of time. A classic … even after many years, remains unforgettable and universally understood. That is what makes something truly classic," said late Chinese director Ren Ming of the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

These words, spoken by Ren himself, echo in the memories of Wang Ban, a veteran actor and now the vice-president of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, as he recalls the Chinese play Returning Home on a Snowy Night and its director, Ren.

Premiered in 2012, Returning Home on a Snowy Night — an adaptation of Chinese playwright Wu Zuguang's 1942 play of the same title — captured the hearts of audiences across China. Over its initial run, from 2012 to 2018, the production was performed 11 times. Now, after a seven-year hiatus, the play returns to the NCPA stage from June 22 to 27, offering five new performances.

But this revival is more than just a return. It is a tribute to Ren, who passed away three years ago at the age of 62. "What makes this restaging special," says Wang, "is that we want to honor the late director Ren with this new round of performances."

Actor Yu Shaoqun, plays the role of Wei Liansheng, a Peking Opera star specializing in nandan(young man in a female role). [Photo provided to China Daily]

Besides Returning Home on a Snowy Night, Ren also worked with the NCPA, directing other important plays like Wangfujing in 2011 and an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House in 2014.

This restaging of Returning Home on a Snowy Night is also a celebration of Ren's artistic legacy and a tribute to a work that has, for over half a century, continued to resonate with audiences, he adds.

The play delves into the tragic life of Wei Liansheng, a famed Peking Opera actor, exploring his journey from fame to despair. At its core, the play tells the story of Wei's doomed love affair with Yuchun, the concubine of a powerful bureaucrat. Their romance, set against the backdrop of political intrigue, ends in their tragic deaths.

Originally staged by the Beijing People's Art Theatre in 1957, Returning Home on a Snowy Night has been a staple of Chinese theater. In May, the established theater company restaged a fresh rendition of it.

Actor Yu Shaoqun in the play. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Ren, who served as the president of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, was deeply involved in the creation of this iconic work. He once said that he hoped to adapt the work into a Chinese play, a dream that he had for over three decades. Ren learned about the play when he entered the Central Academy of Drama as a student majoring in directing in 1982.

"Even though Ren has left us, his legacy endures," says Cong Lin, the restaging director who worked alongside Ren on numerous productions, including the original Returning Home on a Snowy Night. "When we bring the play back to the stage, we stay true to Ren's vision. He was dedicated to faithfully bringing the original characters to life."

Cong recalls Ren's passion for the play, a connection formed during his student days at the Central Academy of Drama. Ren often spoke of his admiration for Wu's ability to craft complex characters — bureaucrats, Peking Opera actors, concubines, and even the smallest roles — all richly layered and full of life.

"We are striving to present those vivid, multifaceted characters again," Cong continues. "Ren always described the characters in the play as solid and accurate — an embodiment of his deep commitment to staying true to both the author's intentions and the essence of the play."

Veteran actor Zhang Qiuge; actor Yu Shaoqun and actress Cheng Lisha; director Cong Lin during a rehearsal of the play at the NCPA on June 11. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The production's cast reflects the depth of the characters. Award-winning actor Zhang Qiuge, who plays Su Hongji, a manipulative bureaucrat, reunites with co-stars Yu Shaoqun, who portrays Wei, and Cheng Lisha, who takes on the role of Yuchun. Their chemistry, honed over the years, promises to reignite the magic of their earlier performances.

"It's like time has folded back on itself," Zhang reflects. "We're in the same rehearsal room at the NCPA, and memories of making the play keep flooding in. Su Hongji is a complex character — outwardly composed — but inwardly calculating and cold. Now, in my 50s, I can bring new depth to his role, shaped by my own life experiences."

When Yu first played Wei in 2012, he was a rising star, having gained recognition for his portrayal of legendary Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang in the film Forever Enthralled in 2008. His mastery of traditional Chinese opera gave him an unmatched authenticity in the role of Wei, a role he now revisits with a deeper, more personal perspective.

Veteran actor Zhang Qiuge; actor Yu Shaoqun and actress Cheng Lisha; director Cong Lin during a rehearsal of the play at the NCPA on June 11. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"Originally, I just wanted to replicate the role and return to the state I was in before, but after seven years, I realized there were many things that needed adjustment. The time is different, the sense of age is different, the experience is different, and my understanding is different. Compared to 13 years ago, when I look back to find the character again, I realize I understand him better now," says Yu, 43.

For Cheng, 47, who played the role of Yuchun for the first time 13 years ago, putting on that same outfit and styling her hair the same way is emotional.

"Looking in the mirror, I feel that neither time nor age are problems. I am the role again," she says.

Veteran actor Zhang Qiuge; actor Yu Shaoqun and actress Cheng Lisha; director Cong Lin during a rehearsal of the play at the NCPA on June 11. [Photo provided to China Daily]